Some Ukrainian Help?

I just started volunteering to work with ESL students who need to learn English, and I've been paired with a woman from the Ukraine. She speaks Ukrainian and Russian (which is wonderful, because I'm studying Russian). But I just wanted to see if there are some native Ukrainians here who could give me advice, either about the language or culture (like, "make sure you don't do this because it's considered rude..."), or some useful phrases I could learn. There seem to be a lot of similarities between Ukrainian and Russian, am I right?

I'm just curious, and I want to learn about her culture as much as she wants to learn about America. I know that will happen over time, but it can't hurt to be prepared, right?

Thank you!

I'm native Ukrainian
you can ask me whatever you want

What useful phareses and so on you want?

Originally Posted by Lumekuninganna

There seem to be a lot of similarities between Ukrainian and Russian, am I right?

Seems yes, but there're much more similarities between Ukrainian and Polish

Originally Posted by Lumekuninganna

I just started volunteering to work with ESL students who need to learn English, and I've been paired with a woman from the Ukraine. She speaks Ukrainian and Russian (which is wonderful, because I'm studying Russian). But I just wanted to see if there are some native Ukrainians here who could give me advice, either about the language or culture (like, "make sure you don't do this because it's considered rude..."), or some useful phrases I could learn. There seem to be a lot of similarities between Ukrainian and Russian, am I right?

I'm just curious, and I want to learn about her culture as much as she wants to learn about America. I know that will happen over time, but it can't hurt to be prepared, right?

Thank you!

The cultural differences (if any) are not very different from what you're used to. Ukraine is in Europe. Compared to Asian and African countries where the customs are very different, the differences are very small.

Originally Posted by Kalomira

Seems yes, but there're much more similarities between Ukrainian and Polish

Really?! Now I have to go look at how Polish works. I've never learned even a single word in Polish, which is weird, because where I live it's full of Polish people. We even have several local Polish newspapers.

Originally Posted by Kalomira

What useful phareses and so on you want?

I don't know... ^^; simple but useful things like: hello, how are you, i'm fine, good job, please, thank you, you're welcome, etc. I like to ask someone in case there are different ways to say these things that I might not learn from a book or website.

And thanks for the culture note, TheNuttyOne!

Originally Posted by Lumekuninganna

I don't know... ^^; simple but useful things like: hello, how are you, i'm fine, good job, please, thank you, you're welcome, etc. I like to ask someone in case there are different ways to say these things that I might not learn from a book or website.

Hmm, that’s a hard task
Coz I’ve never seen any book of Ukrainian for foreigners
I’ll write as a talk in everyday life

Hello – Вітаю вас, мої вітання, доброго ранку (good morning), добрий день (good day), добрий вечір (good evening)
Hi – привіт, здорОв, здоровенькі були (just funny)))
How are you – Як справи? Як ся маєте (formal), Як ся маєш? (informal), Як воно? Як здоров’я?/Як здоров’ячко? (how’s your health), Як життя? (How’s your life) – an answer триває (going on)
I’m fine – все гаразд, все чудово,
So so – так собі
Nothing new – нічого нового
Good job (smth like well done?) гарно зроблено, круто вийшло (very informal))
Please – будь ласка, будь ласочка, дуже прошу
Thank you – дякую, дуже вам вдячний/вдячна, моїй вдячності немає меж, щиро дякую
You’re welcome – прошу, був/була рада допомогти, мені в радість (I’m glad I could help you),
Cheers – будьмо))

If i remember smth more i'll edit my post
Hope it'll help