A UF program is providing students with a chance to change lives by doing one simple thing – talking.
UF’s English Language Institute, or ELI, is looking for student volunteers for the Conversation Partner Program during Summer B. Volunteers will be paired with at least one non-English speaking student from another country and meet for a minimum of one hour each week.
Students come from a wide range of countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China, Japan and Venezuela, said Latasha Wicker, the Conversation Partner Coordinator of ELI.
Although Roy Huang, 24, learned English in his home country of Taiwan since elementary school, he enrolled in ELI after realizing he wasn’t fluent. Now he’s able to practice his English on a weekly basis.
Although conversations with his partner have gone smoothly, he says he just can’t get the hang of students’ accents in class when they’re asking questions.
Feedback like Huang’s is what Wicker said makes the conversation partner program such a unique experience.
“There’s a lot of things you can learn from meeting someone else who just comes from another world,” Wicker said. “You wouldn’t have seen what they’ve seen or practice religion or culture how they’ve practiced.”
International students in the ELI program come to UF to learn English and American culture. The Conversation Partner Program is designed to help students get accustomed to the language and culture in an informal way.
More than 200 ELI students signed up for the Conversation Partner Program and about 115 student volunteers have signed up so far. The program seeks students who are willing to spend at least an hour each week talking with students to help them reach fluency.
All ELI students in the program participate in weekday activities such as playing volleyball or soccer, bowling and meeting at Starbucks or the mall. Student volunteers are encouraged to participate as well.
Students interested in becoming a part of the Conversation Partner Program can email Wicker at ELIconversation@ufl.edu.
