Tips For Success
[Adapted from The University of Iowa's Campus Conversation Partners Program presentation]
Having a Conversation Partner fulfills Requirement #1 of the ICUC. See for more information.
Basic Guidelines to Get Started
- We ask you to agree to meet for one hour each week for conversation.
- We ask you to be fair when choosing a time and place to meet; no one should feel uncomfortable.
- We ask you to be respectful; if you cannot attend a pre-arranged meeting, please contact your partner as soon as possible.
- We ask you to use this as a culture-sharing experience rather than a homework-helping experience.
- Relax, learn, and enjoy!
Being Culturally Sensitive
Movies, music, and mass media play a huge role in teaching us about other cultures. Unfortunately, they often don鈥檛 give us an accurate picture of each other鈥檚 lives.
- Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions about each other鈥檚 cultures.
- If you are not sure if a question is culturally appropriate, begin by saying, 鈥淚 hope it is ok if I ask you鈥︹ A sincere desire to know is usually appreciated, regardless of the topic.
- Also, if your partner has a preconception about your culture that you think is incorrect, talk to your partner about it. Use yourself and your experiences as examples.
Tips for Speaking
- 聴Speak at a moderate pace and speak clearly
- Ask your partner if you are speaking too fast. If your partner鈥檚 (polite) answer is, 鈥渁 little鈥, it means you should probably slow down a lot.
- If you mumble (speak unclearly), make an effort to enunciate slowly and clearly.
- 聴Participate equally and share the time.
- Some people are more talkative than others.
- If you like to talk, make sure you invite your partner to give their own ideas too. Use questions like, 鈥淲hat do you think?鈥 鈥淗ow about you?鈥 鈥淲hat about in your country?鈥
- Others are more shy and quiet. If that is you, push yourself to speak.
- For ESL students, don鈥檛 worry about making mistakes; just try! Your partner wants to learn more about you and your country!
- 聴Make sure that the knowledge of the topics is shared.
- Some topics require cultural background that your partner may not have: sports, TV shows, relationships between family and friends, religious practices, holidays, etc.
- Ask your partner, 鈥淗ave you heard about this?鈥 鈥淒o you know about this?鈥
- If you don鈥檛 know about something your partner is talking about, ask them to explain in more detail (or with pictures).
- Be patient and persistent to figure out what your partner wants to say.
- Use clarification strategies to help figure it out:
- Say in a different way
- Give an example
- Draw a picture
- Write it down
Make it Easier For Your Partner to Understand
American
- Be aware of the expressions you use:
- Slang, phrasal verbs (like 鈥渃ount on鈥 and 鈥済et around to it鈥) are often difficult. Your partner may have learned 鈥渢olerate鈥 but not 鈥減ut up with.鈥
- Ask your partner if they know the expressions you are using and write them down if needed.
International Students
- Pay attention to your pronunciation and grammar.
- If your partner seems confused, ask them which word or phrase is confusing them.
- Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask your partner for help pronouncing a word or using a more natural expression in English.
Activity Ideas
- 聴Any OPIE event
- 聴ISU or ACE activities
- 聴Farmer鈥檚 Market
- 聴Final Fridays in Nelsonville
- 聴Visit Athens public library
- 聴Explore the downtown of Athens
- 聴Go for a walk, run, or bike ride on the bike trail
- 聴Go hiking, kayaking, or canoeing at Strouds Run