Conversation Exchange Partners
Learn about a language, a culture, a new perspective- one conversation at a time.
Conversation Exchange Partners
Online Application
The Conversation Exchange Partners program facilitates meetings between those who are interested in
– practicing a language through informal conversation
– learning more about another culture
This program is open to all University of Notre Dame faculty, staff, undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students, visiting scholars and their families. Members of the Family Friendship Program may participate, as well.
The program seeks both those willing to or interested in speaking only English in order to enhance the language acquisition of international students, scholars and their spouses, and those who would like to enter into an exchange of native languages. Matches will be made based upon expressed interests of the applicant. To participate in this program, please fill out the following Online Application
WHAT’S NEXT?
A match may take up to three weeks to make, but once a match is made, both partners will be sent each other’s e-mail address. You should contact one another and settle on a convenient time and location for a first meeting. Keeping in mind that some participants live off campus and have limited transportation, it is still best to find a place on campus for initial contact.
The first meeting should be about a half hour to one hour in length and divided into two equal parts if your meeting is to be an exchange of language practice. Thereafter you may agree to spending the time on one language or the other, alternately.
Please e-mail the ISSA with confirmation of your first meeting. You may arrange then your time together according to your own schedules. Of course, you will both make good progress in your language skills and in your cultural learning if you meet regularly.
In some instances, because the partnerships depend upon the availability and willingness to participate among native speakers, a match can not be made. If this is the case, you will be notified at the end of the semester in which you applied and invited to apply again for a partner the following semester.
Don’t limit yourself to meeting over a cup of coffee! Here are some other suggestions:
- Share an international meal.
- Visit the Snite or another local museum.
- Attend a lecture, music performance or student presentation.
- Drop in for an evening at the International Coffee House.
- Take in a sporting event like fencing or baseball.
- Show each other family and vacation photos.
- Play a new board game.
- Demonstrate your hobby.
The following links connect you to conversation starters and strategies for conversation:
http://www.edunet.com/nec/u2-2.html
English:
Questions to Spark Conversatoin
Francais:
French Speaking Resources
Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese:
If you know of sites where the spelling has been romanized, please send us your find!