Application
If you are planning to join, please complete the Conversation Club Application.
Conversation Club is sponsored by the Office of International Education and is coordinated by student employees. This program matches international students with Americans to learn and exchange languages and culture.
This program is not available during the summer.
If you have any quesitons, please contact Conversation-Club@iup.edu.
If you are an international student, you might want to
- Improve your English
- Get to know the American culture better
- Get to know more people at IUP
If you are a native English speaker, you might want to
- Help international students with their English
- Get to know another language and culture
- Get to know someone from another culture
International Students
Leaving your family, friends, culture, and all that you know can be a very difficult adjustment. Even after adjusting to your new surroundings, communication can still be a major concern. By talking with a native English speaker, communication can become easier and more natural. A native English speaker can not only help you with communication, but also help you to learn about the new culture in which you are living. Sometimes the language barrier can also make your academic work difficult. Your partner may be able to answer questions that you may have about your work, helping you to spend less time studying.
Native English Speakers
Getting to know people from another culture can be an eye-opening experience. By learning about their culture and them as people, you learn to be a more accepting person with more worldly knowledge. If you would like help learning a foreign language, we can try to pair you with a native speaker from that country also. By teaching each other about yourselves, you can both learn. Ask your partner what he or she would like to work on (speaking, reading, or writing) to help improve English skills or learn about another culture.
Activity Suggestions
- Go shopping
- Play sports or go to the gym
- Do homework
- Make a meal
- Go out to eat
- Go to a concert
- Go for coffee
- Go to a movie (talk about it afterward)
Conversation Topics
- Culture (yours and theirs)
- Family (share pictures)
- Traveling
- Holidays
- Life in Indiana, Pa.
- Your interests
- Classes
- Slang
Suggestions for International Students
- Take your time: If you feel nervous because you are still uncomfortable with the English language, take your time when developing your sentences and ideas. Remember that your partner is there to help you. Try using a different word to explain what you are trying to say, spell it, or draw it.
- Ask questions: American culture can be a big adjustment. If you see, hear about, or experience something that you do not understand, talk to your partner about it. Chances are, it is something that your partner is used to, being native to this country. Also, if there is something that you do not understand from class, when reading, or when writing, do not hesitate to ask your partner. He or she will be happy to help you.
- Teach them about your culture: Many American students find other cultures exciting and would love to learn about one from a native of that country. Feel free to share aspects of your culture with them and even teach them your language. If your partner is taking a class in your language, offer to help with homework if your partner needs it. It can be a privilege for both you and your partner to get first-hand experience with another culture.
- Have fun: Conversation is a great way to become a good listener and speaker in any type of meeting. This is a good opportunity to improve your conversation behavior and way of speaking. By speaking casually with your partner in English, you can practice for a time when you may have to speak more professionally in English.
- Invite them or be invited: Most American students would love to learn more about your culture. By inviting them to your apartment or to eat with you at a restaurant that serves your culture’s food, they will get to know your culture better. By being invited, you will get a chance to learn more about aspects of American culture like food and lifestyle. This not only allows you to share cultures, but gives each of you a good impression of the other culture.
Suggestions for Native Speakers
Getting to people from another culture can be an eye-opening experience; you can learn about their culture and about them as people.
- Be a good listener: Sometimes international students may take time to create sentences and ideas. Encourage them with a nod, or repeat what they said to prompt them. If you don’t understand, don’t be embarrassed, just ask them to say it again or spell it.
- Do they really understand? Make sure your partner understands what you're saying. Many times international students will nod their head or say "yes" when speaking with you. Sometimes this does not mean that they understand what you are saying, they are simply being polite. Clarify what you say by saying it in a different way or asking another question. If you use an idiomatic expression or slang, take the time to explain what it means to your partner.
- Should I correct their mistakes? Usually it is better to listen to your partner with his or her spoken mistakes, unless your partner asks you to correct him or her. If your partner has a continued pattern of mistakes, gently suggest a correction. Most students know they make mistakes and would be glad to receive the correction.
- Be a learner of culture: Exchanging culture is one of the best topics of conversation because most aspects are very different from American life. Topics like opening a bank account, buying a car, seeing a doctor, dating/marriage, and so on are easy topics of conversation for most students.
- Have fun: Conversation is a great way to become a good listener and speaker in any type of meeting. This is a good opportunity to improve your conversation behavior and way of speaking.
- Invite them or be invited: Most international students would love to learn more about American culture. By inviting them to your home or apartment, they will get to know the American lifestyle more easily. By being invited, you will get a chance to learn about aspects of another culture like food and lifestyle. This not only allows you to share cultures, but gives each of you a good impression of the other culture.
