Program Description

The Conversation PARDner Program (CPP) is a peer program that promotes intercultural competence through virtual conversations on Zoom. The CPP pairs upper-level domestic students with incoming international students. Each pair schedules conversations via Zoom or another video-type social media, 1 hour per week, for 6 weeks in the summer. Participants are encouraged to practice language-learning activities provided by the English for Academic Purpose Center and reinforce topics included in the bi-weekly summer e-newsletter sent to all incoming international students through the Office of International Student Advising. CPs will continue to engage the international participants during the International Orientation and lead the Group Chat sessions during the fall semester.

Program Objectives and Goals

By the end of the program, the CPs will:

  • Develop an awareness of cultural differences
  • Develop intercultural competence in the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people of other cultures
  • Obtain knowledge in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

By the end of the program, the non-native English speaking students will:

  • Improve speaking skills in terms of fluency and speech comprehensibility
  • Improve listening comprehension skills
  • Gain confidence in communicating in English
  • Develop intercultural competence in the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people of other cultures

Hear why students decided to join the CPP

Group Chat Sessions

Click here to see the group chat schedule for the FA2023 semester. 

Student Handbook

2023 Conversation PARDner Program Student Handbook

Student Application

Click here to apply for the 2023 Conversation PARDner Program. The application deadline is June 9 at 5:00PM Eastern Daylight Time. 

Our CP Team

Susanna Hontz ‘2024
Major: International Affairs, Asian Studies Minor
Hobbies: playing trumpet, traveling, listening to music, watching movies, and playing tennis
Campus involvement: Refugee Action, Asian Cultural Association, International Students Association, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, and Pep Band
Ruben
Ruben Hernandez ‘2024
Major: Mathematics & Economics, Spanish Minor
Hobbies: Long walks with Music, Riding electric scooter, Video Games, and binge tv shows
Campus Involvement: Whitman Fellow, Brothers of Lafayette, Peer Note-taker, Lafayette Data Community 
Liana
Liana Wijetunga ‘2026
Major: Geology with a Biology minor
Hobbies: Reading, cooking, watching spooky movies, spending time with friends and animals
Campus involvement: Mock Trial, International Students Association, Taekwondo Club, Geology Research Assistant, Arts Society 

Contacts

All questions about the program are welcome. Please feel free to contact the program coordinators: Tingting Kang, Director of EAP Center at kangt@lafayette.edu/610.330.3187 or Janine Block, Assistant Director of Intercultural Development at blockj@lafayette.edu/610.330.5546.