Conversation Pardner Program

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 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 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.