Conversation Partners
Who are Conversation Partners?
Conversation Partners are people of all ages who are interested in meeting people from different cultures. Previous volunteers have included local middle school and high school students,
university students and staff, and other members of the community. Informal conversation with fluent English speakers is an important aspect of learning the language. Students need
to hear “real” English and practice with their peers in personal and informal settings. Many of our previous students and Conversation Partners have formed lasting friendships.
Volunteering to be a Conversation Partner is a way to experience another culture without ever leaving the Storrs campus. Who knows, you may end up visiting our students
in their countries someday!
What do Conversation Partners do?
Conversation Partners play an important role in UCAELI students’ English education.Partners who join Conversation classes will be directed by a UCAELI instructor on how to participate in each class.
Generally, partners will be placed with a small group of UCAELI students who will have some questions or conversation strategy to practice. There may be some cultural topic chosen as the focus for the
conversation or the students may choose a topic of their own. The only requirement of volunteer partners is to speak only in English. Conversation Partners may join classes regularly or just once or twice.
The UCAELI Coordinators will need to know in advance about volunteers’ level of commitment so that teachers
will know who to expect for each class. Coordinator emails are listed below under each program opportunity.
What are the opportunities for Conversation Partner volunteers?
There are three programs that need Conversation Partner Volunteers:
1) Intensive English Program (IEP) – This UCAELI program is for adult learners of English who are mostly between 18 –24 years of age. Many of these students are preparing to enter a
college or university in the U.S. Others are improving their English skills for professional purposes or simply to be able to communicate better. This program is offered year-round in
three sessions. Students in the program study English 22 hours per week from Monday through Friday.
Option A: Partners are needed to join Friday Conversation Classes for one hour from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A UCAELI instructor facilitates the class, so no preparation or previous experience is
needed. The classes meet in the Whetten Graduate Center on the 3rd floor. To register, please contact UCAELI Coordinator Neena Kapoor at: neena.kapoor@uconn.edu
Option B: Conversation Partner volunteers can also be matched with a UCAELI IEP student for a semester to meet at a time that is mutually arranged. Informal meetings usually take place
once a week for an hour at various locations on campus. This is a good opportunity for people interested in language exchange. Those interested in this program can contact
Kim Tran and Julie Shindo at Community Outreach at: convopartner@yahoo.com
2) High School Intensive English Program (HSIEP) – This program is for high school students between the ages of 13 and 17. Students live at the Putnam Science Academy and
come to campus to study English. All the students are from Turkey. During the fall and spring, all students are male and are first
year high school students. This program is offered year round.
Partners are needed to join Conversation Classes for one hour one day per week. A UCAELI instructor facilitates the classes, so no preparation or previous experience is needed.
Please contact UCAELI Coordinator Neena Kapoor at: neena.kapoor@uconn.edu
3) Summer English Experience (SEE) – Students between the ages of 13 and 17 live on campus during a three week English Study/Exploring Culture Program that takes place the final week of July through mid-August. This is a three-week summer program.
The schedule for this program changes each year. Partners are usually 13 to 17 years old. They may join classes, outdoor activities on campus and some local trips.
UCAELI instructors facilitate all classes and activities.
