Having a Conversation Partner allows international students to improve their fluency, listening comprehension, pronunciation & grammar in English by using general language outside a classroom. American partners don’t need to tutor or be language specialists. They can be cultural informants based on their personal experience.
- When talking with a non-native speaker, you may need to adjust your manner of speaking slightly (for example, enunciating more carefully or not speaking too fast) so that your partner can understand you more easily.
- Try to balance the speaking that you and your partner do. Resist being dominant in managing the conversation. Let your partner share the responsibility of initiating topics.
- Non-native speakers may need to think a little bit before putting something into words. Try to feel comfortable with these pauses. Encourage your partner, but allow them to struggle a bit to express themselves.
- If your partner doesn’t say very much, you may need to ask them follow-up questions to get them to elaborate more. If what they do say isn’t clear to you, encourage them to try again.
- Your international partner will typically know a lot of English vocabulary, particularly formal academic language, but they may have gaps in their knowledge of everyday English. You should be sensitive to your use of slang, idioms, and culturally based vocabulary. You may need to check their understanding and explain the terms or expressions you use.
