Conversation Partners

    The Conversation Partner Program offers current students and the local community with an opportunity to learn about a different culture whilst helping an international student to learn about the local culture and practice their conversational skills. A Conversation Partner is an English speaking volunteer, often a university student, who meets with an IEP student 2-4 hours each week for informal conversational practice.  The partner and student may choose to meet fewer or a greater number of hours each week, depending on their particular schedules and interests.

     Conversations are informal and there is no predetermined “curriculum” per se.  However, the Office of Intensive English Programs provides partners with a handbook of tips and ideas, suggested conversation topics, pronunciation practice sheets, and other resources that they often find useful.

     Upon request, the Intensive English Program at Southeast Missouri State University will recruit and assign conversation partners to Program students who can benefit from structured conversational practice.

For further details on this program, you may contact the Director of the Intensive English Program, Dr David Price at (573) 986-7303 or e-mail at dwprice@semo.edu