Vol. 5, No. 1: Spring/Summer 2009
Conversation Exchange Promotes International Friendships
by Jennifer Piurek
International and American students learn about each other’s cultures while practicing English one-on-one
When Korknaz Yildirm came to Bloomington from Turkey last fall for IU’s Intensive English Program (IEP), he knew he’d have the chance to study English in an academic setting with other international students. He hoped his new language skills would result in higher Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
What he didn’t expect was how much his experience would be enhanced by Conversation Exchange, a program that pairs foreign and domestic students for weekly conversation practice.
Through the program, Yildirm had the opportunity to chat informally in English with an American student every week. “IEP gives a lot of general information about how to learn English, but I needed more practice speaking,” explains Yildirm. “I know a lot of international students—but they also don’t know the correct English!”
Having the opportunity to meet weekly with Tom Gatto, an IU junior studying economics through the College of Arts and Sciences, has provided the extra support that Yildirm needs. He and Gatto have remained conversation partners throughout the spring semester, and the relationship has grown; the two get together outside of their scheduled weekly meetings for games of pool and tennis.
“At first we were conversation partners; now we are each other’s good friends,” says Yildirm, who hopes that the two can find more than an hour a week for their conversations.
William Morris, a former English as a second language (ESL) teacher, recently took over leadership responsibilities for Conversation Exchange. He says the program gives both the American students and the international students an opportunity to learn more about another culture while offering international students the chance to practice speaking one-on-one.
“You can watch Friends and you can go to movies and you can read the paper all day long, but until you’re sort of producing the language you don’t get it,” observes Morris. “One of the essential things you need if you’re going to learn another language is an opportunity to speak. Sometimes, because a lot of [American] students are so busy, it’s hard for international students to find people to talk to who can slow down enough to listen to them.”
When Morris lived in Mexico several years ago, he saw firsthand what it was like to be the international visitor who couldn’t understand anyone around him. “If you go overseas, the culture itself is not going to stop to accommodate you. You have to find a person or two who have some time to give you a chance to practice speaking. Conversation Exchange is one way to develop that.”
Of the 250-plus students currently enrolled in the IEP (within the Department of Second Language Studies), 60 signed up for Conversation Exchange in the fall of 2008 and a little more than half were matched with American students. Morris hopes that next fall, through new collaborations with interested undergraduate classes and a stronger online presence, the program will be able to match all interested international students with partners.
While IEP gives international students the chance to learn English—often in preparation for the TOEFL exam and entrance to American universities—Conversation Exchange provides a glimpse into the quirks of American speech patterns and culture.
Panyatham “Ton” Sukonthasab came to IU for IEP in the fall of 2008 from Thailand, joining his mother, a visiting scholar at the university. Though he had learned some English in school growing up, Sukonthasab had never been to America or chatted with native English speakers before coming to Bloomington. His education in spoken English came entirely from American movies and pop songs.
“Conversation Exchange is a good opportunity to learn English by having lunch with my partner [Chris Lephew, an undergraduate in the Kelley School of Business] and talking about our lives,” says Sukonthasab.
“It’s been very helpful because there are some expressions and some things about the culture that I was very shocked when I heard. For example, in my country, you have to stop for the cars coming, but here, the cars stop for you.”
Sukonthasab was also taken aback by the custom of tipping in restaurants. “In Thailand, we don’t give tips because the waiter has a salary,” he says.
Sukonthasab and his partner parted ways in late December, when he returned to his job drafting educational tests in Thailand, but the two will stay in touch. “We e-mail together. I will stay in touch with him—and if he wants to come to Thailand, I will take him on a tour!”
Morris, who teaches some of the seven-week IEP classes in addition to overseeing Conversation Exchange, says it’s crucial for students to get out of the classroom to fully develop their language skills.
When he’s deciding which students to pair (partners are generally same-sex), Morris says he tries to honor the American students’ geographic preference for a partner, making it more likely that they’ll stick with the commitment. Many American students are motivated to take part in the program to enhance their understanding of a particular region, practice their own second-language skills, or prepare for a trip overseas. While the initial pairing is for one semester because so many international students return home after six months, many choose to continue their partnerships into the spring semester.
“My ultimate goal is for these students to create friendships with someone from the United States. Kind of like a face-to-face pen pal,” says Morris, who hopes to see more partners become friends who meet for more than one hour a week.
“I went to a Korean restaurant a couple of weeks ago and saw two Conversation Exchange partners out having fun together. Both of these young ladies are really smart and very personable, and it was nice to see them out together.” says Morris. “I would like to see that more often.”
Gatto first learned of the program through a journalism class and thought it would be fun to meet and assist a student from another country. The pair met weekly at the Herman B Wells Library during the fall semester, and also got together for occasional social outings. When Yildirm wanted to learn more about the Outdoor Adventures Club, Gatto walked him over and helped him communicate his interests.
Over the course of the fall semester, Yildirm’s English improved. “Korknaz lives with Turkish students and usually only talks with Turkish and other international students. His English has steadily improved from the time of that first conversation,” says Gatto. “The best part for me is knowing that he really likes me and knowing he really benefits from talking to an English speaker.”
In addition to the language lessons, Gatto has been able to answer Yildirm’s questions about everything from how people shake hands in America (for most non-business settings, Gatto recommended a casual handshake or high-five as opposed to a firm handshake) to the meaning of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Gatto has enjoyed continuing the meetings throughout spring semester, after which Yildirm will likely return to Turkey and apply for graduate schools in the U.S.
Gatto won’t soon forget his new friend—or the language pointers Yildirm has given him. “He always points out that I have a hard time saying my ‘r’s and don’t enunciate my ‘t’s,” laughs Gatto. “I’ve been consciously trying to improve that.”
Jennifer Piurek is a Web content specialist at Indiana University and a freelance writer in Bloomington.
