Campus Conversation Partners

guidelines and tips

MEETING GUIDELINES Meet for one hour per week consistently throughout the semester.

Meet in public locations, preferably on campus.

If you can’t make a meeting, inform your partner ahead of time.

If your partner frequently cancels, contact the CCP program.

COMMUNICATION ETIQUETTE Both partners should participate equally.

If you're more talkative, invite your partner to share their thoughts with prompts like, “What do you think?”

If you're quieter or shy, challenge yourself to contribute more.

Don’t worry about mistakes—just try! Your partner is there to help and learn about you.

Give full attention and avoid distractions (e.g., cell phones, private conversations, or checking the time).

Be patient; many EAL partners may feel unsure about their language skills.

Use various methods: rephrase, give examples, write or draw (always bring pen and paper!).

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace; slow down if needed.

Avoid slang and complex phrases. Write down expressions and help your partner learn everyday English words.

For sensitive questions, start with, “I hope it’s okay if I ask…” to show respect.

FIRST MEETING Teach your partner how to pronounce your name or give them a helpful trick to remember it. For example, “Sue sounds like ‘shoe,’ but with an ‘s’ instead of ‘sh.’”

Share your pronouns and discuss whether they are important to you.

Let your partner know If you prefer to be called by a nickname.

GENERAL CONVERSATION TOPICS Current job or intended major Family and friends Hobbies, sports, or activities Favorite places in the Iowa City area Hometowns Vacations (planned or completed) Festivals, holidays, or seasonal memories US academic culture

EXPANDED CONVERSATION TOPICS Holidays Objective: Learn about holidays and how they are celebrated in different cultures.

Preparation: Bring a 12-month calendar and list the holidays celebrated in your country.

Conversation Ideas: Compare common holidays (e.g., New Year’s, Valentine’s Day).

Discuss religious and national celebrations, legal holidays, etc.

Travel and Transportation Objective: Discuss geography and tourist attractions.

Preparation: Bring maps or an atlas.

Conversation Ideas: Show travel routes on a map and talk about how you prepared for your trip to the U.S. Discuss places you’ve visited and recommend places for vacations or school breaks.

Food Objective: Learn about daily meals and special celebration foods.

Preparation: Consider eating together at a café or exchanging recipes.

Conversation Ideas: Discuss typical meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Talk about food traditions for holidays, weddings, etc.

Family Objective: Explore family structures and domestic lifestyles.

Preparation: Bring family photos or a family tree.

Conversation Ideas: Share family memories, vacation stories, and pet experiences.

Rites of Passage Objective: Learn about customs marking important life milestones.

Conversation Ideas: Compare birthday traditions, marriage customs, and funeral rites.

Discuss rituals, beliefs, and superstitions tied to these events.

Customs Objective: Learn about cultural behaviors, etiquette, and beliefs.

Preparation: Do research on your partner’s country.

Conversation Ideas: Talk about cultural behaviors (greeting, tipping, dating).

Discuss culture shock and adaptation to U.S. life.

Education Objective: Compare educational systems and methods.

Conversation Ideas: Talk about each other's academic paths and childhood education.

Discuss how English and cultural knowledge are learned.

Jobs Objective: Understand job types and employment practices.

Conversation Ideas: Share experiences with part-time jobs and internships.

Compare resume content and work expectations in different countries.

Communication Objective: Learn about language, gestures, and communication styles.

Conversation Ideas: Discuss greeting rituals, language translation challenges, and nonverbal communication.

Explore cultural differences in expressing emotions.

Numeric Systems Objective: Discuss currencies, measurement systems, and weather.

Conversation Ideas: Talk about climate, seasons, and metric vs. U.S. measurements.

Sports and Recreation Objective: Learn about national pastimes and hobbies.

Conversation Ideas: Discuss favorite hobbies and popular sports.

Explain the basics of national sports like baseball vs. cricket.

Arts and Entertainment Objective: Discuss cultural values through fun activities.

Conversation Ideas: Compare music, dance, literature, and entertainment.

Talk about how movies and TV reflect cultural values.

Issues Objective: Explore social, economic, religious, and political issues.

Conversation Ideas: Discuss gender roles, trade, politics, civil rights, and more.

Share insights on each other's religious and political beliefs