Conversation Partners at the Intensive English Program (IEP)
About the IEP
Students from all over the world come to the IEP to study English. Most students are preparing for undergraduate or graduate study at CSU or another American university, while other students are studying English to help them achieve various personal or professional goals.
IEP students take classes in grammar, reading, writing, and listening/speaking. All classes have five levels, including beginning, intermediate, and advanced, and classes meet five days a week for seven weeks (in other words, the IEP has two terms per semester). IEP classes take place all year long, during the spring, summer, and fall semesters.
The importance of the Conversation Partner program
While IEP students are mainly focusing on improving their academic English skills, they also need opportunities to meet and interact with English speakers from outside the IEP community. Having conversation partners join them in their listening/speaking classes gives IEP students a chance to meet new people, practice their listening & speaking skills, and make connections with the larger CSU and Fort Collins community, and conversation partners also benefit from learning about IEP students’ cultures and traditions.
How the Conversation Partner program works?
Conversation partner volunteers sign up for one day/time slot (80 minutes on either Wed. or Thurs., either in the morning or afternoon depending on the IEP’s current schedule).
Do Conversation Partners need to prepare anything before they arrive ?
Volunteers don’t need to prepare anything; they should just show up regularly and be prepared to participate.
Does this sound like something you would like to do?
If so, we would love to have you join us as a conversation partner!
For more information, please contact:
Beth Cloven, IEP Curriculum Supervisor and coordinator of the Conversation Partner program, at beth.cloven@colostate.edu or 491-7900.
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