Conversation partners & tutoring

What are Conversation Partners?

Conversation Partners is a volunteer program offered by the Language Resource Center in partnership with the Department of Global Cultures & Languages.

Conversation Partners are student volunteers who are proficient in a language other than English. Each week, Conversation Partners meet one-on-one with students who are enrolled in introductory and intermediate language courses offered by the GCL Dept. GCL instructors prepare conversation topics and activities for each weekly session based on the content that students are currently learning in class.

By meeting with a Conversation Partner, students gain 15-minutes of conversation practice in their target language each week, which greatly improves their oral and listening skills and overall language proficiency throughout the course of the semester. 

As fellow students, Conversation Partners provide mentorship, encouragement, and a low-stakes atmosphere in which students feel more comfortable producing in their target language, taking risks, making mistakes, receiving feedback, and thereby developing their language proficiency.

Current languages offered as part of the Conversation Partners program include Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.

If you are interested in learning more, please inquire by contacting the program coordinator.

Interested in becoming a conversation partner?

Please read the information below to learn whether being a Conversation Partner is right for you.

What are the requirements?

• Recommendation from a GCL faculty member
• Two hours per week time commitment during the semester

What are the qualities of a good Conversation Partner?

It takes more than language proficiency to be a good Conversation Partner. A good Conversation Partner should also be:

• able to communicate effectively: listening, speaking, observing
• sensitive to different learning and communication styles
• empathetic and understanding toward others
• dependable, punctual, and organized

What are the benefits of being a Conversation Partner?

• structured target language practice throughout the semester (great for students who can't fit a language course into their schedule)
• greater confidence in the target language
• increased knowledge of GCL course content
• improved interpersonal and communication skills
• satisfaction of helping others learn and grow in their target language

What is the application process?

We are currently seeking conversation partner for the Fall 2023 semester.

Before you apply, reach out a GCL faculty member to request their recommendation. Then complete this sign-up form. Once you have submitted the form, the program coordinator will contact you via email with more information. If you have any questions about the program or would like more information before you apply, please speak with your instructor or email Dane DeVetter.

Language Tutoring at the LRC

Language tutoring at UWL has returned to Language Resource Center. Students interested in connecting with a language tutor can view tutors' availability below and send an email to Dane DeVetter.

If you need assistance with developing, revising, or polishing reports and essays; gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing research materials; or, elevating your writing style, please schedule an appointment at the Writing Center.