ESOL Conversation Program

Would you like to improve your spoken English? Do you want to make new friends? Are you interested in learning more about others' culture and customs? Join the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Conversation Program. This program assists international students to improve their English speaking and pronunciation. Conversation Groups Meet weekly with a small group of other ESOL participants and an English speaking volunteer leader for ninety minute discussions of world cultures and customs, university life and current events. Group leaders may also teach English pronunciation, idioms, and vocabulary. Conversation Partners Conversation Partners Talk one-on-one with an English speaking volunteer to increase English fluency. There are a limited number of speaking partners.

Contact: Jiyeun Sung Coordinator, ESOL Programs umdesol@gmail.com 301-314-5919

Students

How do I register for the program?
Complete the student pre-registration form. You will not be contacted until August about your assignment. Please register by Monday, August 31.

Is there orientation?
Student information sessions will be held the week of February 16. You will receive your partner/group assignment at the session. Please read the fall 2009 student information session powerpoint presentation to learn more about the program.

Fee Information
Any international student, faculty/staff member, or visiting scholar at the University of Maryland may participate at no charge. ESOL students who are not members of the University of Maryland College Park community must pay a $75 fee to participate. The fee must be paid at the information and registration session.

Do you need English grammar instruction?
If you are currently enrolled as a University of Maryland student, make an appointment with an LAS learning specialist. You can receive assistance with writing, grammar, note taking, and other language skills. Schedule appointments online at https://LASonline.umd.edu or visit our appointments page for more information.

Volunteers

• Would you like to give back to the University of Maryland community?
• Do you need to gain tutoring experience or earn service hours?
• Are you interested in learning more about others' cultures and customs?

Become a volunteer with the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Conversation Program in the Learning Assistance Service Center. This program helps international students improve their English speaking and pronunciation. You do not need experience in teaching English or be a native speaker, but you must be fluent in English.

Volunteers agree to

• Participate for the entire 10-weeks of service
• Attend required meetings (2-3) throughout the semester
• Be on time and prepared for each conversation session
• Record each session's attendance on-line by midnight of the session day
• Use session times to practice English conversation with students only, i.e., NOT to run my personal errands, eat lunch, and so on, while students or partner tag along
• Read email correspondence from the ESOL program, participate in surveys, program evaluations, and provide feedback

How do I register to be a volunteer?
Complete the volunteer pre-registration form. You will be contacted by e-mail in August about your assignment. Please register by Monday, August 31.

Is there orientation?
Volunteer information sessions will be held the week of September 7. Please read the fall 2009 volunteer information session PowerPoint to learn more about the program.

What have volunteer leaders done with their ESOL students in the past?
The most common activity is simply talking. You should plan conversation topics before your sessions.

Some volunteers do activities with their groups or speaking partners. This is especially helpful at the beginning when you do not know your student well or your student's English is very limited. It is important to be sensitive to your ESOL student's language ability, as well as his or her personality. Beginning students have more difficulty in noisy situations (such as a party, coffee hour, or crowded restaurants). Some suggested activities include:

-Bowling at the Stamp Union
-International coffee hour
-University events
-Studying (e.g. asking the student questions concerning test material)
-Playing or watching sports
-Picnicking on the quad
-Attending campus entertainment
-Playing games (board games, cards, etc.)

How will we communicate if my ESOL student doesn't speak English?
Most ESOL students already know some English and are taking credit courses at the University. However, for good communication speak slowly and clearly, use simple language, and avoid abstract topics. Be aware of expressions you use and explain them to your ESOL student.

Do we have to meet at the same time every week?
Conversation groups should meet in the same place at the same time every week. Speaking partners have more flexibility, but sessions should be relatively fixed in time and location. Setting a regular time and place makes maintaining attendance easier. Rescheduling sessions by telephone is often difficult because some students have no telephone, live with others who speak no English, or just have difficulty understanding English over the phone. Consequently, messages regarding meetings are frequently misunderstood, garbled, or simply not passed on. All students have email, so if you must reschedule, use email to set up the time and place. Always remember to update the session information in the database when rescheduling and contact the ESOL program coordinator.

What if I cannot meet with my student?
If you know in advance that you cannot meet with your student, e-mail the ESOL conversation coordinator at least one week before your absence, and she will find a substitute for your session. If your absence is last minute, e-mail and call your student to let him or her know that you need to cancel that week's session. You may reschedule the missed session if it is convenient for you and your student.

What if my student asks me grammar questions that I cannot answer?
If your student is currently enrolled at the University of Maryland, encourage him or her make an individual appointment with a learning specialist in the Learning Assistance Service. They can help your student with writing, grammar, note taking, and other language skills. If your student does not attend the University of Maryland, encourage him or her to register with the Maryland English Institute which offers an intensive academic ESOL program.

What if my student asks me to edit a 300 page paper over the weekend?
You may decide to edit your student's written assignment with your student if it is short enough to do during your session. Do not rewrite the assignment! Instead guide your student to see the English errors. For longer written assignments, refer your student to the Senior Volunteer Service Corps. The Corps will match your student with a retired volunteer who will help edit longer written assignments.

Registration

Students

• Complete the student pre-registration form
• You will be contacted to attend an orientation session (we have switched registration systems - it is important that you attend for this information
• Enroll in your conversation group online

Volunteers

IMPORTANT - OUR REGISTRATION PROCESS HAS CHANGED

• Complete the volunteer pre-registration form
• You will be contacted to attend an orientation session
• Attend the volunteer database training and enter your availability