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Professor starts group, tries to bridge the language barrier at URI
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
02/26/08 - While studying overseas, the language barrier can be an almost insurmountable obstacle. In higher education, effective communication is vitally important to academic success, and mastering the local language can be frustrating for non-native speakers.
Now, foreign students studying at the University of Rhode Island will have a new opportunity to hone their English skills.
Dr. Luz Rodriguez, director of the English language studies program, has organized the new "Conversation Partner Program," which seeks to unite American students with international students studying abroad at URI.
The Conversation Partner Program held an informational session yesterday at the University Club. Among the approximately 30 attendees were representatives of various languages, including French, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.
The program calls for students to partner up and schedule meetings at their own convenience to practice the English language. At the end of the semester the participants will submit a log of the date, duration and topic of each conversation.
"It's not as structured because ... it's volunteer," Rodriguez said. "I don't want to impose a lot, I know students are already burdened with academic work."
Rodriguez said she hopes the program will be equally beneficial to both native and non-native English speakers.
For native English speakers, participation in the program is strictly voluntary, although there is the possibility that it may be able to fulfill the service learning component of some foreign language courses, said Rodriguez. Other potential benefits that Rodriguez sees for those who participate include the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to learn about other cultures and to make friends.
Rocco Volpe, a freshman from Connecticut, agreed with Rodriguez's assessment of the opportunities available.
"I'm interested in politics and international relations so I think this fits in pretty well with what I'm in, and it's an opportunity to meet new people and talk about other cultures and leave the comfort zone of our culture," Volpe said.
Now, foreign students studying at the University of Rhode Island will have a new opportunity to hone their English skills.
Dr. Luz Rodriguez, director of the English language studies program, has organized the new "Conversation Partner Program," which seeks to unite American students with international students studying abroad at URI.
The Conversation Partner Program held an informational session yesterday at the University Club. Among the approximately 30 attendees were representatives of various languages, including French, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.
The program calls for students to partner up and schedule meetings at their own convenience to practice the English language. At the end of the semester the participants will submit a log of the date, duration and topic of each conversation.
"It's not as structured because ... it's volunteer," Rodriguez said. "I don't want to impose a lot, I know students are already burdened with academic work."
Rodriguez said she hopes the program will be equally beneficial to both native and non-native English speakers.
For native English speakers, participation in the program is strictly voluntary, although there is the possibility that it may be able to fulfill the service learning component of some foreign language courses, said Rodriguez. Other potential benefits that Rodriguez sees for those who participate include the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to learn about other cultures and to make friends.
Rocco Volpe, a freshman from Connecticut, agreed with Rodriguez's assessment of the opportunities available.
"I'm interested in politics and international relations so I think this fits in pretty well with what I'm in, and it's an opportunity to meet new people and talk about other cultures and leave the comfort zone of our culture," Volpe said.