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English Language Programs

Conversation Pairs

This program pairs one international student with one domestic student. Over the course of the semester, they will meet weekly, build a lasting friendship, learn about each other's culture, and explore events around Clemson.

Why choose Conversation Pairs?

The following are testimonials from past Conversation Pairs participants:

“It's a great opportunity to learn the cultures and other aspects of American life. I think each and every international student should take this program not only for improving English but also learn about the cultures here.”
Robiul Islam, Chemistry

“This is a very good program for foreigners to make friends and expand their social circle. The people here are so kind!!! Join in, you will have no regrets!”
Xiao Li, Biological Science

“It's an amazing way to get to know people that you otherwise would probably never meet. It is such a joy to get to know different cultures and with Conversation Pairs, you don't have to study abroad to do it.”
Allie Cheves, Bioengineering

“This program provided me an opportunity to learn English in an atmosphere that is different from the academic scene but more like daily life.”
Zhangke Yang, Mechanical Engineering

“I liked getting to talk with someone that was just as interested in my language as I am everyone else's, so it was very interesting to see that dynamic evolve.”
Emma Ohrt, Spanish

Two pairs of students sitting at tables conversing
  • How it works

    Each International student will be paired with a domestic student. Pairs will be asked to meet weekly to learn from one another. Larger seasonal events will be hosted throughout the semester to create an opportunity to get to know and learn from other students participating in the program.

  • How to sign up

    We take new participants at the beginning of every semester.

    Interested in the program? Sign up here.

  • Still have questions?

    Contact Director of English Language Programs, Jen Brondell, for more information.

Student Testimonials

Charan Basireddy

Video Transcript

Hey, I'm Charan. I'm a Com-Science major, I'm doing my masters degree here, and I am in the Conversation Paris program. So there are some things which I might not know before coming to the US. That only the people who lived here would know. So I want to learn those things but I want to learn new things like places around here, meet new people. Me and my conversation partner, Maddie we both did U-NITESnites the music trivia, which was the best. Because I always wanted to go to the music trivia U-NITES thing, but I always had other plans and missed it so many times but, luckily, I made it last time and it has been fun.

I got to know a lot of things so whenever I have a doubt that the thing I am doing is the right way I have no one to go and ask it about so let's say we walk on the left side of the roads in India but here I'm not really sure when I first came should I walk right because the driving is on the right or should I walk on the left? I didn't have anyone else to go and ask that of but once I joined the Conversation Paris program so I asked my conversation partner and she clarified for me. Like there's literally no correct way, you can walk on the left or right.

First of all, the more you speak with other people you would obviously improve your fluency and speaking skills that's the first thing. And also you can get to know more about the like, United States such as when you're speaking with the locals, they know things better than you like food places, or the cultures I don't really know about the Democrats and Republican stuff. I got to know that a little bit I mean. My Conversation Pair this semester, she's learning Japanese, so I got to even learn a few pieces of Japanese.

Sophia Wilson

Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Sophia, I'm a senior political science major and I am a conversation partner.

I chose to join conversation pairs because I saw a flier in the honors college and I wasn't really sure, I had a little bit of free time, so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy doing this, but I feel like I've always enjoyed, I love talking to people, so I thought this would be the perfect thing for me talking with people for an hour straight so that's why I joined.

Even though we're from different cultures and different countries, I think we have a lot of the same ideas so even when we don't agree on things, it's so interesting to hear their perspective since they aren't from the United States and it's always interesting to hear a different perspective.

I would recommend conversation person or somebody else, if you are interested in learning about other cultures if you're interested in going into a field where you will have to have intercultural communication skills and also just if you have a little bit of free time I really enjoy just meeting with new people and I love talking about it. I've talked about it and a lot of job interviews actually because I am looking to go into the nonprofit or government sector and so I think it's really important especially because the United States is so diverse that I had this experience talking to other students that come from other spaces.

Benjamin Dadzie

Video Transcript

My name is Benjamin Michael Dadzie, I am from cape coast. Ghana and I am a first year student in the Masters of Education of Student Affairs Program here at Clemson University, and my assistantship is with Clemson housing and dining as a Graduate Community Director. I decided to join Conversation Pairs because I wanted to make lifelong connections, make new friends and also feel a sense of belonging and inclusion here at Clemson University.

In one of my conversations with my partner, we were talking about Ghanaian food and she expressed interest in one Ghanaian food called Ghana jollof so it is like made with rice and there has been conversations regarding Ghana jollof, and Nigerian jollof I wanted to show her that Ghana jollof is better than Nigerian jollof so then we made a plan and I invited her since I live on campus I invited her to my apartment on one occasion, and that was a Saturday, I got all the ingredients we needed to prepare to jollof, and then she came over to my apartment, and we prepared jollof together.

I would say one thing that I really learned is the fact that Americans do not shy away from trying new things so that they are always open for new experiences even when it comes to like food, they don't mind, like, I know some Americans have Asian food as their favorite, meanwhile I know we have American food but then so, for me one thing that really showed me was like they wanted to go out and have new experiences and try something new you know not just be like do just one thing.

I will simply recommend Conversation Pairs because I feel it helps you make lifelong friends you know it also helps you to to feel a sense of inclusivity and belonging here on Clemson's campus because as I said earlier as an international student just coming in, you need to make friends you know, you have to feel at home, but then I feel this program creates an opportunity for international students and it's not only about improving your English, because some of some of the international students for me in particular when I was in Ghana I learned English even when I was growing up in kindergarten so by then I feel I constantly improve my English but then I feel there's a lot to learn here and being in this program, and I would say it has been a really great experience for me.