For Native Speakers, the program is an opportunity for students to:
- Gain experience in communicating across language barriers
- Receive satisfaction by helping nonnative students feel welcome in the college and by helping them succeed
- Advance intercultural communication skills
- Expand knowledge of other cultures
- Make intercultural friends
- Develop a network of professional contacts
For Nonnative Speakers, the program is an opportunity for students to:
- Expand their vocabulary
- Learn common idioms and expressions
- Practice pronunciation
- Improve in fluency
- Build confidence in speaking English
- Learn to navigate Baruch College, NYC, and U.S. culture
- Make new American friends
- Develop a network of professional contacts
Testimonials
I gained confidence in speaking English and I can speak English more fluently now.
It’s an awesome program that can help you improve your communication skills, learn about American culture, and make friends.
This is a great opportunity to interact and communicate with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
It is a good program to help international students improve their English and learn American culture.
It is an easy way to get out of your comfort zone that often prevents you from further development.
I learned to appreciate the richness of the variety of cultures in Baruch and it motivated me to learn more about all of these students from all over the world. I would definitely love to do this again!
Since Baruch is one of the most diverse schools in the country, it is fitting that we have this program; it strengthens our brand and helps make the Baruch college experience special and unique.
The conversation partners program is a hidden gem at Baruch that holds many personal and professional benefits. Being able to communicate (literally, with a language barrier) and be empathetic are key traits for any successful professional. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people.
It’s a good way to make friends and to learn about other cultures. Meeting with my partner definitely helped to put things in perspective for me and to widen my mindset.
This is a great program to meet other people whom you would have not gotten a chance to meet otherwise.
I made a new friend who is international and has a lot of great experiences to share with me. It was a lot of fun to see a different perspective.
I love the Conversation Partners Program!! It is amazing to have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and help them succeed in their life!!
I would absolutely recommend conversation partners to other students. The most prominent reason to join, I think, is to network and socialize with others within our commuter school, in a cool one-on-one partnership working towards a greater good.