Goal of CP Program CP Application CP Resources CP Pictures CP Activities Contact
Intensive English Program (IEP)
Conversation Partners Program
Western Washington University
Goal of Conversation Partners Program:
The Conversation Partners program was created to provide a rewarding experience
where all who participate can learn about other cultures while establishing a friendship
with someone from another country.
How it works:
International students in the Intensive English Program are
matched up one-on-one with conversational partners for the purpose of getting together,
talking and practicing conversational English, and just having fun. Conversation Partners
can meet on-campus or off-campus and can participate in a wide variety of activities.
Conversation Partners can meet for coffee, have a meal together, go shopping, go to a movie,
play tennis, go see a concert or a play, go hiking, visit a museum, travel to a neighboring
city such as Seattle or Vancouver, B.C., go camping, visit the San Juan Islands, etc.
The possibilities are essentially limitless - get out there and have fun together!!!
As the Conversation Partners program is a class for IEP students, there is a requirement
for the number of hours that Conversation Partners meet. IEP students are required to
keep a record of their meetings and to turn in that record at the end of the quarter to
get credit for the class. During the academic year (Fall, Winter & Spring quarters),
IEP students are required to meet for a minimum of 8 hours with their partners; during
the shorter Summer quarter, a minimum of 6 hours in necessary for credit. Given the
wide variety of possible Conversation Partner activities, meeting this hourly requirement
is a very easy task and it is not uncommon for IEP students to turn in many more hours
than is required. As they say, "time flies when you're having fun"!
Do you want to be a Conversation Partner?
Please fill out the short application and return it to Kirsten Rutschman
(Conversation Partners Program Coordinator) at: Kirsten.Rutschman@wwu.edu
or you can drop it off in person at the IEP office, which is located
upstairs in the Steam Plant Building directly behind the Fine Arts Building.
Conversation Partner Application
Conversation Partners Resources:
Conversation Partner Meeting Record
Conversation Partner Activity Ideas Guide
Helpful Guidelines for Conversation Partners (for IEP Students )
Helpful Guidelines for Conversation Partners (for non-IEP Students )
Conversation Partners Pictures:
Do you have any Conversation Partner pictures you would like to share with others?
Please send them to the e-mail address below and they will be posted on this website!
Conversation Partner Activities:
Want something to do with your Conversation Partner?
Check below for some activities
that you and your partner can go to!
*Activity Ideas
Click here
to download a list of activities in and around Bellingham!
*Farmers Market
Saturdays: Downtown
Wednesdays: Fairhaven
*Fairhaven Outdoor Movies
Saturday evenings in Fairhaven
Village Green
*Free Outdoor Concerts
Thursday evenings in Elizabeth
Park, 6:00-8:00
Free! Take Bus 232.
*WWU Sports
Meet your Conversation Partner and go cheer for the Vikings
at a Western men's or women's game!
For more information and sports/team schedules,
click on the WWU Vikings official website link below:
Western Washington University Vikings Athletics Website
*Western's Associated Student Productions!
Meet your Conversation Partner on-campus and go see a great movie for super cheap (or free)!
Hang out with your partner and see a cool music concert in the VU Multipurpose Room!
Go see live music in the Underground Coffeehouse!
For more information and a list of different events,
click on the A.S. Productions website link below:
Associated Student Productions Website
Contact:
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the
Conversation Partners program, please feel free to contact Kirsten Rutschman at:
e-mail: Kirsten.Rutschman@wwu.edu
phone: (360) 650 - 4073
Intensive English Program Website