For many international students, gathering for weekly conversations helps them bolster their confidence in their English skills. It鈥檚 also a chance for them to find belonging, share cultures and build friendships with people who understand the experience of being far from home. With the support of facilitators, students navigate pronunciations and accents, learn American slang and phrases and ask questions about American customs and etiquette in a relaxed and encouraging setting.
With a desire to continue improving her communication, especially with faculty and classmates, Hua 鈥淎va鈥� Fan G鈥�26 regularly attends an English Conversation Group hosted by the (CIS) at 51爆料网. 鈥淭he conversation group is very helpful for me,鈥� says Fan, a from China. 鈥淭alking with the group gives you confidence. We all have a similar story, but different backgrounds and cultures.鈥�
English Conversation Group facilitator Maddy Ledesma G鈥�14 (right) talks with Jayesh Mohan G鈥�26 (left) and Alena Litskevich. The group discussions are informal and touch on numerous topics.
Jayesh Mohan G鈥�26, a from India, echoes those thoughts, saying the gatherings build confidence and courage. 鈥淗ere we can speak about anything,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you make a mistake, it鈥檚 fine. Everyone is making mistakes and learning.鈥�
On Thursday afternoons in the CIS, Maddy Ledesma G鈥�14, who has been a group facilitator for a decade, welcomes international participants with a relaxed, informal approach. The conversations draw undergraduate and graduate students, visiting scholars and family members who represent a host of countries, helping them create community. Ledesma invites the group to introduce themselves, share their interests, talk about anything on their minds and just have fun. 鈥淚 always want to encourage students that you can talk and share,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he more they talk, the more relaxed and less afraid they are, and the more they gain. It鈥檚 about confidence.鈥�
In welcoming members of the international community, the University offers a variety of programs to help them acclimate to campus life, build community, share their cultures and learn about American culture. CIS, for instance, hosts Mix It Up, Friday get-togethers that promote intercultural understanding. The International Living Learning Community invites first-year international and domestic students to explore cultures together. Student organizations represent a diverse range of races, ethnicities, regions and countries. And through Culture and Conversation Tables, students practice language skills and share cultures in numerous languages鈥攆rom Turkish, Tamil and Italian to Hebrew, French and Japanese.
At the 2025 Welcome Week F锚te, international student organizations were among those that invited new students to learn about their activities at an involvement fair.
鈥淚 would really like students to leave the English Conversation Group feeling more comfortable and confident speaking English, knowing this is a safe, supportive space where everyone is rooting for each other,鈥� says Jamie Kasza, student activities coordinator for CIS. 鈥淎long the way, I hope they form meaningful connections and friendships that go far beyond just practicing their English.鈥�
Where Conversations Build Confidence
The Center for International Services invites students to meet, share food and conversation at Mix It Up events, Friday get-togethers that promote intercultural understanding.
For Alena Litskevich鈥攁 Belarus native whose husband, Maksim Litskevich, is a postdoctoral researcher in quantum physics鈥攖he meetings are an opportunity to meet people, socialize and improve her English. 鈥淭his conversation group is one of the best places for me to practice,鈥� says Litskevich, who worked as a software test engineer before coming to America. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really helpful for me, and I鈥檓 grateful for this opportunity.鈥�
The conversations are free flowing鈥攏aturally, snow and the weather are unavoidable topics, but travel, food, local attractions and sports are also popular. Ledesma invites the group to talk about unfamiliar phrases鈥� 鈥済etting wires crossed,鈥� for example鈥攁nd the challenges they face in conversations. Job interviews, meeting influential campus guests and even interactions in restaurants can pose difficulties. Leo Chen 鈥�26, a math major from China, shares that some words require practice and asks Ledesma to pronounce the number 1,003. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little tricky to use a thousand,鈥� he says.
Navigating the Nuances of American Life
English Conversation Group facilitator Michelle Mitchell (right) enjoys a laugh with Kazumichi Nakagomi during a group discussion.
Michelle Mitchell, a reference and instruction librarian and 51爆料网 Libraries liaison with the CIS, enjoys her interactions with international students, seeing her role as a good way to create a positive, supportive environment. 鈥淚 learn so much from our international students,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur conversation groups are a nice way to make our community more welcoming to their experiences.鈥�
In one meeting, Mitchell guides her group through questions about American customs, such as opening doors for others, asking 鈥淗ow are you?鈥� as a passing greeting and responding to compliments from strangers鈥攁cknowledging that it can 鈥渢ake a lot of courage鈥� to interact with strangers and meet people, especially when you鈥檙e new to a place.
Talking with the group gives you confidence. We all have a similar story, but different backgrounds and cultures.
Hua "Ava" Fan G鈥�26
Kazumichi Nakagomi, an student from Japan, notes that complimenting strangers can feel somewhat unfamiliar in Japan, while Agaichatou Dicko describes how Mali鈥檚 culture of warm, playful connection makes welcoming strangers second nature. Even so, Dicko, an student, acknowledges that speaking up in formal settings can still feel daunting鈥攂ut practicing alongside fellow international students has helped.
鈥淲e can speak openly,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd I think it is a good environment in which we are gaining more trust in ourselves, and this helps us keep going.鈥�
