esol conversation program -...
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ESOL Conversation Program
General
Information
ESOL
Participants Volunteers Resources Newsletters Contact/FAQ
Ziwei’s Conversation Group
Hyunjong, Ziwei, Mengying, Qing and Yongdan
General Information
For Latest Program Updates, please visit our Program Blog.
Vision and Goals
The UMD ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Conversation Program is a student-centered
community that specifically aims to bring students and community members from diverse cultures together
through authentic language learning/teaching, cultural exchange and passion for minorities.
Services
Beginning Conversation Partners
Intermediate Conversation Partners
Advanced Conversation Partners
Beginning Conversation Groups
Intermediate Conversation Groups
Advanced Conversation Groups
Note: Conversation Groups: Meet weekly for 90 minutes with up to 8 ESOL participants and a volunteer. Each
group meets for 10 sessions throughout the semester.
Conversation Partners: Meet one-on-one with a volunteer weekly for an hour each week. Each pair meets
for 10 sessions throughout the semester
Proficiency Levels
More detailed explanation will be given at the registration session. For specific
definition of the proficiency level, please click on the Proficiency Guideline.
Transportation
Parking is free after 4:00 p.m. in numbered lots (lots 1-19)
*Note: numbered lots have white background and black letters (Lot 1 is
recommended)
Parking permits for program volunteers may be granted through DOT but are not guaranteed.
*Shuttle bus letters are no longer distributed for ESOL participants. ESOL participants who wish to ride
Shuttle UM should use their UID card or buy a semester pass from DOT. For more information on
transportation, please go to Regulations under Shuttle UM on Department of Transportation’s website.
(ESOL Participants’ Tabs)
Interested in Practicing English and Learning about different Cultures?
Carrie Lebaron’s Conversation Group Feng, Alex, Zhiwei, Carrie, Juan Li (left to right)
"Successful mastery of a foreign language will depend to a great extent on learners' autonomous ability both to
take initiative in the classroom and to continue their journey to success beyond the classroom and the teacher"
~ Douglas Brown
Who can join the ESOL Program?
Anyone!
All UMD members including students (both graduate and undergraduate), staff, faculty, international
visiting scholars can join the ESOL Conversation Program as students free of charge.
Anyone can join. Community members and people who are not currently a UMD member can join for a
$75 fee per semester.
What do we talk about? What do we learn?
The conversation topics include world cultures (including American cultures), values, beliefs, histories, and
current events. There are suggestive guidelines available to volunteers and students but the conversations are
open to students and volunteers’ interests.
Where do we meet each week?
Conversation Partners can meet anywhere on campus in a public place. Some good places to go are Stamp,
cafes on campus, and the libraries.
Conversation Group members will be assigned a classroom on campus. Unless pre-arranged with the volunteer
and the program coordinator, the groups should meet in the classroom weekly.
When do we meet each week?
The schedules for the conversation sessions will be available on Tutor Trac once volunteers enter their
availabilities. ESOL participants will be able to view online the conversation sessions that are open and sign-up
for the ones in which they can attend.
Why should I join?
This is a great way to meet people from other cultures, fields of studies while practice conversational English!
How do I join?
Steps:
1. Fill out the Student Pre-registration form for Fall 2012.
2. Come to the in-person registration session.
3. Sign up for conversation session(s) online on Tutor Trac home page.
4. Wait for the final e-mail confirmation from the program coordinator.
More information will be given at the registration sessions.
Student pre-registration ends Wednesday, September 5, 2012.
Student online registration starts 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2012.
Student online registration ends 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 20, 2012.
Student Registration Sessions
Target Audience Date Time Location
New Students 9/11 (Tuesday) 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EGR 1202 (Martin Hall)
Returning Students Only 9/12 (Wednesday) 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. JMZ 0105(Jimenez Building)
Returning Students Only 9/13 (Thursday) 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. SHM 2102 (Shoemaker Building)
New Students/Make-up Session 9/14 (Friday) 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. SHM 2102 (Shoemaker Building)
Students who cannot make the above dates and time should contact the program coordinator immediately to pre-
arrange make-up sessions.
(Volunteers’ Tab)
Would you like to join the ESOL Program as Volunteers?
Volunteers and LAS staff members at the Spring 2012 ESOL End-of-Semester Social
"Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever
has." ~ Margaret Mead
Volunteer pre-registration ends Wednesday, September 5, 2012.
Volunteer Registration and Training Sessions start the week of September 4, 2012.
Late Volunteer Pre-registration may be available. Please check Program Blog: Updates for more
information.
Volunteer Registration and Training Sessions Target Audience Date Time Location Session 1 Returning Volunteers 9/4 (Tuesday) 1:00-2:00 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&4 Session 2
Returning Volunteers 9/5 (Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&4
Session 3 New Volunteers 9/6 (Thursday) 5:00-6:15 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&1
Session 4 New Volunteers 9/7 (Friday) 12:00 -1:15 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&4 Session 5 New Volunteers 9/10 (Monday) 12:00- 1:15 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&4 Session 6 Make-up (new and
returning) 9/14 (Friday ) 2:30p-3:45 p.m. Lefrak Hall Lab 3&4
o Returning Volunteers are encouraged to attend either session 1 and 2. However, if you cannot make it to either
of those two sessions, then it is also okay to sign up for the other sessions. There will be a brief program
introduction for the new volunteers.
o If you need to change the time of your Registration and Training Session to another session, please e-mail the
program coordinator so she can set up your account and make sure there are enough materials.
o If you cannot make it to any of the sessions above, please contact the program coordinator.
Who can join the ESOL Program as volunteers?
Anyone who can speak English fluently can join the ESOL Conversation Program as volunteers. The volunteers
do not have to be native speakers of English and do not need to have prior teaching experience. However, the
volunteer must attend the Registration and Training session and other mandatory training workshops. Program
coordinator will provide tips and guidelines on how to help ESOL participants to meet their learning goals and
language needs.
What do the volunteers have to do?
The volunteers can facilitate conversation sessions to help international students, visiting scholars and
community members to practice their oral communication skills. Each volunteer can determine the direction
and flow of the conversation sessions. Suggestive session guidelines provide conversations around topics such
as world cultures (including American cultures), values, beliefs, histories, global current events and more.
Where do we meet each week?
Conversation Partners can meet anywhere on campus in a public place. Some good places to go are Stamp,
cafes on campus, and the libraries. Volunteers can request to have a classroom on campus to meet with their
conversation partners. Volunteers should indicate so to the program coordinator at the registration session.
Conversation Group members will be assigned a classroom on campus. Unless pre-arranged with the students
and the program coordinator, the groups should meet in the classroom weekly. Program coordinator will stop by
conversation groups in order to observe and get to know the students and volunteers on a deeper level.
When do we meet each week?
The schedules for the conversation sessions are relatively flexible. Volunteers can choose time frame that are
convenient for their schedule. Volunteers are asked to indicate several available time slots so that more students
would be likely to be available for their sessions. The time frame for the start time of the sessions should be
Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. /8 p.m. at the latest (7:30 p.m. for Conversation Groups and 8 p.m.
for Conversation Partners. No groups should end after 9 p.m.
Why is it good for me to join?
This is a great way to meet people from other cultures, fields of studies while practice your leadership and
teaching skills. In addition, you also learn about other cultures and ideas through joining the program. You may
also request the program coordinator to observe you and write a recommendation letter for you.
How do I join?
Steps:
1. Fill out the Volunteer Pre-registration Form for Fall 2012.
2. Come to the in-person Registration and Training session.
3. Make your availabilities for the semester at the session on Tutor Trac home page.
4. Wait for the final e-mail confirmation from the program coordinator.
Spring 2012 Volunteer Training Session #2
Guest Speaker: John Fink from MICA
Resources
Program Related Websites
o University of Maryland ESOL Conversation Program Facebook Page
Check out our Facebook page for more updated information about our program!
Additional information and updates will be posted on our program's Facebook page.
o UMD ESOL Conversation Program Blog
Latest Program Updates
ESOL Conversation Program Online Committee
Resources for Volunteers and Students
More Information on Student and Volunteer Registration
o Schedule an appointment or take attendance with Learning Assistance Service
How to take attendance using TutorTrac:
Tutorial (video clip) on how to take attendance online
Screen shots on how to take attendance
Conversation Partner Attendance Log
Conversation Group Attendance Log
o Previous Program Guidelines and Supplementary Guidelines
Fall 2011 Guideline
Fall 2011 Supplementary Guideline
Spring 2012 Guideline
Spring 2012 Supplementary Guideline
Additional program-related documents will be uploaded on this website.
Fall 2012 Guideline (Group)
Fall 2012 Supplementary Guideline (Group)
Fall 2012 Guideline (Partner)
Fall 2012 Supplementary Guideline (Partner)
Time Capture Worksheet (Group and Partner)
Additional Resources for Volunteers and Students
o About.com Teaching Resources
o Conversation Questions by Topics
o Mini-Lesson Plans, games, ideas and more
o Common expressions in conversations
o Site with grammar tips
Rachel Alade’s Conversation Group
Arian, Armin, Yu-Hsin, Rachel, Maritza, Azadeh (and her son Jiwan), and Hui (from left to right)
ESOL Newsletters
o Spring 2010
o Spring 2011
o Fall 2011
o Spring 2012
(FAQ/Contact Tab)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why do we need to attend the registration session in-person?
ESOL Conversation Program registration sessions help both students and volunteers:
o Meet other program members
o Provide a hard-copy of your back-up schedule
o Get updated program information
o Familiarize yourself with Tutor Trac (software for attendance and making
appointments)
Are there conversation sessions during the winter and summer terms?
Unfortunately, the ESOL Conversation Program only offers conversation sessions in the fall and spring
semesters. ESOL participants are encouraged to stay in touch with their peers and the volunteers to meet
on their own over the winter/summer terms.
What have volunteer leaders done with their ESOL students in the past?
The most common activity is simply talking. You should look over conversation topics, guidelines, and
resources for suggestions before each conversation session.
Some volunteers do activities with their groups or speaking partners. This is especially helpful at the
beginning when you do not know your student well or if your student's English is very limited. It is
important to be sensitive to your ESOL student's language ability as well as his or her personality.
Beginning students have more difficulty in noisy situations (such as a party, coffee hour, or crowded
restaurants).
Some suggested activities include:
o Visit a museum in DC and take a tour
Smithsonian Museums
o Go out to eat: take your conversation partner to one of your favorite restaurants and have he
or she take you to one of his/her (It is our program policy for students/volunteers go-Dutch:
each person pays his/her own)
o Enjoy the outdoors:
Campus recreation
o Bowling at the Stamp Union
o International Coffee Hour
o University events
o Playing or watching sports
o Picnicking on the quad
o Attending campus entertainment
o Playing games (board games, cards, etc.)
What if I cannot meet with my student?
If you know in advance that you cannot meet with your student, you need to:
o e-mail the ESOL conversation coordinator at least one week before your absence
If your absence is last minute, e-mail and call your student to let him or her know that you need to
cancel that week's session. You may reschedule the missed session if it is convenient for you and your
student.
Why is rescheduling only by phone discouraged?
Rescheduling sessions only by telephone may be difficult because some students have no telephone, live
with others who speak little or no English, or just have difficulty understanding English over the phone.
Consequently, messages regarding meetings may be misunderstood, garbled, or simply not passed on.
All students/volunteers have e-mail accounts. Therefore, contact your volunteer/student(s) through e-
mail if you need to reschedule the time and place. If you reschedule over the phone, please also make
sure that you also send an e-mail to your student/volunteer for confirmation.
What if my student asks me grammar questions that I cannot answer?
Encourage your student to make an individual appointment with a learning specialist at the Learning
Assistance Service. They can help your student with writing, grammar, note-taking, and other language
and study skills.
Contact Information
Clare Cheng
ESOL Program Coordinator
Office number 301-314-5919 Fax number: 301-314-9206
Office Location:
2202 Shoemaker Building
College Park, Maryland 20742
Feedback
Our program endorses life-long learning for our faculty, staff,
students and volunteers. Therefore, we are open to new ideas and
suggestions for our program. You can give feedback by providing
us with your suggestions, comments, and concerns in the following
ways:
o e-mail or call the program coordinator
o stop by the office during the walk-in hours or schedule an appointment
o fill out anonymous mid-semester evaluation and end-of-the-year evaluation surveys