Conversation Partners Program

Conversation Partners

Youngstown State University Conversation Partners is a program that pairs international students with students from the United States. Once an international student and American student are paired, they meet once a week for one hour. This program offers participants a great opportunity to share information about their culture, home country/state/city, education, interests/hobbies, and more! The meetings between Conversation Partners can take place virtually or in-person. This program is very flexible as partners can choose where and how to meet, as long as it is for one hour each week. There are also regularly scheduled social gatherings, known as International Coffee Hour, that would provide the opportunity to meet in group settings.

There are so many benefits for both international and American students in joining the Conversation Partners program. Below are a few examples of the exciting benefits students will see as a result of becoming a partner in this program:

Benefits of Becoming a conversation partner:

International Students American Students
  • Meet a new friend!
  • Share your culture/background
  • Practice your English
  • Learn about American culture
  • Adjust to life at an American University
  • Reduce homesickness
  • Discover resources, events, and ways to get involved on and off campus
  • Expand your worldview
  • Meet a new friend!
  • Learn about a new language & culture
  • Expand your worldview
  • Develop multicultural competence
  • Help an international student get acclimated to campus



Expectations of Being a conversation Penguin:

  • The commitment is for the remainder of the spring semester
  • Meet with your Penguin for a minimum of one (1) hour each week (collaborate schedules together for a meeting time and day).
  • Provide feedback about your experiences in the program.

Interest in Becoming a Conversation partner?

  • Sign up now to be a part of Conversation Partners for Spring semester 2024! The opportunity to sign up will close on Friday, February 23 at 5pm.
  • You will be matched with a partner the week of February 26 and will find out who your partner is during a short workshop, which will include light refreshments, on Thursday, February 29. The workshop will take place in the Lariccia Cultural Collaboratory, room 1013, Jones Hall, from 1pm-2pm. If you cannot attend the workshop we will notify you regarding your partner.

Sign up now to be a part of this exciting program! To apply, please complete the following short questionnaire.

If you have any questions about the Conversation Partners program, or have any difficulties with the application form, please direct your inquiries to Nicholas DuBos in the International Programs Office at nmdubos01@ysu.edu.