Meet the Conversation Facilitators! 

你们好 everyone! I'm Xinyue Gao (but Moon is much easier to say—so feel free to use that!). I'm a second-year English major at NAU, originally from China, and I'm absolutely excited to connect with every one of you!

I have a great passion for culture and linguistic differences—there's something magical about how words and traditions weave together to tell humanity's story. Having explored many regions of China, I love sharing insights into local customs, traditions, and the incredible variety of foods that make each place special. From spicy Sichuan hotpot to delicate Cantonese dim sum, I'm always up for a foodie chat!

Like you, I’m also learning languages. I truly believe in learning through connection and conversation. So, whether you want to discuss your favorite shows, swap food recommendations, or practice Chinese, I'm here and excited to chat! Let's make this journey entertaining and full of new discoveries. ฅ•̀∀•́ฅ 

Hi everyone! I'm Zixin Wang, but you can also call me Viola.  I'm a graduate student in Business Analytics, currently in my second semester at NAU.

I love exploring different cultures and learning from people with diverse backgrounds. Cultural exchange has always been something I really enjoy, and I’m excited to share my own experiences while learning from yours too! 

In my free time, I enjoy drawing, and I’m a big fan of Japanese anime. If you’re also into anime, we’ll definitely have a lot to chat about.

As a non-native speaker myself, I know how fun—but also challenging—it can be to practice speaking. That’s why I’m so excited to be here as a conversation facilitator. I hope to make our time together not only helpful but also enjoyable, where we can learn from each other and grow in confidence.

Let's have fun and support each other along the way! 

大家好呀🙋‍♀️！My name is Ziyi Wang（汪子怡）. I’m from China and super excited to be your Chinese instructor this semester! I was born in Luan, a city in central China known for its tea culture, and grew up in Shanghai, a vibrant place full of diverse cultures and innovative ideas.

I love reading, traveling, and watching films (especially body horror), and I really enjoy meeting new people and exchanging ideas. In class, I’m looking forward not only to helping you learn Chinese but also to sharing the traditions, history, and fun parts of life in China. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about practicing and having fun!

I can’t wait to meet you all and start this journey together! Let’s have a great time learning and exploring! 

Salut, je m’appelle Agnès. I am an international student from Valais, Switzerland. I moved to the U.S. in 2021 to experience a new culture and to chase my academic and athletic goals. I graduated from Florida State University in December 2024 with a degree in Media Communication and International Affairs, and now I’m pursuing a master’s in communication here at NAU.

I like to watch movies, especially cheesy rom coms (the cheesier the better!). At the moment, I am hooked on season 2 of Wednesday and The Summer I Turned Pretty. I also love traveling, meeting people, and playing with my cat Frodo.

I am so excited to practice French and share bits of Swiss culture with you. Come hang out with me at the GELL Center! I can’t wait to meet you. A bientôt, Agnès!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Hallo! My name is Meira. I lived in Berlin before moving to America and love to visit there as often as I can to see my family. I’m currently studying Psychology with a minor in Japanese here at NAU. I love to make jewelry and learn languages when I have the time. 

I’m excited to get a chance to talk with you all in my favorite language and to share German culture with you. I hope to see you soon! 

Tschüss, bis dann!

Hi everyone, and herzlich willkommen! My name is Stefan Gronsfeld, and I’m an exchange student from Germany, majoring in Creative Media and Film.

I love traveling and discovering new cultures. What fascinates me most are the people I meet along the way. So far, I’ve visited 22 countries across four continents, and every journey has given me the chance to connect with others, share stories, and exchange perspectives about cultural differences.

That’s also what I’m looking forward to in my role as a conversation facilitator, where cultural exchange is at the heart of what we do. I’m excited to practice German with you and to create a welcoming space where we can learn from each other while having fun. I can’t wait to meet you all and get started!

Hello, everyone!
My name is Andrea Chivite, and I am a Spanish exchange student, but also speak French. I like to go running and hiking, have a drink downtown, and spend time with my friends. I'm cheerful, but committed. I also study languages, so I'm delighted to be able to show you my languages and culture. What to see in Spain? How is our way of living? How about French food? What are the most beautiful views in Paris? We can talk about whatever you are interested in. I'm sure we'll learn a lot and have fun. Don't be shy, and let's have a great time!

Bio coming soon!

Hi everyone! My name is Jaime, i'm an exchange student from Madrid, Spain. My mayor is mechanical engineering and i'm currently a junior. 

My hobbies are playing bass guitar, hiking, practicing sports and watching movies. I also like travelling, parties and cooking! My favourite conversation topics are food, music and movies but I love to talk about anything.

Im really looking forward to meeting you guys and hopefully we can become long lasting friends!

Hello! I’m Valeria. This is my third year at NAU and I’m majoring in Dental Hygiene with a minor in Spanish. Spanish is my native language so I’m very excited to help the people who attend my sessions to feel extra confident with their speaking abilities. 

I can’t wait to meet you guys and share the Spanish culture through conversations! ⋆˙⟡♡

Hello everyone, my name is Victor. I am an international student from México, I am currently in my 3rd year of my PhD in Biology.  

In my spare time I like to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu, play bass guitar, and read (a lot). I am passionate about sharing culture, and am open to talk about a wide range of topics. I would really like to sit down and have a chat with you!

Bio coming soon!

Hi everyone! こんにちは！My name is Saki, and I’m an exchange student at NAU💙💛

I grew up in Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県), and for university I moved to Fukuoka (福岡県), which is famous for delicious food and beautiful scenery🍜✨

I love Japanese culture—especially the kawaii culture! I’m also a big fan of Japanese girl idols😍

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, and learning about different culture. Thank you so much for being interested in Japan🇯🇵❤. I’m excited to communicate in Japanese with you!
よろしくお願いします！

你们好！( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ Hello everyone! My name is Bokang Ding (丁博康). I'm an international student from China and currently in my senior year studying Computer Engineering. I was born and raised in Jinan, a beautiful and historical city in eastern China!

I love photography, history, traveling (especially Roadtrip), and video games. Also I'm very interested in stargazing. I'm new to the U.S to study, and I enjoy sharing everything I've seen from my perspective about the culture, history, politics, delicious food (and the culture behind), travel experiences and more. So have a seat and exchange our ideas, I'm sure it's gonna be amazing!

Can't wait to see you guys! I'm super excited to make new friends!

你好 everyone! I'm Yingnan, but you can call me Maureen if you'd like :) I'm an international student from China, currently in my second year as an English major at NAU. I'm really thrilled to meet you all!

I am passionate about different languages and cultures, and I'm also eager to share my own background with you. I've had the chance to explore many parts of China, so I'd love to chat about the diverse customs and delicious foods from different regions! Besides that, I'm a big fan of traveling, music, and movies as well.

As a fellow language learner, I'm looking forward to growing together through our conversations! Feel free to ask me anything—I'm open to all sorts of questions and excited to make new friends. Let's learn from each other and have fun in the process! 加油⁺₊ ❛‿˂̵✧

Hi! My name is Apolline, I'm a French and Mexican exchange student, but my home institution is actually in Athens, Greece! I'm an International Relations and European Affairs major and will be studying at NAU until May. 

I love traveling and/or discovering new places like coffee shops, vintage stores, etc. in the area. I'm truly passionate about meeting new people, learning about new cultures, and I’m a big language learner myself. I speak French, Spanish, English, and have been learning both Portuguese and Italian. I also love listening to music!

As a fellow language learner, I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you and I can’t wait to have conversations and share experiences together!

Bonjour, My name is Emma, and I’m from France!

I’m currently studying Management and spending a year in NAU., but I’ll be here as a facilitator until early May. I’ve always loved traveling and discovering new cultures, which is why I’m so excited to share my language and experiences with you!

When I’m not exploring new places, I enjoy meeting new people, having great conversations, and learning from different perspectives. I can’t wait to chat with you all and make this a fun and enriching experience together!

Hallo, my name is Nicole, and I’m from Saarlouis, Germany. I usually study at the University of Luxembourg and am currently in my fourth semester of psychology.

In my free time, I enjoy being a glider pilot, diving, reading, and meeting up with friends. I’m also a passionate language learner! I grew up bilingual with Bulgarian and later learned French, English, and a bit of Spanish—which could use some improvement :D

I’m so excited to meet you all, exchange cultures, and just have a great time speaking German. Can’t wait to see you!

Hallo! My name is Peter and I’m from Dresden, Germany. I’m an Environmental Sciences & Sustainability Studies and Comparative Cultural Studies double major. I love reading, writing, and making art. 

I’m looking forward to meeting and conversing in German with you all. I would love to share more with you about German culture and help you with your German skills. If you see me around, don’t hesitate to say hello. Bis bald!

Hallo! My name is Meira. I lived in Berlin before moving to America and love to visit there as often as I can to see my family. I’m currently studying Psychology with a minor in Japanese here at NAU. I love to make jewelry and learn languages when I have the time. 

I’m excited to get a chance to talk with you all in my favorite language and to share German culture with you. I hope to see you soon! 

Tschüss, bis dann!

Hi! My name is Elena and I originally come from Italy!

I am studying to get a degree in Biomedical Sciences here at NAU, following the Pre-Med track. Although I have lived in the United States for quite some time now, speaking Italian is still a very important part of my life, and I would love to share it with you!

Some of the things I enjoy the most are setting up my hammock and reading novels, as well as spending time hanging out with my friends, and taking strolls downtown. I am really looking forward to starting my first semester as a CF and I can't wait to hold fun conversations in my native language with you!

Hi everyone! I am Maria, a Spanish international student from a small city on the Mediterranean coast called Castelló. Back in Spain, I study a double major in Journalism and Media, Television and Film and here at NAU, I’m continuing my studies with a major in Creative Media and Film.

I’m passionate about reading, traveling, and photography, but what I enjoy most is spending time with friends and meeting new people, especially from different cultures. I’m excited to meet all of you and can’t wait to exchange ideas and experiences together!

Hello everyone, my name is Victor. I am an international student from México, I am currently in my 3rd year of my PhD in Biology.  

In my spare time I like to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu, play bass guitar, and read (a lot). I am passionate about sharing culture, and am open to talk about a wide range of topics. I would really like to sit down and have a chat with you!

Hello! I’m Valeria. This is my second year at NAU and I’m majoring in Dental Hygiene with a minor in Spanish. Spanish is my native language so I’m very excited to help the people who attend my sessions to feel extra confident with their speaking abilities. 

I can’t wait to meet you guys and share the Spanish culture through conversations! ⋆˙⟡♡

Hi, my name is Sebastián, and I’m an exchange student from Chile, currently studying Economics. I have a strong passion for geography, cultural exchange, and international relations. My interests are diverse, as I consider myself to be naturally curious. For instance, I have extensive knowledge about music, the arts, geography, sports, nature, psychology, and many other topics. I believe it’s essential to constantly learn as much as we can about the world around us. 

Additionally, I’m happy to share insights about my country, Chile, and other South American nations, which can be helpful if you’re planning to participate in an exchange program in the future.

你们好！( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ Hello everyone! My name is Bokang Ding (丁博康). I'm an international student from China and currently in my senior year studying Computer Engineering. I was born and raised in Jinan, a beautiful and historical city in eastern China!

I love photography, history, traveling (especially Roadtrip), and video games. Also I'm very interested in stargazing. I'm new to the U.S to study, and I enjoy sharing everything I've seen from my perspective about the culture, history, politics, delicious food (and the culture behind), travel experiences and more. So have a seat and exchange our ideas, I'm sure it's gonna be amazing!

Can't wait to see you guys! I'm super excited to make new friends!

你好 everyone! I'm Yingnan, but you can call me Maureen if you'd like :) I'm an international student from China, currently in my second year as an English major at NAU. I'm really thrilled to meet you all!

I am passionate about different languages and cultures, and I'm also eager to share my own background with you. I've had the chance to explore many parts of China, so I'd love to chat about the diverse customs and delicious foods from different regions! Besides that, I'm a big fan of traveling, music, and movies as well.

As a fellow language learner, I'm looking forward to growing together through our conversations! Feel free to ask me anything—I'm open to all sorts of questions and excited to make new friends. Let's learn from each other and have fun in the process! 加油⁺₊ ❛‿˂̵✧

Hello everyone! My name is Caroline, I'm French and I'm from Toulouse (la ville rose), in the southwest of France. Don't be afraid of clichés, I'm not mean or rude, but it's true that I love French food and especially baguettes!

I'm an exchange student here at NAU until December and I'm studying Political Science to become a diplomat or a teacher (I don't know yet).

I'm very open-minded and passionate about many things: traveling, movies, literature, sports, Formula 1, fashion, soccer, music, video games, politics, history. So have a seat, we can have a chat about anything and everything.

I'm really looking forward to sharing my language and culture (of which we French are so proud) with you, and I can't wait to meet you all!

Hallo! I am Lisa and I am a German exchange student from Dortmund. I am doing my bachelor in journalism with a minor in political science.

I love to travel, hike, play tennis and hang out with friends. Since I have lived in different parts of Germany, I would love to share some cultural knowledge about my home country with you.

I am really looking forward to meeting you and helping you strengthen and improve your language skills. We all know that German is a difficult language, but it’s really fun once you get into it! Bis bald!

Hi! My name is Elena and I originally come from Italy!

I am a Junior here at NAU and I am studying to get a degree in Biomedical Sciences, following the Pre-Med track. Although I have lived in the United States for quite some time now, speaking Italian is still a very important part of my life, and I would love to share it with you!

Some of the things I enjoy the most are setting up my hammock and reading novels, as well as spending time hanging out with my friends, and taking strolls downtown. I am really looking forward to starting my first semester as a CF and I can't wait to hold fun conversations in my native language with you!

Bio coming soon!

こんにちは！Hi everyone!

I'm a conversation facilitator for Japanese. I'm an exchange student studying Political Science here at NAU.

I was born in Odawara City, a countryside of Japan, where the history of the beautiful Japanese medieval era remains. 

I love music, comedy and action movies from around the world.

I would love to share Japanese culture with you all through the conversation!

おねがいします！

Hello! I’m Catherine. I’m a first year Public Health and Spanish double major, and I’m really excited to be your Spanish Facilitator this semester! I’m from Phoenix and my family is from Puebla and Morelos Mexico, so I’m a first generation Mexican-American and Spanish is my native language. 

I love all things cats, travel, being with friends and tasting new foods. I hope we can get to know each other well and learn more together! I can’t wait to meet you all, don’t forget how amazing you are! :)

Hey there! I'm Fran, a 20-year-old from Seville. Located in southern Spain, Seville is a vibrant tapestry of history, flamenco, and tapas.

I'm a business student, but don't let that fool you – I'm all about having fun! When I'm not hitting the books, you can usually find me on the soccer field, at the gym, or hanging out with my mates. I'm also a bit of a travel bug and love exploring new places. I love music too! I'm a huge fan of Spanish rap and music from the 2000s. SFDK and Extremoduro are my favorite bands!

I'm really looking forward to sharing my language and culture with you, and I can't wait to meet you all!

Hi everyone! I am Maria, a Spanish international student from a small city on the Mediterranean coast called Castelló. Back in Spain, I study a double major in Journalism and Media, Television and Film and here at NAU, I’m continuing my studies with a major in Creative Media and Film.

I’m passionate about reading, traveling, and photography, but what I enjoy most is spending time with friends and meeting new people, especially from different cultures. I’m excited to meet all of you and can’t wait to exchange ideas and experiences together!

Hola! My name is Pablo and I'm an exchange student from Zaragoza, Spain. I'm doing my masters in Mechanical Engineering.

I'm a really active person. I like doing sports, traveling, cars and spending quality time with my friends.

Looking forward to helping you improve your Spanish and to spending time with you! Nos vemos!

Bio coming soon!

你们好！

Hello, everyone. My name is Xin Zeng(曾鑫) or you guys can call me Ester, both are fine. 

I'm an international student from China and a junior currently studying Finance. I grew up in Shenzhen in the southern part of China, which is a wonderful city that has lots of skyscrapers.

I love hiking, playing pool, and listening to R&B music in my spare time. I'm a very easy and outgoing person. Can't wait to see you guys~ 

Bio coming soon!

Hello everyone ! My name is Marion and I’m a 19-year-old French exchange student. I am a Chemistry major and would like to become a forensic scientist in the near future. I grew up near Paris but moved to the Southwest for high school. I love books, music and TV shows, as well as travel and sports.

I am very excited to be one of GELL Center’s new Conversation Facilitator this semester and am really looking forward to speaking French with all of you!  

Bio coming soon!

Hallo! My name is Peter and I’m from Dresden, Germany. I’m a first-year Environmental Sciences & Sustainability Studies and Comparative Cultural Studies double major. I love reading, writing, and making art. 

I’m looking forward to meeting and conversing in German with you all. I would love to share more with you about German culture and help you with your German skills. If you see me around, don’t hesitate to say hello. Bis bald!

Hi! My name is Elena and I originally come from Italy!

I am a Junior here at NAU and I am studying to get a degree in Biomedical Sciences, following the Pre-Med track. Although I have lived in the United States for quite some time now, speaking Italian is still a very important part of my life, and I would love to share it with you!

Some of the things I enjoy the most are setting up my hammock and reading novels, as well as spending time hanging out with my friends, and taking strolls downtown. I am really looking forward to starting my first semester as a CF and I can't wait to hold fun conversations in my native language with you!

Bio coming soon!

Hello, こんにちは, olá. 

My name is Mauro and I am a conversation facilitator for Japanese and Portuguese. I am a Senior here at NAU majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Law. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and also lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a couple of years. 

If you are interested to learn/talk Japanese or Portuguese please feel free to join the conversation!

I am extremely excited to meet everyone and I hope you have fun learning the language, culture, and experience from our conversations. 

Hello! My name is Rino Kono and I am an exchange student from Japan. I was born and raised in a town called Yokohama near Tokyo. My major is Media and I love watching anime, reading comics and listening to music!

 I hope that you’ll enjoy talking in Japanese and I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

Bio coming soon!

Hello! I’m Catherine. I’m a first year Public Health and Spanish double major, and I’m really excited to be your Spanish Facilitator this semester! I’m from Phoenix and my family is from Puebla and Morelos Mexico, so I’m a first generation Mexican-American and Spanish is my native language. 

I love all things cats, travel, being with friends and tasting new foods. I hope we can get to know each other well and learn more together! I can’t wait to meet you all, don’t forget how amazing you are! :)

Hi everyone!!

My name is Octavio. I’m from Guadalajara, Mexico and I’m a full time student at NAU majoring in environmental science and communications. 

I spend most of my outdoors climbing, mountain biking, slack-lining and skiing. I also like to read but am a huge movie buff.

I’m excited to be a conversation facilitator this semester and if you ever see me around campus, don’t hesitate to say hi. 

Hi everyone! My name is Paula del Buey and I am from a town called Jerez de la Frontera that is located in the very south of Spain. I am currently studying Humanities and Translation and Interpreting (English-Arabic) at the University Pablo de Olavide, in Seville. As you can see I love learning new languages and living in different places all over the globe, last year I was studying in Cyprus. I also love animals, I have a little dog called Xula and many turtles. I have been practicing sports my entire life, if you talk to me about any sport I have probably tried it but the ones to which I devoted more years in my life were basketball and ballet. I am really looking forward to helping you as much as possible in this beautiful journey of learning Spanish!

Hi! My name is Sergio and I am an international student from Spain. I am from Lanzarote, a little island of the Canary archipelago, the southernmost region of Spain, near the coast of the Sahara Desert. I studied the first two years of my Engineering Physics major in Madrid and now I am doing my third one here, in the NAU. 

I like all science related things, specially technology and physics. Despite this, I also enjoy history, philosophy, economy and photography. I enjoy talking with people about any topic which is why I am very excited of being an spanish CF for this semester!

Hello! 你好吗？My name is Shuwei Chen, and I am an international student from China. I am a junior student majoring in English linguistics. I am from Anhui, China, and I spent 18 years of my life in the capital city of Anhui province before I came here. In the past two semesters, I have been working as a volunteer Chinese teaching assistant to offer help to improve students’ Chinese proficiency. I like cooking, watching Youtube and anime, and enjoying music in my free time. I am also a huge fan of cats! Welcome to my Chinese conversation table! I am ready to share the interesting Chinese culture and help you with Chinese learning!

你们好！

Hello, everyone. My name is Xin Zeng(曾鑫) or you guys can call me Ester, both are fine. 

I'm an international student from China and a junior currently studying Finance. I grew up in Shenzhen in the southern part of China, which is a wonderful city that has lots of skyscrapers.

I love hiking, playing pool, and listening to R&B music in my spare time. I'm a very easy and outgoing person. Can't wait to see you guys~ 

Hello! 你好! I am Minxuan, an international student from China. I am a junior majoring in English. I come from Nanjing, a beautiful city with a long history in the eastern part of China. I lived there for 19 years. I am now a volunteer Chinese teaching assistant as well.

I like watching movies and traveling. I also have some experience teaching Chinese students English. I'm very excited to help you improve your Chinese and introduce more Chinese culture to you. Can't wait to have a great semester with you guys!

Hi! My name is Elena and I originally come from Italy!

I am a Junior here at NAU and I am studying to get a degree in Biomedical Sciences, following the Pre-Med track. Although I have lived in the United States for quite some time now, speaking Italian is still a very important part of my life, and I would love to share it with you!

Some of the things I enjoy the most are setting up my hammock and reading novels, as well as spending time hanging out with my friends, and taking strolls downtown. I am really looking forward to starting my first semester as a CF and I can't wait to hold fun conversations in my native language with you!

Bonjour à tous et toutes !
My name is Camille Sforzini, I am an exchange student from France and I am super excited to be a new member of the Conversation Facilitator experience. 

I'm 20 years old and I was born and have lived my entire life in France, in the southwest (the best part to be honest). I study political sciences in France and that's also my major here but don't worry I also like simple things of life like any 20 years old person ^^. I like cinema, music, poetry...(art in general) but also baseball, video games... I appreciate a lot the American culture so far and I would also like to share the French culture with you on occasion. 

I look forward to seeing you and learning more about you. Au revoir et a bientot !

My name is Célia, I'm an exchange student from France and I'm a new French language facilitator in French at the GELL center for this semester. I am currently in second year of Master's in Biology and more especially, I'm studying Genetics. I grew up in central France, not far from Paris, and I am now studying in Bordeaux. I would describe myself as a communicative person, curious and always ready to help. It would be a huge pleasure for me to help you feel more comfortable and confident while discussing in French. Don't hesitate to come and have low-stress conversations, regardless of your level of French. As a French student learning English here, I can only understand the difficulties that you can have while learning a foreign language. Hope to see you soon at the GELL center! 

 Hello! My name is Abby and I am a conversation facilitator for Japanese. I am a business major and studying finance.  I was born in Japan and I moved to the U.S. when I was in high school. I am excited to meet you all and hope we could have a great time together!

Hi everyone! My name is Daichi. I was born and raised in Fukuoka, which is west of Japan and just the right balance between the city and the country. I came here to NAU January this year as an exchange student. My major is Anthropology and I enjoy listening to music, watching sports, and traveling to find local cultures.

I’m excited to share different cultures with each other and enjoy talking in Japanese.

よろしくおねがいします！

Hello, こんにちは, olá. 

My name is Mauro and I am a conversation facilitator for Japanese and Portuguese. I am a Senior here at NAU majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Law. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and also lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a couple of years. 

If you are interested to learn/talk Japanese or Portuguese please feel free to join the conversation!

I am extremely excited to meet everyone and I hope you have fun learning the language, culture, and experience from our conversations. 

Hey everyone! I’m Celine Helmers and I‘m an exchange student from Germany. I’m 22 years old and have lived my whole life in the north of Germany, close to the city Bremen.

Last year I moved to the Netherlands for my studies. I'm really enjoying Flagstaff and the USA so far and I’m excited to spend my semester here. Currently in my 2nd year of International Business (BBA) and my major here at NAU is Marketing.

I like to go to the gym, zumba, and hang out with friends. And I’m also trying to have as many trips and adventures as possible here. I hope to see you in my conversation group 😊

Hallo! My name is Peter and I’m from Dresden, Germany. I’m a first-year Environmental Sciences & Sustainability Studies and Comparative Cultural Studies double major. I love reading, writing, and making art. 

I’m looking forward to meeting and conversing in German with you all. I would love to share more with you about German culture and help you with your German skills. If you see me around, don’t hesitate to say hello. Bis bald!

Hey, my name is Sophie, I'm 21 years old and from Germany. This semester, I'm an exchange student at NAU. My major is Comparative Cultural Studies. My home university is in Dortmund, a city in the west of the country. I love to travel, meet new people and listen to music! 

I hope that you'll enjoy talking in German with me, I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

Hello! I’m Catherine. I’m a first year Public Health and Spanish double major, and I’m really excited to be your Spanish Facilitator this semester! I’m from Phoenix and my family is from Puebla and Morelos Mexico, so I’m a first generation Mexican-American and Spanish is my native language. 

I love all things cats, travel, being with friends and tasting new foods. I hope we can get to know each other well and learn more together! I can’t wait to meet you all, don’t forget how amazing you are! :)

My name is Maite and I´m a Spanish exchange student from Madrid and studying mechanical engineering.

About me, I like any kind of sports as volleyball or hiking. I love sharing cultures with others and I’m looking forward to learning about yours!! I would do my best in creating a good atmosphere so we will all be comfortable talking about great themes.

I really like traveling and meet new people, so I’m so excited to spend my next junior year here at NAU.

Hi everyone!!

My name is Octavio. I’m from Guadalajara, Mexico and I’m a full time student at NAU majoring in environmental science and communications. 

I spend most of my outdoors climbing, mountain biking, slack-lining and skiing. I also like to read but am a huge movie buff.

I’m excited to be a conversation facilitator this semester and if you ever see me around campus, don’t hesitate to say hi. 

Hi everyone! My name is Paula del Buey and I am from a town called Jerez de la Frontera that is located in the very south of Spain. I am currently studying Humanities and Translation and Interpreting (English-Arabic) at the University Pablo de Olavide, in Seville. As you can see I love learning new languages and living in different places all over the globe, last year I was studying in Cyprus. I also love animals, I have a little dog called Xula and many turtles. I have been practicing sports my entire life, if you talk to me about any sport I have probably tried it but the ones to which I devoted more years in my life were basketball and ballet. I am really looking forward to helping you as much as possible in this beautiful journey of learning Spanish!

Hello! 你好吗？My name is Shuwei Chen, and I am an international student from China. I am a junior student majoring in English linguistics. I am from Anhui, China, and I spent 18 years of my life in the capital city of Anhui province before I came here. In the past two semesters, I have been working as a volunteer Chinese teaching assistant to offer help to improve students’ Chinese proficiency. I like cooking, watching Youtube and anime, and enjoying music in my free time. I am also a huge fan of cats! Welcome to my Chinese conversation table! I am ready to share the interesting Chinese culture and help you with Chinese learning!

Hello! I am Zexing Fan. Because the name of Fan is confusing, I gave myself an English name Frank. I was born in Xinjiang, spent my childhood in Chengdu, my youth in Shanghai, then two years of college in Wuhan, and now finishing the rest of my studies in NAU.  I have experience living and studying in the northwest, southwest, central and eastern parts of China, more than 500 miles apart. These experiences made me experience different places, cultures, and customs around China. I am delighted to tell you more about China and Chinese culture. I look forward to a fantastic semester with you｡◕‿◕｡

你好！我的朋友！

I am Qingyu Pei （裴卿妤）, you can call me April as well. I am an international student from China, my major is English. I grew up in Xuzhou of Jiangsu province, which is a beautiful city containing lots of works of art from the Han dynasty, is a cradle of culture. 

I have a lot of hobbies, I love watching drama, dancing, singing, playing chess, playing Chinese cards, painting, traveling, shopping, and making new friends. I am a cat person as well. 

I am very much looking forward to chatting with you guys. I can not wait to bring my culture, language, and experience to you.

Salut !
I'm a French exchange student doing a double degree in Electronic Engineering. I'm from the south part of France, and I love talk about the French culture. I also love listening to other people when they talk about their passion, so come share your experience with me !
A bientôt!

Bonjour!  My name is Arpine, but you can call me Rossy. I am an exchange student from France, and I can't wait to share with you my culture and mother tongue. I am studying English literature and civilizations of the English world, but NAU was the opportunity for me to take classes in the field of education and special education. I am very happy to be your conversation facilitator in French this semester, and can't wait to meet you. Let's have some fun practicing French!

Hallo! My name is Jan. I am an exchange student, and have spent most of my life in Germany. I‘m a junior at the University of Amsterdam of Applied Sciences, and study international Business and major in Marketing & Sales. I like playing Soccer and Basketball and enjoy Snowboarding. 

I‘m excited to meet you and have fun conversations with you in German. If you’re ready to practice your German, I‘d love to exchange passions, goals, experiences, and much more!

Hello, my name is Claas and I am an exchange student from Germany. There I live in a small but beautiful city in the south called Tübingen. I am studying International Economics and am now in my third year. I love to travel, do sports and play some music.

 I am looking forward to having great and funny conversations with you about different topics and to give you an insight into German culture. But I am also curious about your views and impressions. I would be happy if I can support you in your language learning. Bis bald!

Hi everyone!
I am Leonardo, an international student from Italy where I was born and raised. I'm here at NAU to learn and gain important experience. My major is Mechanical Engineering, and I like movies, sports and outside activities. I'm eager to meet you guys to talk about our different cultures and learn new things together.

 Hello! My name is Abby and I am a conversation facilitator for Japanese. I am a business major and studying finance.  I was born in Japan and I moved to the U.S. when I was in high school. I am excited to meet you all and hope we could have a great time together!

Hello. My name is Haruki Kuno, sophomore at NAU studying business management. I was born and raised in a small beach town called Yokohama, Japan. I moved to the U.S. to attend middle school and high school in AZ. I grew up playing baseball, but now I really enjoy boarding sports. If you ski or snowboard, we can have Japanese study session on the mountain:) I’m looking forward to meeting  you all! 

Hi everyone !!! My name is Carlos and I'm from Zaragoza, Spain. I am an international student who studies physics, I love traveling and meeting new people and cultures. 

I am a Spanish Facilitator so if you want to have a friendly and incredible conversation in Spanish come to GELL, I will be really happy to meet you !!!

Hello! I’m Catherine. I’m a first year Public Health and Spanish double major, and I’m really excited to be your Spanish Facilitator this semester! I’m from Phoenix and my family is from Puebla and Morelos Mexico, so I’m a first generation Mexican-American and Spanish is my native language. 

I love all things cats, travel, being with friends and tasting new foods. I hope we can get to know each other well and learn more together! I can’t wait to meet you all, don’t forget how amazing you are! :)

Hola! My name is Lucia. I am from south Spain, I live in a town called Almeria which is right next to the beach. I love animals and I have a dog called Tica, I’ll be waiting for you to show me your pets!

I am very excited to meet you all, share all type of conversation and to have an exchange of culture with you. Who knows I’ll maybe be sharing the secrets to make the best tortilla de patatas!

Hasta pronto!

Hi everyone!!

My name is Octavio. I’m from Guadalajara, Mexico and I’m a full time student at NAU majoring in environmental science and communications. 

I spend most of my outdoors climbing, mountain biking, slack-lining and skiing. I also like to read but am a huge movie buff.

I’m excited to be a conversation facilitator this semester and if you ever see me around campus, don’t hesitate to say hi. 

Hello everyone! 

My name is Sandra and I’m a second year international student from Peru double-majoring in Strategic Communication and Photography. I was born and raised in Lima, a city in the Peruvian pacific coast, and moved to Flagstaff over a year ago. I enjoy watching soccer, listening to music, and taking photos. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and learning about different cultures! :)

Hello! 你好吗？My name is Shuwei Chen, and I am an international student from China. I am a junior student majoring in English linguistics. I am from Anhui, China, and I spent 18 years of my life in the capital city of Anhui province before I came here. In the past two semesters, I have been working as a volunteer Chinese teaching assistant to offer help to improve students’ Chinese proficiency. I like cooking, watching Youtube and anime, and enjoying music in my free time. I am also a huge fan of cats! Welcome to my Chinese conversation table! I am ready to share the interesting Chinese culture and help you with Chinese learning!

Hello! I am Zexing Fan. Because the name of Fan is confusing, I gave myself an English name Frank. I was born in Xinjiang, spent my childhood in Chengdu, my youth in Shanghai, then two years of college in Wuhan, and now finishing the rest of my studies in NAU.  I have experience living and studying in the northwest, southwest, central and eastern parts of China, more than 500 miles apart. These experiences made me experience different places, cultures, and customs around China. I am delighted to tell you more about China and Chinese culture. I look forward to a fantastic semester with you｡◕‿◕｡

Salut !
I'm a French exchange student doing a double degree in Electronic Engineering. I'm from the south part of France, and I love talk about the French culture. I also love listening to other people when they talk about their passion, so come share your experience with me !
A bientôt!

Bonjour!  My name is Arpine, but you can call me Rossy. I am an exchange student from France, and I can't wait to share with you my culture and mother tongue. I am studying English literature and civilizations of the English world, but NAU was the opportunity for me to take classes in the field of education and special education. I am very happy to be your conversation facilitator in French this semester, and can't wait to meet you. Let's have some fun practicing French!

Hello, my name is Claas and I am an exchange student from Germany. There I live in a small but beautiful city in the south called Tübingen. I am studying International Economics and am now in my third year. I love to travel, do sports and play some music.

 I am looking forward to having great and funny conversations with you about different topics and to give you an insight into German culture. But I am also curious about your views and impressions. I would be happy if I can support you in your language learning. Bis bald!

Hallo!

I’m Johanna from Germany, doing my Bachelor’s in International Affairs here at NAU! I grew up near Munich where we have the Alps, lots of cute lakes and, obviously, Oktoberfest!

I’m excited to meet you guys and share each other’s backgrounds!

Bis bald!

Hallo zusammen!
My name is Lara-Maria and I am from Germany. I am currently an exchange student at NAU for one semester and studying Political Science and Public Administration. I am looking forward to meeting you and talking about Germany (not only about Oktoberfest 😉).
I am open to any new ideas and topics. I hope we get to know each other and have fun talking German and about German culture. Bis bald!

Hi everyone!
I am Leonardo, an international student from Italy where I was born and raised. I'm here at NAU to learn and gain important experience. My major is Civil Engineering,  and I like movies, sports and outside activities. I'm eager to meet you guys to talk about our different cultures and learn new things together.

Hello. My name is Haruki Kuno, sophomore at NAU studying business management. I was born and raised in a small beach town called Yokohama, Japan. I moved to the U.S. to attend middle school and high school in AZ. I grew up playing baseball, but now I really enjoy boarding sports. If you ski or snowboard, we can have Japanese study session on the mountain:) I’m looking forward to meeting  you all! 

こんにちは！
My name is Yui. I am excited to be a Japanese  Conversation Facilitator. I’m an exchange student from Japan and studying Women’s and Gender Studies. I like traveling, cooking Japanese food, and watching movies! My favorite firms are all from Studio Ghibli:) If you want to speak Japanese, you are always welcome! 

GELL Center
で会いましょう！

 Hello! My name is Abby and I am a conversation facilitator for Japanese. I am a business major and studying finance.  I was born in Japan and I moved to the U.S. when I was in high school. I am excited to meet you all and hope we could have a great time together!

Oi! I speak Brazilian Portuguese, it is my first language. I am pursuing a Masters in Political Science at NAU and I hope to one day be able to impact and help Brazil develop its economy. In the meanwhile ill try and give the Portuguese students at NAU a taste of what our language is like so that they can visit Brazil and enjoy it when they do! 

Hello !! 

My name it is Natalie. I am from Chile and I am an exchange student from the University of Concepcion. 

I am so excited to be one of your Spanish conversation facilitators for this semester, we will have a lot fun when we practice the language. 

I love to travel & meet new people.  I enjoy helping out and I hope you learn a lot from our conversations. 

Pura Vida!

My name is Daniel, but I would rather be called Dani. I’m an exchange student for this Fall semester, I'm from Costa Rica, my home university name is Universidad Fidelitas, and I’m a tourist guide/interpreter for students of NAU who study abroad in Costa Rica, so if you go to Costa Rica you may have the opportunity of seeing me taking you to the beaches, mountains or tourist places. I’m studying Computer Science this semester. About me, I love cultures, making friends and laughing about most things with them, doing crazy stuff but not that crazy, old soul. When I’m not busy I like spending time with friends and speaking Spanish if they feel comfortable with it.

¡Hola a todos!

I'm Javi, an exchange student from Alicante, a city on the Mediterranean coast in Spain. I like traveling, doing outside activities, meeting new friends and learning about different cultures.

I'm super excited to meet you guys! This is a good opportunity to speak in Spanish in a friendly environment about interesting topics and learn new things. It is going to be a great experience for all of us and we will have a lot of fun!

¡Nos veremos pronto!

Hi everyone!!

My name is Octavio. I’m from Guadalajara, Mexico and I’m a full time student at NAU majoring in environmental science and communications. 

I spend most of my outdoors climbing, mountain biking, slack-lining and skiing. I also like to read but am a huge movie buff.

I’m excited to be a conversation facilitator this semester and if you ever see me around campus, don’t hesitate to say hi. 

J¡Hola a todos! 

My name is Eduardo, I am an exchange student from Spain for the fall and spring semester. I am a graduate student majoring in Industrial Engineering. I would like to talk about my culture and also learn about yours! My hobbies are skiing, traveling and hanging out with my friends. I am very excited to share experiences and I am sure we will have a fun time while we practice speaking Spanish.

Hello !! 

My name it is Natalie. I am from Chile and I am an exchange student from the University of Concepcion. 

I am so excited to be one of your Spanish conversation facilitators for this semester, we will have a lot fun when we practice the language. 

I love to travel & meet new people.  I enjoy helping out and I hope you learn a lot from our conversations. 

Hola! 

My name is Yesenia. I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. My family is from Nayarit, Mexico and therefore Spanish is my first language. 

I am very excited to meet you all!  When I am not busy working or doing schoolwork, I enjoy going on hikes, riding horses, and going off-roading with friends.

Hi everyone my! I am Leonardo, an international student from Italy where I was born and raised. I'm here at NAU to learn and gain important experience. My major is Civil Engineering,  and I like movies, sports and outside activities. I'm eager to meet you guys to talk about our different cultures and learn new things together.

Oi! I speak Brazilian Portuguese, it is my first language. I am pursuing a Masters in Political Science at NAU and I hope to one day be able to impact and help Brazil develop its economy. In the meanwhile ill try and give the Portuguese students at NAU a taste of what our language is like so that they can visit Brazil and enjoy it when they do! 

Bonjour ! I am Matthieu from France. Your first challenge will be the pronunciation of my name ! I'm an engineering student, doing one year here, at NAU. I love the opportunity to show, explain, and help you understand French culture. There is so much to discover. I count on you for the American lifestyle as well. I'm open to every subject and topic, so let's learn from each other.

Bonjour ! I'm Félix, a grad student studying electronics, coming from Esisar to NAU this year for a double-diploma. I would love to help you learn French and exchange ideas about our respective cultures ! I'm a really open-minded person, who enjoys sports, music and social activities.  

"Guten Tag! I am Mirja and I am an exchange student from Germany. This semester I am studying English and Psychology here in Flagstaff. I am ready to talk about Schnitzel, Bratwurst or Oktoberfest with you! I am open for whatever you want to talk about and cannot wait to get to know you better. Let’s learn from each other's cultures and have fun during our sessions ;) Bis dann !"

Hallo! My name is Annika and I'm from Germany. I'm here as an exchange student studying economics and business administration. I'm looking forward to speaking German with you and share my knowledge of German culture with you. Let's make it a fun conversation group! 

Hello. My name is Haruki Kuno, sophomore at NAU studying business management. I was born and raised in a small beach town called Yokohama, Japan. I moved to the U.S. to attend middle school and high school in AZ. I grew up playing baseball, but now I really enjoy boarding sports. If you ski or snowboard, we can have Japanese study session on the mountain:) I’m looking forward to meeting  you all! 

Hello. Hello!こんにちは！ My name is Minami Kubo. I am from Nagoya, Japan, and have lived in Tokyo for 2 years until I came here. I am a junior majoring in marketing. EVERYONE IS MORE THAN WELCOME! Just relax and let's enjoy talking. I am looking forward to seeing you soon :) I like to try something new. Traveling/Cooking/Doing my nails/Watching movies and anime/Meeting friends/ Reading/Shopping/ Sports/Sea/Flowers

Hello! I am Zexing Fan. Because the name of Fan is confusing, I gave myself an English name Frank. I was born in Xinjiang, spent my childhood in Chengdu, my youth in Shanghai, then two years of college in Wuhan, and now finishing the rest of my studies in NAU.  I have experience living and studying in the northwest, southwest, central and eastern parts of China, more than 500 miles apart. These experiences made me experience different places, cultures, and customs around China. I am delighted to tell you more about China and Chinese culture. I look forward to a fantastic semester with you｡◕‿◕｡

Hello! I'm Chin-Chia, a Fulbright graduate student from Taiwan. My major is teaching Chinese as a foreign language. I will be sharing sharing culture from my country and my hometown with you. Welcome to my Chinese group conversation sessions and to learning more Chinese from me :)

Hi everyone my! I am Leonardo, an international student from Italy where I was born and raised. I'm here at NAU to learn and gain important experience. My major is Civil Engineering,  and I like movies, sports and outside activities. I'm eager to meet you guys to talk about our different cultures and learn new things together.

Ciao! I am Ivana and I’m an international student from Rome, Italy. I have lived there my whole life, but I moved here for college. I am a freshman majoring in Creative Media and Film. I’m excited to meet, practice Italian and share my culture with you. A presto! 

Bonjour ! I am Matthieu from France. Your first challenge will be the pronunciation of my name ! I'm an engineering student, doing one year here, at NAU. I love the opportunity to show, explain, and help you understand French culture. There is so much to discover. I count on you for the American lifestyle as well. I'm open to every subject and topic, so let's learn from each other.

Bonjour ! I'm Félix, a grad student studying electronics, coming from Esisar to NAU this year for a double-diploma. I would love to help you learn French and exchange ideas about our respective cultures ! I'm a really open-minded person, who enjoys sports, music and social activities.  

J¡Hola a todos! 

My name is Marta, I am a senior majoring in Management and Business Administration. I am an exchange student from Spain at NAU for the fall semester and I can't wait to share my culture while learning about yours! I love traveling, hanging out with friends, spending time with my family, going to the movies and listening to music! What about your hobbies? I am looking forward to hearing from you, sharing experiences and having a fun talk :)

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Hello !! 

My name it is Natalie. I am from Chile and I am an exchange student from the University of Concepcion. 

I am so excited to be one of your Spanish conversation facilitators for this semester, we will have a lot fun when we practice the language. 

I love to travel & meet new people.  I enjoy helping out and I hope you learn a lot from our conversations.

Hola! 

My name is Yesenia. I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. My family is from Nayarit, Mexico and therefore Spanish is my first language. 

I am very excited to meet you all!  When I am not busy working or doing schoolwork, I enjoy going on hikes, riding horses, and going off-roading with friends.

"Guten Tag! I am Mirja and I am an exchange student from Germany. This semester I am studying English and Psychology here in Flagstaff. I am ready to talk about Schnitzel, Bratwurst or Oktoberfest with you! I am open for whatever you want to talk about and cannot wait to get to know you better. Let’s learn from each other's cultures and have fun during our sessions ;) Bis dann !"

Hello, my name is Tilman and I am a 3rd year medical student from Germany taking Engineering classes at NAU until the end of this year. Originally I am from the area of Koblenz at the river Rhine but have lived in Tübingen for the last years for university. Having a broad range of interests I am very much looking forward to discussing everything and anything in our conversation sessions. See you then! Or as they say in the south of Germany: Grüß Gott!

Hello. My name is Haruki Kuno, sophomore at NAU studying business management. I was born and raised in a small beach town called Yokohama, Japan. I moved to the U.S. to attend middle school and high school in AZ. I grew up playing baseball, but now I really enjoy boarding sports. If you ski or snowboard, we can have Japanese study session on the mountain:) I’m looking forward to meeting  you all! 

My 你好 (Ni Hao)! My name is Xukang Zhang. I was born in Guangdong, China, and grew up in Shanghai. I have been in the United States for three years. My major at NAU is secondary education. It will be my pleasure to help you with Mandarin Chinese conversations and learn more about Chinese culture. During my spare time, I enjoy doing sports like Pingpong, badminton, and soccer. Also, I would love to share my knowledge in Chinese literature, history, music, and food. I look forward to an amazing semester with you.

Hello! I'm Chin-Chia, a Fulbright graduate student from Taiwan. My major is teaching Chinese as a foreign language. I will be sharing sharing culture from my country and my hometown with you. Welcome to my Chinese group conversation sessions and to learning more Chinese from me :)

Join me to know more about Chinese language and culture!

One little tip on practicing speaking your second language: 'let your speech go, for nothing to be cautious and stressful'.

My name is Melissa and I am an exchange student from Germany. I am a senior majoring in Education, with English, Math and German as my subjects. 

My hobbies include running and watching Netflix with my cat. I teach students English at my home university, so it will be really fun to do the opposite here at NAU. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and getting to share my language and culture.  These will be really laid-back sessions to help you guys practice your German :)

My name is Adlemy. I am a senior studying Criminology/Criminal Justice and Spanish, with a minor in Latin American studies. My career goal is to become a Licensed Court Interpreter.

When I am not busy doing schoolwork, I like to watch movies, listen to music, have coffee dates with my friends, and read. I also enjoy watching sunsets and sitting outside.

Hello Everyone! My name is Mary and I am a senior double majoring in Criminal Justice and Spanish. I am truly passionate about both my majors and plan on incorporating them in whatever career path I take. I love learning different languages and their dialects, especially Spanish. I can't wait to share the language and culture with you all!