Experiential Learning

For my experiential learning experience, I worked with two conversation partners on their English fluency. One of my conversation partners was from China and his first language is Mandarin. He came to Old Dominion University to study for his Ph.D. in computer science. His English proficiency was very advanced with minor grammar or pronunciation mistakes made. Our focus in our sessions was mainly conversation practice and getting him used to speaking with someone who fluently speaks the language in a natural context and environment. We spoke about food, American versus Chinese culture, and life. I would teach him idioms, abbreviations, and common sayings. We quickly became friends through our meetings since we had a lot in common and the same sense of humor.

My second conversation partner was from Baghdad, Iran; her first language is Arabic. She came to Old Dominion University to study for her Ph.D. in aerospace mechanics and engineering. Her English proficiency was intermediate and she was in the process of studying for her IELTS. Unlike my other conversation partner, she wanted to focus on grammar and speaking practice in a more structured way to prepare for her IELTS. Because of this, I researched some IELTS practice tests and we went through them together. I created grammar exercises where I would type out her answers to IELTS questions with errors to help her see where she went wrong and we could correct it together. Although we did not have as immediate of a connection as I did with my other conversation partner due to the difference in nature of our meetings, we did develop a connection through our want for her to succeed in her IELTS. I loved being a motivating and supporting factor for her by providing study tools and grammar game websites for her to practice with.

My favorite part about working with my conversation partners was learning about their culture and how to be more culturally aware. I grew up in a bilingual household surrounded by various cultures and languages, so I had more confidence than I should have had going into these experiences. No matter how much you know about a culture, the focus must be on the individual. Someone's culture can influence who they are and their values greatly, but their natural personality is what determines how they learn best. Getting to know who you are working with, their background, their likes, their dislikes, the best way they learn, the best way to give them feedback, and much more needs to be the focus of your attention.

Another thing I learned the hard way is language learning methods and how they work according to the individual. It took a lot of trial and error when working with my Iranian conversation partner when trying to figure out the best way to help her study for her IELTS. In the beginning, it felt like we were going nowhere until I found a method that worked best. Both culturally and in the acquisition of anything but especially language, the individual is what should and needs to determine the teaching method.

I participated in this experiential learning experience last spring, but I still communicate with my conversation partners and offer them support as best I can. They are both still successful students here at Old Dominion University and I am honored to have watched both of them be successful in learning English and continue their journey to higher education.