Service

The ELI (English Language Institute) Conversation Partner Program matches English speaking UMBC students, faculty and staff with ELI students. The program promotes cultural exchange, international friendship, and language learning. ELI students and UMBC volunteers meet for 1 hour once a week for informal conversation and often attend events on campus or spend time bonding off campus. For one semester of my sophomore year, I volunteered to be a conversation partner. I was paired up with a graduate student from Iran. We met every week and chatted about our school life and bonded about our experiences immigrating to the US. I immigrated to the US as a child and we talked about our different levels of culture shock. For our off campus event, I invited her and my roommate to tour Washington DC to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Participating in CWIT recruitment events and freshmen orientation allows me to meet the 3 learning objectives. I participate in community engagement activities such as panels, presentation Q&As and their social events to build community within the scholars program across different years. When presenting at an event talking about my experiences and how CWIT could guide and support them in their college careers I reflect on my experiences as a mentee and a mentor and demonstrate civic agency. I would share my contact info and check in with other scholars throughout the semesters. I participated in the Best of CWIT committee in September-October 2021 and met at least 1 hour weekly. I participated in the CWIT freshmen retreat as a committee member from May-July 2024 and committed 1 hour weekly and then 72 hours for the whole retreat. Aside from those 2 main events, I volunteer for their Bits n Bytes event as a presenter and for their other engineering panels in recruiting high schoolers. I would say the total hours are close to 135.

My experience as a peer mentor and English conversation partner contributes to enhancing my perspective. As a conversation partner, I’m paired with an international student who is new to the US and they’re adjusting to a new culture and lifestyle. I help them with their English-speaking skills by just engaging in casual conversations which often lead to us discussing our own cultures and how our views are shaped by our personal experiences. We often talk about our field of study and the ethics surrounding our work. Being a peer mentor, these types of topics will probably come up in the conversations I have with my mentees as I get to know them. These conversations help broaden my perspective and understand how each person’s view is shaped by the environment and culture they experience.

a. Community Engagement

The CWIT peer mentoring program has required events for both mentors and mentees to engage more within the CWIT community and campus events. The English Conversation Partner program also encourages meetings outside of the campus and showing foreign language learners the local community and culture.

b. Civic Agency

Attending events hosted by both programs will hep me connect more with the community and learn their needs so I can seek ways to help.

c. Capacity for Reflection

When engaging in conversations with my mentees and English learning partner I’m constantly thinking how to form a better connection with them. I reflect on the topics we talk about and think about how to better serve their needs and how to connect us with a community.

Commitment:

Dedicating a set time to talk and connect with partners/community requires commitment for both parties. As the weeks go on, you learn more about them and become more connected with the program’s community and become appreciative about the importance of involvement.