Penn State Global’s Conversation Partners connect State College to the World

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — What do a retired couple, a library employee, and a communications professional in the College of Engineering have in common?

That isn’t the start of a bad joke. The answer? They’re all a part of Penn State Global’s Conversation Partners Program, which provides opportunities for non-native-English-speaking international students, faculty and staff to improve their English proficiency and learn more about American culture. The program does this by matching the non-native English speaker with an English-speaking volunteer for regular, informal conversations in English.

For the non-native English speaker, the benefits are obvious, said Wenjie Fu, coordinator of the program and Penn State Global employee.

“For the domestic volunteers," Fu said, "they will get the opportunity to learn other cultures while they’re here in State College.”

The Conversation Partners Program is an initiative of Penn State Global. Penn State Global serves as the hub for global programs, initiatives and support, seeking to integrate global perspectives and engagement across education, research and outreach at Penn State. The office manages a broad range of programs, such as education abroad; supports international students and scholars; and facilitates the University's many international partnerships around the world. Additionally, the office offers programming for faculty, staff and students around cultural competency and global learning, and administers the Global Safety Network, including other global safety support for University travelers.

“Our vision as an office is to meaningfully engage people in global experiences that foster a shared commitment to one another and to the planet,” said Sabine Klahr, vice provost for Penn State Global. “This program connects international students with other Penn State students and local community members, making for a more impactful and cross-cultural exchange for everyone involved, without needing to step foot outside Centre County. As part of Penn State’s land-grant mission, we facilitate global engagement in Pennsylvania and around the world."

Roughly 150-300 people have participated in Conversation Partner programs each year since its inception in the 1980s.

Jack and Joyce Igoe: “Expand Your World”

Jack and Joyce Igoe are two State College community members who said they benefited from the global experience of the Conversation Partners Program.

Most conversation partner pairings start off small — a weekly lunch in the HUB, a weekend meeting for coffee. Some remain this way for the duration of the partnership, whether it’s a semester or a year, and it’s enough for the non-native English speaker to improve their language and for the local volunteer to learn a little more about another culture.

Many times, though, this program can lead to lifelong friendships.

The Igoes, who live in the State College area, joined the program in 2018. As longtime participants, they have experienced all kinds of partnerships within the program.

“Our first partners, Mitsutoshi and Yuko Otaki, were our partners from June 2018 until March 2019,” Jack explained. The couple was from Japan, which was of interest to the Igoes, who had lived there previously. The Igoes and the Otakis became fast friends.

“They [the Otakis] preferred experiential learning within American culture,” said Joyce. Examples of meetings included experiencing various cuisines (Mexican cuisine was a highlight), going to events such as the Arts Festival and volleyball games, and even doing a few escape rooms.

To this day, Jack said, the Igoes have a monthly FaceTime call with the Otakis — which now includes their four-year-old son, Minoru, who considers the Igoes to be like grandparents.

The Igoes’ second partner, Sangyoo Kang, had a much different approach. As opposed to experiential learning, he showed up every two weeks with a specific set of questions he’d had since their last meeting, covering a whole range of topics. Their third partner, Waleed, meets with them for coffee every two weeks. Waleed has a family — a wife and two children — and works for the University.

“These kind of people in our life allow us to continue to expand our world, not congeal it,” said Joyce.

“We find it a very enriching experience,” Jack added.

Kate Myers and Beatrice Ke: “Much More than Conversation Partners”

Kate Myers and Beatrice Ke became conversation partners two years ago.

“It was unexpected,” recalled Myers, who is senior director of communications and marketing within the College of Engineering at Penn State.

“I thought I would be paired with a student,” Ke said. “But it worked out really well!”

Initially, conversations revolved around language skills, with Beatrice wanting to learn more about English. As time went on, though, the focus shifted to more cultural — and more personal — matters. Myers, whose family lives in State College, invited Ke to family events like dinners, as well as her children’s sports. Myers took Ke to a high school basketball game that her son played in, for example.

“It really gave me an insight into American high school culture,” Ke said.

“When I volunteered for this program, I wanted to help someone who didn’t have the advantage of feeling comfortable in every room they entered on campus simply because there was a language barrier,” Myers said. “I had no idea that, two years later, not only would Beatrice and I still be meeting, but we would be so much more than conversation partners. Sometimes a friend or parental figure, sometimes a therapist or insurance decoder, I’m happy that I can provide support when she needs it.”

The pair still meet regularly, and plan to stay involved in each other’s lives even after Ke graduates.

“It’s an ideal program for those who enjoy interacting with others, meeting new people, and learning new things,” Myers said.

Jill Shockey and Yuanxun “MiaoMiao” Wei: “A Lifelong Friendship”

Jill Shockey, marketing and communications manager in the Penn State Libraries, has a long history with the Conversation Partners Program.

“I’ve actually known about it since it was the International Hospitality Council,” she said. “My aunt and uncle were a part of it for a long time, so when I would come and visit, I would often meet friends of theirs that they’d made from around the world, and I was really inspired by that.”

In 2023, Shockey was connected with Yuanxun “MiaoMiao” Wei, who had learned about the program through serving as an international orientation leader.

“At first when I was here, I felt kind of isolated,” Wei said. “But Jill, she always supported and encouraged me. She improved my English definitely and taught me a lot about American and local culture.”

“I told her a lot about Pennsylvania, since I grew up here,” Shockey said. “But I also learned a lot about MiaoMiao’s culture. She told me about her hometown, which is known for its peony blossoms, which happen to be my favorite flower.”

“Jill let me experience Christmas!” Wei said. “She invited me to her house to decorate a Christmas tree, introduce the Christmas culture and all of the stories behind it … Jill is my first American friend, to be honest.”

Throughout their partnership, the two did a variety of other activities, like board game nights, meals, or getting together for bubble tea or coffee. Through these meetings, Wei became more confident in her English and more comfortable living in the United States and State College.

“I have a very strong connection to State College and Penn State now,” Wei said.

“If you step up and offer a friendly, welcoming smile, it will be met tenfold,” Shockey said. “It’s intimidating to come to a new culture. I learned a lot, too, even about how to better serve international students in my position at Penn State.”

While Wei will be starting a doctoral program soon outside of Penn State, the two plan to keep in communication.

“I think Jill will be a lifelong friend to me,” Wei said. “I think we are together.”

Getting involved

The Conversation Partners Program is open to anyone to join and is particularly looking for native English speakers to match with its backlog of international students, scholars and faculty who are looking to improve their English and learn more about American culture.

“This is a great opportunity for Penn State domestic students or for local community members to have cultural exchange,” said Fu.

Partners are matched by the program coordinator based on certain criteria, such as interests and gender preferences, and are encouraged to meet once a week or every other week. Meetings can take almost any form, from a conversation over coffee in the HUB, to a hike up Mount Nittany, to sharing a cultural experience like a concert or a live show and then discussing it.

“One thing I would want people to know is that speaking another language is not a prerequisite for the program,” said Joyce Igoe. “The program’s goal is to teach English, and your international partner is going to want to speak English to improve.”

While the goal of the program is to help with English proficiency, it offers so much more, said Shockey.

“I can’t say enough great things about this program,” she said. “It’s not a very time-intensive opportunity, but the rewards are immense.

“The organizers only want us to get better [at English], to form friendships, and to be happy,” added Wei. “I hope more people can know the program and join.”

The program also hosts larger events on occasion, such as board game nights or community potlucks, to try to bring the diverse group of conversation partners together.

“It helps you view the world through a different lens,” said Joyce Igoe.

Community members can make lifelong impact on visiting international students, helping them to have a positive experience in the United States and take that experience with them into the future.

“It’s nice to think I had a small part in helping Beatrice develop the confidence that has so drastically broadened her Penn State experience,” said Myers.

“You will learn so much by interacting with a different person,” added Ke. “And the impact you contribute is more than you can imagine.”

For more information on the Conversation Partners Program, contact Wenjie Fu at gp-cep@psu.edu. To sign up, visit the program’s webpage and fill out the registration form.