To foster relationships between U.S. students and the 3000 international students Kent State hosts, students are encouraged to sign up for the Conversation Partners program. 

The Conversation Partners program pairs students to help international students with the adjustment process of moving to a new country. 

According to the program’s webpage, participating students are offered the unique opportunity to expand their worldview while making new friends and learning more about another culture and language. 

“My experience with the program was overwhelmingly positive,” Jay Oza, a Conversation Partners alum and Kent grad from India, said. “It provided me with an invaluable opportunity to immerse myself in American culture while also sharing insights about my own. By the end of the semester, my partner and I had developed a strong friendship, and we continue to stay in touch.”

By committing to the program, students spend one hour a week meeting with their assigned partner for one semester. Meeting times and locations are flexible; pairs decide when and where they meet, virtually or in-person. 

The Office of International Student Affairs works in partnership with the Center for English as a Second Language each semester to organize the Conversation Partners program. 

“Through this program, I learned to embrace and appreciate diverse perspectives, fostering meaningful connections with individuals from different corners of the globe,” Oza said. 

To find out more about the Conversation Partners program and to sign up in coming semesters, visit The Office of International Student Affairs webpage.   

Angie Bowman is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].