This course prepares students to lead conversation groups with multilingual undergraduates. Among the topics to be considered are seeking clarification, planning for a conversation, taking a position, celebrating successes and overcoming nervousness, approaching different communicative contexts, engaging in casual conversation, and using social media. Students in this course lead weekly conversation groups beginning in the second week of the semester. Students also observe one other conversation group and develop a creative outreach project that builds upon bi-weekly blog posts.
Course Requirements:
Facilitation of eleven weekly conversation circle sessions. One observational visit to a colleague's conversation circle. Regular attendance and active participation in weekly class sessions. Six bi-weekly blog posts reflecting on your experiences as a conversation circle facilitator and on the topics covered in class. “Cultural richness” creative capstone project.
Intended Audience:
Sweetland Peer Writing Consultants, students interested in international relations, tutoring, and cross-cultural communication.
Class Format:
This course meets for 1 hour per week, with outside conversation group meetings scheduled outside of class.