World language conversation assistants are typically native or heritage speakers of Spanish, Japanese, or French who are interested in sharing their culture and language with others. Any students who wish to develop or practice their Spanish, Japanese, or French speaking skills are encouraged to meet with a conversation assistant. Students are not required to be enrolled in a world language class to schedule an appointment with a conversation assistant. Conversation assistants will work with you to identify conversation topics that are relevant to you and that allow you to utilize your unique level of language knowledge and proficiency. Conversation assistants will not correct every pronunciation or vocabulary error you make in conversation, but they will help you identify patterns of error that may interfere with your ability to communicate clearly. Conversation assistance sessions are excellent practice for any students who plan to study abroad in a country where Spanish, Japanese, or French is the primary language!
Students are encouraged to schedule appointments with more than one conversation assistant to benefit from hearing a variety of pronunciations and accents. Many of the WaLC鈥檚 conversation assistants also work as language tutors, so if you are currently enrolled in a Spanish, Japanese, or French class, you may want to consider scheduling both conversation assistance and tutoring appointments. Conversation assistance sessions will focus on speaking in the target language, so if you need assistance with course content or assignments, please schedule a course-based tutoring session for your class.
Conversation assistance appointments are typically 30-minutes long, but students may schedule two consecutive appointments for a total of one hour. When scheduling an appointment, please leave a comment for the conversation assistant that includes details about your current level of language proficiency, any language classes you have taken or are currently enrolled in, and any specific goals you have for the conversation session. Log in to to schedule your appointment or give us a call at 828.227.2274.