The University’s English Language and Orientation Programcurrently is looking for student workers to partner withinternational students.
ELOP’s conversation program is an elective in the Eight WeekBasic Course curriculum. It is broken up over 20 courses.
The conversation program is designed for students who seekEnglish language training for academic, professional and personalpurposes, according to the ELOP Web site.
Established years ago, the ongoing conversation program hashelped many international students integrate into the Universitycommunity, said Stacey Patton, an associate with ELOP.
ELOP faculty places one University student with fourinternational students to talk and explore campus together.
ELOP pays $6 an hour to native University students participatingin the program. All students eligible to work are invited toparticipate.
Patton said the conversation program is beneficial to allstudents involved.
Native English-speaking students can expand their horizons andlearn about foreign cultures. “The job also looks impressive on aresume, especially for a student going into international relationsor business,” Patton said.
Through conversations with native English speakers,international students become more comfortable with the languageand learn slang terms and other elements of the language which arenot taught in their formal classes, Patton said.
“We are constantly looking for people,” Patton said. “This jobprovides a wonderful intercultural experience.”
Besides the opportunity to improve their language skills,international students can meet other University students and learnmore about American culture, Patton said.
According to the Web site, ELOP’s mission is to helpinternational students learn English and make people feel welcomein the University and Baton Rouge communities.
ELOP provides five of the Eight Week Basic Courses per year,with levels ranging from elementary to advanced.