Conversation lab helps international students
By Yoko Ito-Peterson
Daily Forty-Niner
Freshman Miki Haneda, a psychology major
from Japan, had an assignment to complete. She was to write an essay on
freedom of speech.
The only problem was that she had to write
it in English, her second language.
Haneda turned to the International Students'
Conversation Lab in the Learning Assistance Center at Cal State Long Beach
for help.
"I can ask tutors [to help improve my]
writing and reading skills," Haneda said.
A tutor encouraged four students, including
Haneda, to talk about various topics ranging from their hobbies to women's
issues using their second language.
At first the lab focused on international
students' conversation skills, pronunciation, vocabulary usage and idiomatic
expressions, said Kathy Chen, coordinator at the center and CSULB graduate
student.
The lab now helps with English writing
skills because the university "makes it harder for students to pass writing
classes," Chen said.
"This is the only facility that helps English
as a second language students with their English skills," Chen said.
Chen explained that tutors read students'
papers, pointing out and explaining their mistakes instead of making a
simple correction.
"We do not baby-sit the students, but we
give them a tool to help them learn and strengthen their English," Chen
said.
The lab's 27 volunteer tutors, who include
some CSULB students, provide free lessons to the students in need, Chen
said.
"Through foreign students I learn more
about my culture," said tutor Pam Crawley.
An increase of Asian students resulted
in the center modifying its teaching method, Chen said.
"Asian students are shy and afraid of talking
with native speakers," Chen said. "We motivate them to speak and give them
60 percent of the time to talk."
Long Nguyen, a Vietnamese student applying
for graduate school at CSULB, comes to the lab a few times a week to improve
his pronunciation.
"I come here because tutors correct my
pronunciation," Nguyen said.
Chen said the lab needs more tutors because
international students want to practice their conversation skills on a
one-on-one basis.
Volunteers do not have to be native speakers
of English if they have recognizable, clear speech, Chen said.
"We need volunteers who are sensitive to
[English as a second language] students' needs and know how to speak academic
speech," she said.
Those who are interested in tutoring international
students may call (562) 985-8633. |
![[news]](http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/Icon/news.gif){kind=icon}
![[opinion]](http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/Icon/opinion.gif){kind=icon}
![[Sports]](http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/Icon/sports.gif){kind=icon}