When Seong-Yun Kang first heard about the International Conversation Hour, he had a few reservations.
"My English skills were a little worse than now, so I didn't go for the first time," Kang, who was born in South Korea, said.
But after his first semester here, one of his friends convinced him it would be a good idea to go. Not only is the program a good way for international and American students to gather and learn about each other's cultures, but it greatly helps international students with conversational English, Kang said.
"People are really friendly," he said. "People make me comfortable to speak English."
Since then, Kang has attended meetings nearly every week for the past year and a half.
The International Conversation Hour, hosted by the Couseling Center, has been meeting for the past two years with Pei-Yi Lin, principle investigator and staff psychologist, and Erica Hurley, co-investigator and doctoral student. They meet every Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
Lin and Hurley send out email to students describing the International Conversation Hour as, "a program designed to help U.S. and international students learn more about one another's experiences, as well as provide support to international students adjusting to Ball State."
At the meetings, the group circles around so everyone can introduce themselves, Kang said. Then, they break off for a mingling activity for one-on-one conversation lasting about five to 10 minutes each.
Finally, they get in small groups and have a discussion over a several topics. One of their recent topics was over the differences of relationships between men and women within separate cultures. Noting how much Kang's English has improved and how active he has been in the program, Lin asked him to be a small group leader.
Although Kang has only missed one or two meetings since he started attending, most students are not as dedicated, Kang said.
Most international students attend conversation hour at least once or twice a month, Kang said.
Kang believes this group is a great learning experience for every nationality.
"It's really multicultural," he said. "I can get a lot of information about different cultures."
Kang has also formed lasting relationships through the conversation hour. He said he met one of his best friends, who now teaches English to Korean students in Korea, at his first conversation hour.
Kang's favorite part of the program is being able to speak comfortably as much as he wants. He said that it can help improve any student's English like it has for him.
"Every year, the new Korean students come, the new international students come," he said. "Once I meet them I always tell them to come to the International Conversation Hour because usually, they have had a hard time speaking English to the other people.
"I always say, ‘What's the purpose to be in the United States or studying abroad?' And they usually say, ‘Uh, my purpose is to improve my English, listening and speaking.' And I know a good way — go to International Conversation Hour."
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