English Conversation Partners Program

English Conversation Partners Program bridges cultures at SAIT

Jerry Rollick, the onboarding coordinator for SAIT student engagement, sits at the student engagement office’s front desk on May 17, 2024 at SAIT. He works on the English Conversation Partners Program (ECPP), pairing students and volunteers to ensure they have smooth conversations and enriching cross-cultural experiences. The ECPP poster is right on the desks. (Photo by Jiaqi Su/The Press)

SAIT’s English Conversation Partners Program (ECPP) — connects the students and volunteers to improve their English skills — kicked off for the spring semester on May 13.

ECPP spring semester has reached its largest participation level— 280 participants from SAIT students, faculty and alumni.

According to the SAIT website, SAIT has around 2,000 international students from over 140 different countries. ECPP launched in the fall of 2020 and pairs English as an Additional Language (EAL) students with volunteers who are fluent in English.

As international student numbers continue to rise, the ECPP has become a vital resource for students to improve their English proficiency while enjoying a unique cross-cultural experience.

“It helps them develop some really important skills and awareness and appreciation and respect for people from a different background,” said Jerry Rollick, onboarding coordinator of SAIT student engagement.

ECPP starts accepting registrations about eight weeks before each semester and closes at the end of the first week of the semester.

Audrey Quitayen, a student engagement coordinator at SAIT, also volunteers in the English Conversation Partners Program (ECPP). She sits in her office in the SAIT Heritage Hall building on May 21, 2024. She has dedicated four years to volunteering and says she still enjoys her involvement in ECPP. (Photo by Jiaqi Su/The Press)

Participants can register as students if they speak English as an additional language (EAL) or as volunteers if they are fluent in English, whether they are students, faculty or alumni.

This program also provides a way for alumni and faculty to stay connected to the SAIT community, said Rollick.

Once paired, the participants meet in person or online, practicing their English for at least one hour each week with flexible topics based on each student's unique experience and personality.

Audrey Quitayen, a student engagement coordinator at the SAIT, also volunteers in this program. She joined the program when she was an international student in 2021.

“I can relate more to their struggles and their challenges,” she said, explaining why she continues volunteering at ECPP to help international students.

Quitayen was paired with three students last semester.

“We learned from each other's life during the insights [every] week, and we talked about everything under the sun,” said Quitayen. “There's always something to learn.”

Volunteer registration for the fall 2024 semester will open on July 8, 2024, and student registration will open on August 5, 2024. More information can be found on their website.

Simar Suman is a healthcare leadership student from India. She said this was her third week as an international student at SAIT.

“Sometimes I'm not able to understand what they're saying, there's some type of either too fast or their English is sometimes incoherent because of their own accent,” Suman said. “So, I guess it could be pretty helpful with that. I might enroll [for the next program].”

Jerry Rollick, the onboarding coordinator for SAIT student engagement, takes a break during his work at SAIT on May 17, 2024. He works on the English Conversation Partners Program (ECPP), pairing students and volunteers to ensure they have smooth conversations and enriching cross-cultural experiences. The office is decorated with flags from various countries, highlighting their commitment to embracing diversity. (Photo by Jiaqi Su/The Press)

“It allows people to kind of expand their sense of community on campus and sense of belonging versus is.” – Jerry Rollick.

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