English Conversation Partners (ECP)
We connect the University of Maryland community for authentic cultural exchange through English conversation. For ten weeks during the semester, participants meet with their fluent English-speaking volunteer in group sessions. In the conversation sessions, participants practice their oral English skills through discussions on various topics and other activities planned by the facilitator.
During the Spring 2025 semester, ECP groups will meet weekly for 60 minutes from February 17th through May 2nd.
All UMD members (w/UID) are eligible to participate in the ECP Program as students free of charge. Spouses and adult family members of UMD registered students and employees are also welcome to join the program.
UMD students, staff, faculty, and community members who speak English fluently can serve as program facilitators. The facilitators do not have to be native speakers of English and do not need prior teaching experience.
Each facilitator will lead a 60-minute weekly conversation group with up to 6 participants. Conversation groups meet for 10 sessions throughout the semester.
Please see the Level of Proficiency for definitions of beginning, intermediate, and advanced.
Sign-ups have ended for the fall semester. If you are interested in joining in the spring, please fill out our interest form. Sign-ups for participants will begin on February 3rd.
Participant Information
We facilitate cross-cultural dialogues in English. We converse about everything and anything around the world from different perspectives. We foster a respectful and engaging language-learning environment and encourage an inclusive learning community.
The conversation topics include world cultures (including American cultures), values, beliefs, histories, and current events. There are suggestive guidelines available to facilitators and participants but the conversations are open to participants' and facilitators’ interests.
On campus! The coordinator will reserve a classroom for each group to meet throughout the semester.
This is a great way to meet people from other cultures & fields of studies while practicing conversational English!
Sign-ups have ended for the fall semester, if you are interested in joining in the spring, please fill out our interest form.
Facilitator Information
UMD students, faculty, staff, or community members who are proficient English speakers can join the ECP Program as facilitators. Each facilitator must complete the mandatory registration and training workshops. The program coordinator will provide tips and guidelines on how to help ECP participants meet their learning goals and language needs.
The facilitators promote English conversation sessions to help international students, visiting scholars, and community members practice their oral communication skills. Each facilitator can determine the direction and flow of the conversation sessions. Session guidelines provide conversation suggestions around world cultures (including American cultures), values, beliefs, histories, global current events, and more.
On campus! The program coordinator will reserve a classroom for each group to meet throughout the semester.
The schedules for the conversation sessions are relatively flexible. Facilitators can choose time frames that are convenient for their schedule. Facilitators are asked to indicate several available time slots so that we can offer a variety of session times.
This is a great way to meet people from other cultures and fields of study while practicing your leadership, public speaking, and teaching skills. The program also allows you to deepen your intercultural communicative competence through navigating cultural differences and intercultural understanding.
Sign-ups have ended for the fall semester, if you are interested in joining in the spring, please fill out our interest form.