Fostering multiculturalism: the English Conversation Pairs Program

Exposure to and personal interactions with people of diverse cultures foster an acceptance of multiculturalism. To this end, the English Conversation Pairs Program provides weekly conversation sessions between students who are native speakers of English (NSE) and students who speak English as a second language (ESL). Attitudes of twenty-two NSE students are surveyed before and after participation in the Conversation Pairs Program. This paper discusses (a) NSE students' perceptions of the program, (b) perceived changes in cultural sensitivity of NSE students, (c) activities which enhance and/or hamper program effectiveness, and (d) variables which influence program effectiveness.