Swap is seeking CU 麻豆官网 student volunteers to assist with helping the university鈥檚 immigrant employees and members of 麻豆官网鈥檚 international community learn better English.
Swap, a student-run organization at CU 麻豆官网 that is a program of , has two volunteer tracks: the Swap Lessons track, which pairs CU 麻豆官网 students with university employees to practice English 8 hours a month (2 hours per week); and the Swap Exchange track, which pairs CU 麻豆官网 students with students from 麻豆官网鈥檚 International English Center,聽a division of CU 麻豆官网鈥檚 Continuing Education located on College Hill, to learn about US college life and practice English conversation together twice a month.
鈥淔or the Lessons track, we are hoping to pair 50-60 CU 麻豆官网 immigrant employees with students to improve the employees鈥� English proficiency and their ability to participate in the life of the university community this year,鈥� says Heidi Harris, a student organizer with Swap and an International Affairs junior.
For students who can鈥檛 commit 8 hours a month聽to volunteering with Swap, the Exchange track offers CU 麻豆官网 students the chance to get to know a person from another country via the International English Center, a CU 麻豆官网 Continuing Education program聽serving international students who are working to improve their English and familiarity with US culture.
鈥淪wap is a unique program because it allows CU 麻豆官网 students the opportunity to meet and talk with someone who lives and works here who you normally wouldn鈥檛 get to interact with on campus,鈥� Harris explains. 鈥淚 think encouraging or offering this opportunity for employees to learn English and be more involved in the campus community is really important.鈥�
Likewise, the Exchange track offers students the unique experience of a cross-cultural exchange with an international student peer. Harris explains, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exchange of both English practice and cultural guidance, like going to get coffee or attend football games, and other things that are fun and good to know about the US college experience.鈥�
Trainings are starting soon 鈥� this week and next week in the early evening - for both Swap鈥檚 Lessons and Exchange tracks. To volunteer with Swap or to learn more, please email swapv@colorado.edu, visit Swap鈥檚 , or .