Over 20 years ago, while helping prospective international teaching assistants at the University of Virginia (UVA), Elizabeth Wittner discovered that their opportunity to speak English on campus was very minimal.
She eventually established the Volunteers with International Students, Staff and Scholars (VISAS) program under the university’s Center for American English, Language and Culture where international members of the UVA community could hone their English communication skills and learn more about American culture.
The VISAS program is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers, scholars, faculty, staff, employees and family members of the UVA community who want to practice their language literacy or adjust to teaching in the United States through demonstrations, discussions and during office hours.
“Everyone is wedded to their screens and it is very hard for people to look up and out and connect with each other,” said Wittner, the academic director and international TA program coordinator for VISAS. “Small talk has become even more difficult. I think these structured sustained conversations are really important.”
Participants are paired with student volunteers to improve their English communication skills. To assist with English learning, volunteers often use scenario work to make it applicable to the participant’s daily lives.
“To be able to do something as low stakes as literally just speaking in my own language but the impact that it can have on helping others feel a little more comfortable and a little more confident during their time in the United States is so invaluable,” said student volunteer Erin Sutherland.
As a language learner herself, student volunteer Isabelle Burke empathizes with the participant’s experiences and frustrations.
