COMM 490 Communication, Culture & Society

Individual Project

CONVERSATION PARTNER

Task

Meet weekly with a recent immigrant and write a six-page paper about the experience.

Directions

Identify a conversation partner who has only recently come to the United States, such as a international student. The partner should have an interest in practicing American English and learning about people from this country.

Attempt to learn something about the communication patterns of your conversation partner. Some questions you might ask include the following:

1. What are the cultural patterns of his/her place of origin?

2. How do the cultural patterns affect interpersonal communication?

3. What are the special features of the verbal codes used in conversation?

4. What are the special features to the nonverbal codes in conversation?

5. Are there distinct social episodes that specific cultural rules seem to govern?

6. Ho does interpersonal communication during your interpersonal conversations differ from what you might find when interacting within your own culture?

In your paper, describe your experiences and be sure to respond to these and similar issues.

The six pages (total) must be typewritten, double-spaced proofread, printed out, and turned in at the beginning of class on the due date.

Outcome

Come prepared to discuss your experiences extemporaneously.