The Peer Speaking Practice Groups (PSPGs) offer graduate students' opportunities to practice their oral communication skills. Postdoctoral scholars can join their own PSPGs.
TYPES OF PSPGS
1. General Communication Themes - These PSPGs are most suitable for international graduate students who want to practice their English-speaking skills in different situations and increase their knowledge about the differences in culture. Generally, the topics will be negotiated by participants and facilitators during the first session, but any additional topics can be brought up during the group meetings. Facilitators can also propose topics for each session.
- Possible topics: Making general conversation, living in the US, discussing hot or popular topics, sharing personal cultural experiences, practicing presentation skills, using politeness strategies
2. Interpersonal Communication Themes - These PSPGS are most suitable for both domestic and international graduate students who want to practice their interpersonal communication skills in different situations and increase their confidence in one-on-one interactions with others. Generally, the topics will be preset by the facilitator, but any additional topics or scenarios can be brought up during the group meetings.
- Possible topics: Making small talk, preparing for a difficult conversation (e.g. with a major professor/labmate/roommate/landlord), resolving conflicts, using open or closed statements, avoiding misunderstandings
GUIDELINES
- Each group will be led by one trained facilitator.
- Each group will commit to a four-week block and meet weekly for 50 minutes.
- Topics can be negotiated or preset by the facilitator.
- Additional topics can be brought up during weekly sessions.
- Certain topics can be covered in either type of PSPGs. For example, the topic of making small talk can be covered in either type of PSPGs, but the situation may be different. For example, making small talk can be for general day-to-day conversations, or it can be for networking purposes at an academic conference.
We strongly recommend that you commit to your group for the entire four weeks unless you are sick or unable to make it due to unforeseeable circumstances. This will allow better group cohesion and interactions.
* Groups will be formed monthly every fall and spring semester. Summer groups may be formed depending on facilitator availability.