Conversation Partners (Language Tutors) meet one-on-one with students to help them practice speaking and improve their language skills. They also assist students with reading comprehension, reviewing course materials or activities, building vocabulary, and developing grammar skills. Conversation Partners enhance fluency, listening, and vocabulary through informal conversation practice in the target language while providing supplementary language instruction.

All Conversation Partners primarily work with English language learners, helping them develop their fluency and proficiency in oral English, as well as assisting them in understanding intercultural differences in communication. 

Conversation Partners with at least intermediate proficiency in other languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Irish Gaelic, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish, can also assist other language learners.

Undergraduate Conversation partners earn $15/hour and typically work 3-8 hours per week; the hours are flexible and can be scheduled around other obligations.

Who can apply:

Undergraduate students from all academic majors are eligible to apply for these positions. We particularly welcome applicants who have

• extensive experience with language learning
• experience tutoring or teaching English or another language
• personal experience as an English language learner, exchange student, or international student
• experience living, working, or studying abroad.

Students who also wish to serve as Conversation Partners for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or American Sign Language (ASL) must demonstrate intermediate to advanced proficiency in one of those languages through self-study or by having completed intermediate advanced language courses.

How to apply:

Complete the online application form and submit the following materials (through the form):

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter, including answers to the following:
  • What interests you about working with the Language Learning Services and the Conversation Partners program?
  • Describe your academic interests and your experiences with languages and international cultures.
  • In one paragraph, answer the following question about English or another language you are applying to support:
    • Imagine you are helping a student with this language. What is something about the language that you think would be difficult to explain, and how would you explain it? You may consider grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, interaction, slang, culture, etc.
• 2-3 recent academic writing samples - at least one must be in English. The others may be in another language you are applying to support as a Conversation Partner (e.g., Spanish if you are applying to be an English and Spanish Conversation Partner).

Please contact Chloe Huh Prudente (chloe@temple.edu) with questions. 

Current openings and application deadlines:

All applications are due Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Only completed applications will be considered. Sign up for our newsletter for updates about future opportunities.