Ryler CP #1

Date/Time:

03/06/17 - 7-8pm 

Location:

Black Dog Cafe in Railroad Sq.

Topic discussed:

General introductions. I brought the icebreaker worksheets that were provided by Ramin but I didnt even get to them. Faisal was very talkative and we just got right into conversation. We talked about his studies at CIES and his hopes to pass his English tests so that he can begin his masters degree in mechanical engineering at FSU. We discussed work, where we are from (Faisal is from Saudi Arabia), Faisal's first attempt at schooling in in the US at Auburn (we was not a fan of the town, nothing but the university!), and Faisal's difficulties with his English exams.

Cultural and/or linguistic topics you and your partner learned: 

I only needed to correct Faisal's grammar a couple of times and only had to help him with a few vocabulary words that he struggeled to remember ('extinct' and 'destractions') but on the whole his conversational English was very good. Faisal told me how much he liked Tallahassee, that it was like a city (things to do and some diversity) but not too much like a city (not too crowded and busy). Faisal recounted a story about how he recently felt descriminated against for being Arabic by someone administering one of his English exams in Tampa. We talked alittle about how this is an unfortunate reality in America today.