English-Chinese Language Exchange
In collaboration with seven United States universities, LEAP is proud to offer a scaffolded English-Chinese language exchange curriculum, which matches college students from Taiwan with a language partner in the U.S. LEAP’s scaffolded language exchange consists of three primary components:
Weekly Virtual Meetings: Each student participates in weekly virtual meetings with their language partner, where they can engage in meaningful conversations and practice their language skills. The scheduling of these sessions is flexible, allowing partners to choose a day and time that best fits their individual commitments. Guided by LEAP’s curriculum, these meetings cover a variety of topics. This structured approach not only helps students enhance their language proficiency but also creates a supportive and interactive environment where they can build confidence in their communication abilities.
Scaffolded Learning Objectives and Vocabulary: LEAP’s language exchange program employs a scaffolded approach to ensure a gradual and effective progression in language proficiency. Each week focuses on designated themes and specific learning objectives, providing students with a clear framework for their language exchange. Prior to their meetings, participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with a curated list of vocabulary words and sentence patterns related to the weekly topics. These topics are diverse, ranging from popular foods in each student’s country, music, salient political issues, and leisure activities. The meetings are divided evenly, with half conducted in Chinese and the other half in English, facilitating a balanced language practice that enhances comprehension and fluency.
Weekly Recap Journals: To further enrich the learning experience, students are required to write a brief one-paragraph recap of their weekly conversations. This reflective practice not only reinforces their language skills but also allows program facilitators to monitor the progress of each exchange. Through the recaps, students gain valuable writing practice in their target language while contributing to the overall success and effectiveness of the program. This feedback loop ensures that any challenges can be addressed promptly, ensuring a smooth and productive language exchange experience for all participants.
Through this collaborative initiative, LEAP aims to create meaningful connections between students in Taiwan and the U.S., enhancing their linguistic abilities while promoting cross-cultural understanding.
If you are interested in joining the language exchange, please register below:
For inquires, contact leap.language.exchange@gmail.com.