Virtual Conversation Partner Program

The Virtual Conversation Partner Program is a summer program that pairs current W&M students with new, incoming international students to William & Mary to practice English-language conversation skills in a cross-cultural setting.

About the Program

The VCPP was founded by Dr. Jingzhu Zhang '15 in 2012. An international student herself, her vision was to create an opportunity for W&M international and domestic students to connect for language practice and to enhance cross-cultural competency.

Through the use of video chat apps such as Zoom or FaceTime, new international students have the opportunity to connect with current W&M students.

This program has been featured in EAB’s Publication Best Practices in Supporting International Students, at the NAFSA and AIEA national conferences, and in numerous university articles.

Program Benefits

• New international students are able to practice their conversational English in a safe environment with a native English speaker and learn about W&M before they arrive on campus.
• Current W&M students have the opportunity to learn about a different cultural, as well as understand their own culture more deeply. Some volunteers are even lucky enough to make a new life-long friend!
• All students participating in the program can develop key personal and professional competencies, including communication skills and intercultural competence.

Volunteer to be a Conversation Partner!

To serve as a VCPP conversation partner, volunteers must:

• Be a current undergraduate and graduate student at W&M
• Plan to re-enroll at W&M in the academic semester immediately following the VCPP summer program
• Participate in a mandatory one-hour training in late April
• Meet virtually with their conversation partner(s) for at least one hour each week from mid-May to mid-August
• VCPP volunteers are encouraged to stay in contact with their partner(s) beyond the end of the summer program, but it is not a requirement to participate.
• Submit a Volunteer Interest Form by Sunday, March 29 at 11:59pm to be considered for the Summer 2026 program.

New international students should check their W&M email for a link to apply for the Summer 2026 program beginning in late April or early May.

Questions? Please contact us at globe@wm.edu