Katie-CP 1

As you all know, I have been meeting with my conversation partner for some time now, and we have grown to have concern over the important things in each other’s lives.  My conversation partner is from Turkey and is at FSU studying at CIES to improve his English skills. It is necessary for him to raise is TOEFL score to receive an acceptance to a graduate program in the department of Geological Science. He, after excelling in two different internships back in Turkey, was offered a job with a major company there. Instead, he chose to apply for a full ride fellowship to study abroad in the United States and pursue higher education. The application process was an examination similar to the GRE and he was one of six out of thousands to receive this fellowship. During our first meeting until today, we have been studying for the GRE (which he took 2/23) and TOEFL, sending emails to department leaders, setting up meetings with professors and working vigorously on his Statement of Purpose, all part of the process of trying to get him into grad school so he can continue his education and eventually work for his benefactor. We have done skits to practice meeting these professors, recorded speeches to help him learn when to pause and how to formulate his ideas in a conversation, and I am trying to help him understand the basics of communicating for example like to say “It’s a pleasure meeting you”. I am excited and hopeful at this point anticipating an acceptance. Today, we finished his purpose statement and wrote a few follow up emails.  Tomorrow I will practice teaching my grammar lesson, this way I can really understand the accuracy ( or lack thereof) of what I composed.