UCIE Seating | Photo by Jamie Naylor | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University students improve conversation skills and exchange cultures with people from across the globe with Conversation, or Convo, Club hosted by the international education office.
Why it started
Hosted by the University Center for International Education, Convo Club started as a place for international and American students to build a community on the WSU campus while discussing a wide variety of topics that students are interested in.
“The purpose of Convo Club is to let students practice their intercultural conversational skills and meet a diverse number of students at Wright State. Convo Club introduces different topics and gives an opportunity to learn about other cultures,” Aya Nakayama, international student and program coordinator at UCIE, said.
Nakayama further explained that rebuilding a sense of community on the WSU campus has been especially important after the isolating impacts of COVID-19 in recent years. The Convo Club provides a safe and fun environment for students to connect and learn.
Goals of the club
Convo Club aims to bring a greater understanding of diversity to WSU’s campus.
“It aims to become a place where students can meet new people and gain an understanding of other cultures,” Nakayama said.
The Convo Club can be exciting to American students looking to study abroad, travel or hear about cultures from different countries.
What to expect
Conversely, international students are eager to hear about the Dayton and Ohio areas in general from American students.
Convo Club provides a place where students can learn and interact with different people. In addition, students can gain the value of inclusiveness and learn about diverse backgrounds.
“While it is obviously beneficial to everyone in the aspects of networking and cultural expansion, it can be especially helpful for new incoming students as it provides a feeling of inclusiveness and solidarity, both essential during a new start. For me personally, after almost one and a half years of attending, it still is the most refreshing break on campus between working and studying,” Nikolaos Gkorgkolis, a graduate student in computer science, said.
Other students find friendships through the club.
“Convo Club is genuinely interesting. It always feels like hanging out with friends," undergraduate social work student Isabel Nicolich said.
How to get involved
Convo Club is in the seating area outside the UCIE office on the third floor of the Student Union, right next to the glass elevator.
The club runs every Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Students can visit the “Engage” website or email askucie@wright.edu for more information.
