1) Basic expectations

• Meetings are one hour long.
  • Your Language Consultant is not required to meet for more than one hour.
  • It’s okay to meet for longer than an hour, but make sure has enough time and agrees to it.
     
• If you must miss a meeting, you must contact your Language Consultant and additional international partner(s) 24 hours in advance.
  • This is a commitment you agree to for the entire semester.
  • By keeping your weekly meetings, both you and your partner(s) will have the best chance to grow, learn, and build a strong connection.
  • See Expectation #6 for the Attendance Policy.

2) Participation in meetings

• Share responsibility for including all voices in the conversation. If you tend to have a lot to say, make sure you leave enough space to hear from others. If you tend to stay quiet in group discussions, challenge yourself to contribute so others can learn from you. This will help with your English language practice and with learning from everyone.
• Listen respectfully. Try not to interrupt or use your cell phone during conversations. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand. Try to pay attention to each speaker.
• You are all learning from each other: every member of the group. Your learning is based on how engaged and attentive you are.

3) Be aware and understanding of differences

To learn more and avoid misunderstandings:

• Be open to changing your perspectives based on what you learn from others. Try to explore new ideas and possibilities. Think critically about the factors that have shaped your perspectives. Seriously consider points-of-view that differ from your current thinking.
• Understand that everyone makes mistakes. See mistakes—yours and others’—as important parts of learning about different cultures and languages.
• Remember that your words can affect others. Speak carefully. If someone says something you said felt disrespectful, listen to them, try to understand their feelings, and learn how to do better next time.
• Criticize ideas, not people.
• Understand that others have different experiences from you. Avoid making assumptions or generalizations based on your own life. Be ready to listen and learn from their perspectives.

4) Resolving potential concerns and/or conflicts

• In some cultures, conflicts are seen as embarrassing and should be avoided. However, in this program, we encourage you to talk openly about any misunderstandings or conflicts with your Language Consultant or partner(s). What seems like a conflict might actually be a chance to learn about each other’s cultures. If someone says something that feels offensive, they probably didn’t know. This is an opportunity to teach and learn from each other. 
• All topics are okay to discuss as long as everyone feels comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable, please let your partner(s) know and ask to change the topic. Likewise, if your partner says they feel uncomfortable, please respect their feelings and change the topic.
• If there is a problem, please try to talk about it with your Language Consultant or partner(s). If the issue cannot be resolved, you can contact the Language Consultant Program Coordinator for help.

5) Program expectations and boundaries

Your weekly meetings are dedicated to English practice and cultural exchange. To ensure a safe and respectful environment for all participants, any romantic advances or inappropriate behavior will be grounds for dismissal from the program.

6) Attendance policy

Your time is important, and so is the time of your Language Consultant. To make the program successful, we ask everyone to follow these rules for attendance:
 

Attendance Rules:

• No unexcused absences are allowed.
• You can miss up to two meetings if you tell your Language Consultant in advance.

What is an Excused Absence?
An excused absence means you tell your Language Consultant at least 24 hours before the meeting and get approval. Excused absences include:

• You are sick or have a health emergency.
• A family or personal emergency (e.g., a funeral, hospital visit).
• A test or another unavoidable school conflict (not last-minute studying or group meetings).
• Pre-approved travel (talk to us before the semester starts or as soon as you know your plans).

What is NOT Excused?
You cannot miss a meeting for these reasons:

• Feeling tired or stressed.
• Telling your Language Consultant at the last minute (except in an emergency).
• Last-minute travel or plans (not an emergency).
• Personal appointments (e.g., haircut, shopping).
• Needing more time to study or finish homework.
• Group meetings or activities outside of class time.

Your Agreement:
When you join this program, you agree to meet with your Language Consultant for one hour every week at the same time. (However, if you and your Language Consultant both agree, you can choose a different time for a specific week.) You also agree to follow the attendance rules. If you do not follow the rules, you may be removed from the program.
 

Thank you for helping us make VISAS a positive and productive experience for everyone!

7) Completing weekly check-in form

Each participant in this program is emailed a short check-in form each week. This form is used to confirm that your meeting took place and to share any feedback or insights from your session. Completing it only takes a few minutes and helps ensure the program runs smoothly while supporting your experience.