# Chatting with exchange students

**Language:** English  
**CEFR Level:** A2  

> Listen in as Mason and Olivia talk about the quirks of adapting to local student life in real, everyday English. By the end of this course their conversation will feel easy to follow, and you'll be ready to join in.

**Setting:** The setting is the campus activity center at a university in Philadelphia, where Mason and Olivia are volunteering as peer mentors for incoming international exchange students. Throughout the semester, they sit together at the welcome desk, sharing tips and comparing notes on how the newcomers are adjusting to American life.

## Lessons

### 1. Checking in with a colleague

Mason and Olivia catch up at work, and Mason mentions a new student who asked him for a budget-friendly food recommendation.

### 2. Recommending a cheap eating spot

Mason tells Olivia about the affordable food truck he recommended to a friendly new student from Brazil who loves soccer.

### 3. Describing someone's personality

Olivia jokes about Mason's habit of talking about sports and describes a quiet but nice new student from Japan.

### 4. Talking about shared hobbies

Olivia tells Mason how she and a new student bonded over photography, and Mason suggests she share her city photos.

### 5. Making plans for later

After Mason compliments her photography skills, Olivia asks him if he is free to join a group of students walking around downtown later.

### 6. Deciding on a meeting time

Mason agrees to join the walk, and he and Olivia settle on a meeting time after her last class before discussing how much they enjoy guiding others.

### 7. Sharing a past conversation

Mason tells Olivia about a funny question a student asked him yesterday regarding American eating habits and explains how he answered it.

### 8. Agreeing with someone's opinion

Olivia and Mason agree that some questions are hard to explain, and Olivia mentions that her brothers often ask her similarly strange things.

### 9. Talking about your siblings

Mason and Olivia compare their home lives by talking about how many siblings they have and how noisy their houses are.

### 10. Deciding to help someone

Olivia and Mason wrap up their conversation and head back to their work desk to assist a visitor who looks lost.

### 11. Giving simple directions

Mason welcomes a lost visitor and, with Olivia's help, explains that the dorm office is just across the street.

### 12. Expressing feelings about your job

Olivia and Mason offer to walk the visitor to his destination and chat about why they enjoy their work so much.

### 13. Confirming a time to meet

Mason and Olivia finalize their plans to meet at four o'clock, though Olivia jokingly warns Mason not to be late.

### 14. Offering to bring someone coffee

After Olivia points out his past lateness, Mason promises to bring her coffee to make up for it before they say goodbye.