International students at a southwest Ohio college are getting help with English from retirees.
A Wright State University initiative called Conversation Partners matches retired faculty, staff and spouse with students seeking extra practice to improve their English. It's part of an intensive English program that helps non-native speakers develop language, academic and social skills meant to help them be successful at a U.S. university. The conversation idea came from Wright State's Jim Sayer, who says it provides the students with valuable practice, while giving retirees another way to contribute to the school. Wright State's international student body has been growing. There are 170 students in the intensive English program, up from about 25 in 2002.