• I’m a U.S. student and only speak English. Do I need to speak another language to participate in the Pal Program?
• No, you don’t. In fact, in some ways it’s better if you don’t speak the same language as your international partner, since many students join the Pal Program to improve their English language skills. That said, it’s always helpful if you speak slowly and clearly at first until you both get a better sense of your partner's language abilities.
• I'm not a U.S. citizen, but I have lived in the U.S. for a long time.

Follow the tips below to make the most of your Pal time:

Our most important piece of advice is to keep an open mind. Before making quick judgments about your partner, remember the following:

UC Davis is a diverse, inclusive institution that encourages its students to strive to understand and learn from the world around them. The Pal Program will connect you with students from a wide variety of cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds. Regular events also provide an opportunity for participants to socialize with other students interested in international topics.

The Pal Program pairs up UC Davis undergraduate students for intercultural conversation experiences. Participants can use these sessions to increase their intercultural awareness, learn about a target language, and develop friendships.  

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International and Academic English strives to ensure academic success for multilingual students, both undergraduate and graduate, by using data to identify barriers to multilingual student success and partnering with campus entities to build programs to overcome them.