It’s not always easy to strike up a conversation with strangers, especially after years of remote classes and increasingly digital communication.
That’s why communication professor Lisa Guntzviller gives students the chance to practice their conversation skills in a real-world setting in her Introduction to Interpersonal Communication course.
As part of an extra-credit opportunity, participating students are paired in groups that meet regularly throughout the semester to guide each other through a conversation. They can choose from a variety of topics, ranging from time management to school-life balance and everything in between.
That flexibility allows students to discuss whatever seems most engaging to them and build a connection around their chosen topic.
“There's a lot to be said for student engagement — feeling of belonging, feeling of community. Students tend to do better academically when they feel like they belong, and it gives them somewhat of a support system,” Guntzviller said.
Aryana Collins was eager to find her people on campus as a first-year communication student — and that is something this program helped her to do.
Casual conversations with her partner Isabel often developed into more emotional, meaningful discussions. She was surprised by how often those topics would lead to bonding over similar struggles and lived experiences.
Their interactions may have started as an assignment, but they quickly transformed into a real connection outside of class.
“I ended up bringing Isabel to my friends’ events and stuff, so showing her my circle. And she showed me her circle, so we are really friends,” Collins said.
According to Guntzviller, these small group settings provide a comfortable, natural environment for students to open up to each other. She intentionally designed the program so that students meet on their own, unsupervised by an instructor, to avoid adding any academic pressure.
“This is less nerve-racking, in the sense that it's not completely unstructured. I would say if someone is looking to challenge themselves, it's within a safe zone while still doing that,” Guntzviller said.
Drawing from her experience, Collins strongly recommends the program for students who want to increase their confidence when it comes to small talk. For her, the design of the program provides enough freedom to explore shared interests, but just enough structure to avoid the awkwardness that often accompanies these types of conversations.
Conversation anxiety increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as conversation settings dramatically changed. While people eventually adapted to new norms, there was often something missing — something that can be difficult to find in a virtual setting: human connection.
That’s exactly what Guntzviller hopes to foster with this program.
“I wanted people to be able to connect with others, ” she said.
For Collins and other members of the program's first cohort, that was a success.