Two students talking at the Julien Couture Resource Centre

Conversation partners

Conversation partners are there to help you integrate socially and academically at OLBI.

Attendance and Cancellation Policy

  • 24-hour notice: If you can’t make your session, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Why 24 hours' notice? When someone cancels out with less than 24 hours’ notice, our system can’t make their time slot available for other students waiting to practise their language skills.
  • Keeping it fair for everyone: Any student with two consecutive last-minute cancellations (less than 24 hours) or no-shows will have their booking privileges paused for two weeks.
  • Our goal: We want to make sure every uOttawa student has a friendly, accessible space to practise their language skills. Thank you for helping us keep our centre a supportive community hub!

Meet our conversation partners

Arsha

Arsha Ramphul-Bhugloo

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Social Sciences
Language(s) : English, French, Mauritian Creole

Hello, I am Arsha, a second-year international student from Mauritius. I am studying mathematics and economics at uOttawa and I am excited to interact with people at the Julien Couture Resource Centre.

I usually spend my free time reading books of all genres as well as watching documentaries about diverse cultures and traditions around the world. I am looking forward to meeting fellow students and communicate in French to improve our language skills. 

Let’s talk about

  • Music and Books
  • Feminism and K-Pop
  • Life of an international student
Book a conversation with Arsha
Bailey Footman-Shier

Bailey Footman-Shier

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Arts
Language(s) : French, English

Hello!

My name is Bailey. I am a second-year student in Second Language Teaching with a Minor in Music! I moved from northern British Columbia to Ottawa about a year ago to begin my studies at uOttawa and have had a blast! I also hold the VP Communications position with the English Second Language/Second Language Teaching Student Association!

I am so excited to work with you on your language journey! I am willing and happy to help you with whatever goal you are working on, whether it be navigating past tense vs future tense, or just casually talking about the weather. No goal is too big or small!

Let’s talk about

  • Movies/TV shows
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Personal Goals (travelling, health, school, etc.)
  • Your Culture!
Book a conversation with Bailey
Candice Boullet

Candice Boullet

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Health Sciences
Language(s) : French, English

Hi!

My name is Candice, and I’m a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physical activity science. I’m French and have been living in Canada for 5 years.

I really enjoy talking about different cultures, life as an international student, dance, and travel. However, I’m open to any conversation topics you’d like to discuss because I love learning new things!

I can’t wait to meet you and chat with you in a really friendly, non-judgmental environment! 

Let’s talk about

  • Culture
  • Dance
  • Travel
  • Health
Book a conversation with Candice
Chandish

Chandish Reebye

Pronoun(s): (he/him)
Faculty: Sciences
Language(s): French, English, Mauritian Creole

Hello, I am Chandish, an international student from Mauritius Island. I am currently in my fourth year at the university, studying Electrical Engineering (French Immersion).

I am a passionate pianist and guitarist. I am also an enthusiastic cyclist and enjoy playing tennis.

Life is an incredible journey, and every person we meet along the way can shape our future. If you're looking to engage in thought-provoking conversations in either French or English, explore your interests, share our unique experiences, or seek valuable advice while honing your oral communication skills, don't hesitate to reach out for a chat. We can embark on a transformative journey to align with your aspirations and make the most of this incredible adventure called life.

Let’s talk about

  • Music, Country, Culture, Sports, Spirituality, Life Experiences, Science
  • Life of an International student
Book a conversation with Chandish
Hayley Tama

Hayley Tama

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Arts
Language(s) : English, French, Spanish

Hi, hola, salut! My name is Hayley. I’m a third-year Social Work student originally from Los Angeles with Latin American heritage. Before moving to Canada 2 years ago, I spent nearly 10 years living in France teaching English and Spanish, and I have also spent time in Mexico and Colombia.

Having been a language learner myself, I understand what it feels like to adapt to a new language and culture. My goal is to create a relaxed, safe environment where you feel comfortable speaking! Whether you want to discuss deep topics like social issues and geopolitics, or fun things like fashion and food, I can't wait to hear your story!

Let’s talk about

  • Life Abroad: Travel stories, Cultural differences, Life as an international student
  • Society & World: Mental health, Geopolitics, Current events
  • Culture: Arts, History, Literature, Movies & TV Shows
  • Lifestyle: Food, Health, Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature
Book a conversation with Hayley
Ismail Asaklil

Ismail Asaklil

Pronoun(s): (he/him)
Faculty: Engineering
Language(s) : English, French

Hi!

I’m Ismail, a master's student in Computer Science. I’m originally from Morocco and have been living in Canada for the past few years.

I enjoy meeting new people, discovering different cultures, and having good conversations about pretty much anything. Outside of school, I’m really interested in technology, and I also enjoy tennis, travelling, reading, and discovering new places.

Looking forward to meeting you and having a good conversation! 

Let’s talk about

  • Travel and cultures
  • Technology
  • Tennis and sports
  • Student life and life in Canada
Book a conversation with Ismail
Juan Roque Sanchez

Juan Roque Sanchez

Pronoun(s): (he/him)
Faculty: Engineering
Language(s) : Spanish, English, French, Italian (soon)

Hi! My name is Juan. I’m a fourth-year student in chemical engineering and computing technology. I was born in Mexico, but I’ve been living in Canada since 2015.

I enjoy meeting people who have just arrived in Canada and sharing my experiences as an international student. I also lived in Montreal for 5 years and could help you plan your next getaway.

I think Breaking Bad is the best series ever made; if you think otherwise, come convince me!

Let’s talk about

  • Videogames

  • Films and TV shows

  • Football

  • Music recommendations

Book a conversation with Juan
Juliette Ménard

Juliette Ménard

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Social Sciences
Language(s): French, English, Italian, Spanish 

Hello, my name is Juliette and I am a third-year student in International Development and Globalization.

I speak French and English, and I learned Italian during a one-year student exchange in Italy. I am currently learning Spanish. I am passionate about traveling, and in my free time, I enjoy reading and cooking.

I look forward to meeting you! 

Let’s talk about

  • Books, music, movies  
  • Travel
  • News and politics
Book a conversation with Juliette
Mouna Shaweesh avatar

Mouna Shaweesh

Pronoun(s): (she/her)
Faculty: Arts
Language(s) : English, French, Arabic (B2), Korean (A2)

Hello everyone!

My name is Mouna and I’m a 3rd year student in Second Language Teaching. In my free time, I like to crochet, read, draw, and learn languages. I am currently learning Korean and Arabic. I love meeting new people and learning about their culture.

I can’t wait to meet you and hope we can learn from each other!

Let’s talk about

  • Languages, Cultures
  • Crochet
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel, Life experiences
Book a conversation with Mouna
Melvyn Avoa

Melvyn Avoa

Pronoun(s): (he/him)
Faculty: Engineering
Language(s) : English, French

Hi!

My name is Melvyn and I’m a 4th year student in Computer Science. I am originally from the Ivory Coast.

My main interests are sports and health, nutrition, and global technology news. I would be happy to guide you on your language learning journey and help you achieve your goals.

I look forward to meeting you soon and having a great discussion! 

Let’s talk about

  • Nutrition
  • Technology
  • Basketball and sports
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Health and Well-being
Book a conversation with Melvyn
Passport cover

Linguistic risk-taking initiative

The Linguistic Risk-Taking Initiative intends to encourage you to take various risks that will boost your confidence in your second or additional language. It will guide you in using our bilingual campus as a real-life language-learning resource.