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The first order of business is to create positive classroom environment. LEPs should feel welcome and able to create language without embarrassment if they make grammar and pronunciation errors. Some strategies and classroom activities that might be included are:

Keeping a positive attitude.
LEP students are learning many things all at once and it can become overwhelming and discouraging. What you can do: form partners and teams to work through assignments; maintain a student-friendly environment with posters and reading materials; create bulletin boards that reflect diversity in the workplace; invite former students to share their success stories.

Stressing good communication.
Some cultures discourage speaking up and asking questions. Body language and gestures differ from country to country as well. For example, in some Hispanic and Asian cultures, it is a sign of respect to look down when talking to a person in authority. In the U.S. looking away would be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. What you can do: plan cooperative groups activities where all members share their point of view; create posters to remind students of sentences and phrases which encourage and language which discourages; model encouraging language structures, videotape role-plays and discuss appropriate gestures and body language.

This program was developed by the State of Florida Adult Secondary/GED/VPI Committee of the Practitioners' Task Force, through an Adult Education State Leadership Grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education.

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this web-based training component, it is not an official publication of the Florida Department of Education.