An Inservice Project

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Incorporating authentic materials, such as procedure manuals, employee handbooks, performance reviews and benefits information is very helpful to LEP students. However, some of the language in these materials may require revisions and adaptations to make them more comprehensible to the students.

Guidelines for adapting written material found on the job follow:

• Make the topic/idea clear.
• Reduce the number of words in a sentence and sentences in a paragraph wherever possible
• Rewrite sentences in subject-verb-object word order.
  
  Example:
  In your bucket, sponges and brushes are left to soak in water. (confusing)
  You should put dirty sponges and brushes in your bucket to soak overnight.   (better)

• Change sentences written in the passive voice to the active voice whenever possible.

  Example:
  The safety glasses are to be stored in your locker. (passive voice)
  Store your safety glasses in your locker. Or You should store your safety glasses in your locker. (active voice)

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.