Language Experience Story

Who: This strategy lesson will benefit pre-literate adults and adults who speak English as a
second language.

Why: The learner’s own language becomes her first reading material. The learner talks and
writes about something important to her. She learns skills through the shared reading and
writing experience.

How:
 The learner tells a story about something important to her.
 As the learner talks, the tutor writes the story using the learner’s own language. It
is important to write the words exactly as the learner states them.
 The tutor reads the story back to the tutee and checks to make sure the words were
transcribed accurately.
 Make changes if needed.
 Have the tutee copy the story.
 Read the story together.