The Language Experience Approach (LEA)

The Language Experience Approach (LEA) is a strategy used to engage English language learners at the pre-literacy or beginning literacy proficiency level in reading and writing activities. Through this approach, instructors are able to elicit student-generated content that is then used for reading, writing, vocabulary, and phonics instruction. This approach can be used with small groups, one-on-one tutoring, and in a multilevel ESOL classroom.

These resources provide a more in-depth look at this approach, the process for using it in the classroom, ideas for generating experience stories and for extending-learning with student-generated texts, and sample lesson plans.

• The Language Experience Approach, Overview & Science of Reading: This webinar presents strategies for utilizing the language experience approach (LEA) in the ESOL educational setting as a strategy for integrating all four components of reading–alphabetics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension–into instruction. During this webinar, we discuss LEA, walk through the steps of implementing it, and look at strategies for using the student-generated text for activities related to all four components of reading. (Duration: 1 hour & 20 minutes)
• The Language Experience Approach and Adult Learners 
• The Language Experience Approach for ESL Reading (the individual learner)
• Experience Stories: A Strategy for Reading & Writing Practice for Beginning Literacy Learners
• Steps for Creating a Language Experience Story: Video Demonstration
• Language Experience Approach Examples from Pima Community College
• The Language Experience Approach for ESL Reading: The Individual Learner