Have You Ever… Students respond to a prompt such as, “Describe a time when you might…(“refuse something,” “negotiate with someone,” or “commend someone”). In an alternate version of this technique, students respond to the question, “Have you ever…(“had an outlandish idea?” or “felt ambivalent?”). Students then elaborate and explain their responses. In either version of this activity, students have the opportunity to connect the new word with their own experiences and begin to integrate it into their working vocabulary. Other similar types of questions, prompts, and activities can be developed by teachers, based on the specific learning needs and interests of their adult second language readers. Questions beginning with when, why, or how are particularly effective for helping students make connections to their own prior knowledge.