Also consider the complex ways in which English uses verb tense and voice to indicate subtly whether or not one agrees that the findings of a particular experiment are accurate or generalizable. A second-language writer who has not mastered this convention may innocently convey a skepticism, or an endorsement, that he or she does not intend. You can help by showing students exactly why their text is confusing and where to insert the appropriate ownership signals. Some ESL students may seem shy or unwilling to participate actively, particularly if the class is interactive. In some cases, the students have experienced ridicule in other classrooms or an impatient teacher who was unwilling to wait for the student to put ideas into words.
Some cultures place a high value on reticence.
Others have oral languages, such as many Native American languages, that encourage listeners to form mental pictures of what they hear. This takes time, and it takes even more time to sort the images and reach a conclusion. Patience and respect for the students' culture and language usage are important. For some students, a participatory class may be a new experience, as their previous schooling may have featured only lectures and seat work. In some cultures, teachers are revered and treated with the utmost respect.