A community college teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) describes her personal experience in transferring teaching techniques learned at the School for International Training (SIT) (Vermont) to her own refugee ESL classes during the required interim year teaching practicum. An introductory chapter gives background information on the author's reasons for attending SIT and the factors that created a learning environment there. The second chapter gives an overview of the home teaching situation. Chapter three examines the benefits of community in creating a learning environment where students are willing to show initiative and take risks, and touches on the benefits of student-generated materials to build community. Chapter four looks at how to encourage initiative and engagement through student input and how to ensure that the class meets their needs. The fifth chapter explores the importance of a classroom atmosphere where students are secure with the materials and feel successful every day, and discusses appropriate classroom techniques. In chapter six, a thematic unit integrating these factors is presented. The final chapter summarizes the teacher's experience. Appendices include student-generated materials, a student survey, and examples for classroom exercises. (MSE)