Many teaching and learning strategies are based on a deficit/gap analysis approach to student needs. Our capacity-building approach is a modest attempt to focus on what students already know and can do, and concentrates on building on that knowledge and skill in order to accelerate learning that becomes, deep, meaningful and enjoyable. Student comments bore out the importance of paying attention not merely to prior knowledge, but particularly context, emotions and strengths. By concentrating on areas where students had some knowledge and skills, not only did students progress very quickly to a higher level, but they found that this also gave them confidence to tackle other areas of work where there was less initial certainty and knowledge.