All instructors and seven of the le

All instructors and seven of the learners in this study, in fact, asserted that personal stories contribute to positive affect. Instructor 1 commented that stories developed ‘a sense of ease and understanding’ and Instructor 2 suggested that sharing stories brought ‘confidence; [lear- ners] have to be comfortable in the group.’ Positive affect led to increased motivation, engagement, and focus on learning. Instructor 1 continued, ‘They want to tell their stories. They want to share their culture; they want to know about each other.’