Often adult learners are insecure about their decision to pursue a new career path. Their behavior in class reflects how they really feel about themselves and their decision. My role as their instructor is to clarify the course objectives, provide the means for students to achieve success and to provide a safe environment for everyone to blossom. Interestingly in one of my Oral Comm clases I have a couple. They often have a second conversation going on between them. It seems that the guy is often more insecure than the woman. She often wants to go first...I guess to show how well she can perform. I've found that the guy is very shy...and often wants to know who many points he will lose if he skips the exercise. My future technique with him is to meet with him outside of class to review assignments. Also rather than giving the class the option of practicing speeches before giving them for credit, I am going to make the practice speech mandatory. The guy refuses to take my suggestion of coaching with a practice speech. He's too concerned with the woman's perception of him. (ugh). So...adult learning has all kinds of outside factors to contend with...not least of which is to have the significant other in the same class.