Given the current global economic situation, industries have been forced to examine their efficiency and effectiveness, and this is also true for adult education programs. Many programs, whether public or private, face budget downsizing which leads to questions of how to effectively instruct the adults they serve. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of adults who participate in English language programs. Potential barriers to participation and factors that might motivate them to persist in these programs will be briefly examined. Finally, this article concludes with an examination of principles of adult learning and their role in designing effective activities and environments for adult learners.