ESOL is English for Speakers of Other Languages. Migrants and new community members in Ireland come from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, educational and social backgrounds. In any English language or ESOL classes across the country, you can find learners who are highly educated with professional and skilled backgrounds who are attending classes to learn English or improve their English. However there are also a significant number of learners who are learning English who may have missed out on formal education in their country of origin and who lack the basic literacy skills to participate fully and benefit from ‘standard’ English language classes.