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The needs of and provisions for adult immigrants to learn English include specific considerations for: the recently arrived; those in a wide variety of work situations; those entering or re-entering post-secondary education; those starting literacy for the first time; those undergoing cultural adjustment to, and life changes in, the new country. Most learning of English by non English speaking immigrants takes place in informal contexts without the benefit of formal instruction. This chapter describes the small amount of formal training in English as a second language (ESL) relative to the much larger amounts of learning immigrants accomplish on their own. First, a brief history of major periods in ESL in Canada is offered, followed by a discussion of ESL for adult immigrants in relation to the whole field of adult education, with emphasis on relationships to adult basic education and/or literacy.