 TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language TESL is a term commonly used in the United States, Australia and Canada to describe the act of teaching English to non-native speakers in countries where English is the official language. It is also used to refer to the same teaching situation in areas where English is commonly spoken but not necessarily the official language. This type of teaching situation is often centered on migrants and refugees who need to learn the English language as a means of integrating into their new environment. To service the section of the English language industry, there are numerous government and charity-based programs available in many English-speaking countries. For example, the United States has many programs available to the large number of migrant workers who come to the country from Mexico and other Latin American countries.