The number of immigrant students in US schools has more than doubled in the past 15 years. In response, teachers are broadening their ESL programs with the one tool that translates in all dialects--computer technology. Students who are learning English for the first time, better known as English language learners (ELL), make up a greater proportion of the K-12 population than ever before. This article presents specialized ESL softwares designed to help ELL students develop English-language listening, speaking, and reading skills. They range from simple, self-directed pronunciation programs delivered on CD, to complete multimedia software suites. Virtually all of them offer some level of interactivity, and a growing number are web-based or network-connected. The best of them are providing more than pretty pictures. The buzz phrase here is "context-based instruction," which puts students into lifelike situations using digital video.