The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of the initial teaching alphabet (ITA) would have a beneficial effect upon English language learning when used with adult Spanish speaking students. The study consisted of five randomly selected English as a Second Language classes in the Los Angeles City Unified School District divided into two groups: one receiving instruction in traditional orthography (TO), and the other in IRA. The two were compared and analyzed statistically. Pre and post testing were employed to provide data. A questionnaire was submitted to the teachers of IRA and TO classes. Some of the results obtained indicated that: (a) the groups made statistically significant gains in the mean raw scores, but showed no significant differences on the final reading section raw scores of the California Achievement Tests, Upper Primary; (b) teachers were willing to continue the use of ITA in ESL classes but reacted pro and con about the value of the study. The use of ITA symbols in ESL classes for teaching selected vowels was strongly supported by the study. (Author/PT)