This presentation guides educators in understanding how the sound system of a first language (L1) can interfere with how English Learners (ELs) perceive and produce English sounds, how ELs unconsciously use their L1 sounds and phonological rules when speaking English, and how this can lead to EL output (e.g., omission of final consonants) often incorrectly identified as an error in vocabulary, literacy, and/or grammar. Given that each language has its own unique set of phonemes, the ELs’ inability to distinguish English phonemes (e.g., /b/ vs. /v/ and /l/ vs. /r/) and words (e.g., beat vs. bit) represents neither a speech problem nor a literacy problem, but rather an L1 interference challenge that can be overcome with support from educators trained in second language pronunciation and pedagogical phonology. This presentation examines how the EL brain perceives English phonemes, how ELs actually produce these sounds, and how ELs can overcome these challenges and, in turn, enhance their literacy skills and confidence as users of the English language.