TEFL Glossary
Key TEFL terms explained
The TEFL world is filled with complicated terms and acronyms that will leave your head spinning. In some countries teaching English as a foreign language is referred to as TEFL, in others TESOL. And just to confuse you a little bit more there’s also EFL, ESD and even ELF! When it comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter which qualification you have. A good TEFL qualification will put you in great stead for a TESOL position and a good TESOL qualification will put you in the running for a TEFL position.
ESL (English as a second language), ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and EFL (English as a foreign language) are all terms that refer to the use, study or teaching of English by speakers of other languages. You will find an explanation of each of these terms below along with details of where and when it is used. These terms are usually used in relation to teaching and learning the English language, but they may also be influenced by demographic information.
ELT (English language teaching) is a commonly known teacher-centred term, as in the English language teaching divisions of large publishing companies, ELT training, etc.
The abbreviations TESL (teaching English as a second language), TESOL (teaching English for speakers of other languages) and TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) are all also used.
Other terms used in this field include EAL (English as an additional language), ESD (English as a second dialect), EIL (English as an international language), ELF (English as a ¬lingua franca), ESP (English for special purposes, or English for specific purposes), EAP (English for academic purposes), and ELL (English language learner).
Terminology and types
The vast number of acronyms used in the TEFL industry can be confusing and hinder understanding. The English language is taught and spoken all over the world and therefore has a great deal of influence and many different uses. In many English-speaking countries, teaching is broken down into two categories; those who want to remain in their home country and those wish to travel to non-English-speaking destinations. These divisions have been cemented by the use of different terminology, professional associations etc by instructors in the two “industries”. The main different between these two branches is found in their funding structures but this can influence the way that they teach. The whole issue is complicated even further by the fact that the United States and Britain, both major engines of the language, describe these categories with different terms.
EFL refers to the use of English in a non-English-speaking area. Lessons may be conducted in the student’s home country (as part of the national curriculum or through private tuition) or in an Anglophone country where a student to which the student has travelled especially. TEFL is the teaching of English as a foreign language. In this case teaching can take place in any country, English-speaking or not. EFL is usually learned as a necessary part of a student’s schooling or for career progression when working for an international organisation. ESL assumes literacy in the mother tongue. EFL may be part of the public school curriculum in countries where English is not unusual (as is the case in most of the European Union). Private ESL tuition is also common for both young students and business students.
The other broad grouping is the use, study or tuition of English within an English-speaking country or area. This includes the use of English where English is a dominant language but not the mother tongue. In the US, Canada and Australia, this use of English is called ESL (English as a second language) but the term has been criticised because many learners already speak more than one language. Of course some would argue that the word “a” in the phrase “a second language” means there is no presumption that English is the second acquired language. TESL is the teaching of English as a second language. In the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, the term ESL has been replaced by ESOL (English for speakers of other languages). In these countries TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) is sometimes used to refer to teaching English only to this group. In the UK, the term EAL (English as an additional language), rather than ESOL, is usually used when speaking of the schools sector. In the United States, the term English language learner (ELL) is used by both governments and the schools system. It differs from the terms above because it refers to the learners rather than their location or language.
Typically, ESL (ESOL in the countries listed above) is learned for use in a host country, e.g. within the school system (if a child), to find and hold down a job (if an adult), to perform the necessities of daily life. TESL does not presuppose literacy in the mother tongue. ESL is usually paid for by the host government to help new arrivals settle into their adopted country, sometimes as part of an obligatory citizenship program.
Particularly in Canada and Australia, the term ESD (English as a second dialect) is used alongside ESL to refer to programs for Canadian First Nations people or indigenous Australians. It refers to the use of standard English by speakers of a Creole or non-standard variety. It is often grouped with ESL as ESL/ESD.
The term TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) is used in American English to include both TEFL and TESL. In British English the equivalent umbrella term is ELT (English language teaching), whereas TESOL has a different meaning, see above.
It is worth noting that ESL and EFL programs teach a different variety of English; "English" is a term that can refer to various dialects, including British English, North American English, and others. Students studying EFL in Hong Kong, for example, are more likely to learn British English, while students in the Philippines are more likely to learn American English. For this reason, many teachers of EFL now emphasize teaching English as an international language (EIL), also known as English as a lingua franca (ELF).
