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| Page: ESL Glossary |
Every career, job and occupation has its own 'language' as it were. ESL is no different. Today we'll explore the wonderful world of abbreviations in ESL: American standard terms and British standard definitions. US Terminology
ESL - English as a Second Language.
This typically refers to teachers who teach English to students who have not learned English in their native environment. In other words, they are already fluent in a first language, and need to learn English later on for professional, personal, or educational reasons.
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
This is the discipline of teaching English in a methodical way and covers materials development, linguistic analysis, classroom practice, educational psychology, management, etc.
Terminology in the UK, Europe and Australia/New Zealand
EFL - English as a Foreign Language
This is the standard meaning for 'teaching English abroad'.