| ESL ("English as a Second Language"), also known as | | | | Language") or "ESOL" ("English for Speakers of Other |
| "EFL" ("English as a Foreign Language"), or sometimes | | | | Languages") are also used. |
| as "ESOL" ("English for Speakers of Other | | | | One particular group activity that many ESL teachers |
| Languages"), is the term used to refer to the study of | | | | have introduced into their classes is the game of bingo. |
| English by people (usually adults), who are native | | | | Students can find this both enjoyable and educational - |
| speakers of other languages. Such people may wish | | | | even though bingo is a relatively simple game, |
| to learn English for business or professional reasons, | | | | explaining the rules, setting up, and then playing, entirely |
| for personal reasons, or perhaps because they are | | | | in English of course, can be quite a challenge to a |
| immigrating to a majority English-speaking country such | | | | non-native speaker. Additionally, the mechanics of the |
| as the United States, Great Britain or Canada. | | | | game can also be modified by the teacher - at |
| In today's world, English is the principal lingua franca in | | | | Christmas for example, the bingo cards might be |
| many fields of endeavour, including business, science, | | | | printed with Christmas themed items rather than |
| medicine, and aviation. For this reason, as well as for | | | | numbers. Likewise, on other occasions, the bingo cards |
| reasons such as immigration and personal interest, | | | | might be printed with English words or phrases, or |
| many adults who are native speakers of other | | | | even with place names. The teacher's imagination is |
| languages often want to learn or improve their English. | | | | really the only limit, since bingo cards containing virtually |
| One of the main ways that they do this is through ESL | | | | any kind of item can be easily and cheaply printed |
| ("English as a Second Language") classes - note: | | | | using a PC and some bingo card generator software. |
| sometimes the acronyms "EFL" ("English as a Foreign | | | | |