| English as a Second Language, or ESL, has many | | | | learning of English in an English-speaking country when |
| similarities to English as a Foreign Language, or EFL. In | | | | just visiting for a short period of time with the intention |
| fact, the two types of learning may seem the same to | | | | of learning the language. |
| some observers. However, there are some notable | | | | Most people who learn EFL do so in order to graduate |
| differences between these two approaches to | | | | from their school program. Some will learn the |
| learning English. The terms are often used | | | | language in their home country in order to help them |
| interchangeably, but understanding the differences can | | | | succeed in their line of work if they are working for a |
| help you to be clear when you speak of them. Also, | | | | company that has an international scope. For instance, |
| the term Teaching English to Speakers of Other | | | | someone living in India who learns English in order to |
| Languages (TESOL) is sometimes used in place of | | | | work at a call center could be described as learning |
| ESL or EFL, depending on the situation. | | | | EFL. |
| What Is ESL? | | | | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
| English as a Second Language, or ESL, is a term | | | | Sometimes the term Teaching English to Speakers of |
| typically used in Canada, Australia, and the United | | | | Other Languages (TESOL) is used to describe both |
| States to refer to people who come to the country | | | | ESL and EFL. It is used in England, for instance, to |
| with another primary language and learn to speak | | | | replace the term ESL, as this term assumes English is |
| English secondarily. It is also sometimes used to speak | | | | the second, not third or fourth, language of the student. |
| of people who live in a country where English is the | | | | It is typically used when teaching immigrants, usually |
| official language, but the vast majority of the population | | | | adults, as other terms are used within the school |
| speak another native tongue. Thus, English is the | | | | system when teaching non-native English speaking |
| second (or third or fourth in many cases) language | | | | students. In the United States, however, the term |
| learned by the individual. | | | | TESOL has become an umbrella term used by people |
| The goal of teaching ESL is to teach the individual to | | | | who teach non-native English speakers, regardless of |
| speak enough of the language to function within | | | | whether they are teaching ESL or EFL. |
| society. In other words, the goal is to help the individual | | | | As more and more people are immigrating to |
| function in their new country, attend school if applicable, | | | | English-speaking countries and English continues to |
| and get a job. The goal is not to make the individual as | | | | become the language of international commerce and |
| fluent in English as he or she is in the native tongue. | | | | trade, the need for both ESL and EFL programs that |
| What Is EFL? | | | | do a good job of teaching English to non-native |
| English as a Foreign Language, or EFL, refers to | | | | speakers will continue to increase. The Internet is |
| learning English in a country where English is not the | | | | making it even easier for people to learn English as an |
| spoken language. This is in contrast to ESL, where the | | | | additional language. The demand for these programs is |
| individual is learning the language in a country that has | | | | not likely to decrease any time in the near future, so |
| English as its primary language. In many countries, EFL | | | | teachers who can teach English to speakers of other |
| is taught in the public school system, as English is | | | | languages are going to have job security for many |
| quickly becoming an internationally important language. | | | | years. |
| Sometimes the term EFL can be used to describe the | | | | |