What is TEFL, TESL and TESOL?

With so many acronyms in the TEFL world it is easy to be confused about which training course is best for you. These days there is very little difference between a TEFL/TESL and TESOL certification, and the three are often used interchangeably.

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is where the majority of a country’s population do not speak English socially or where it is not the main language of government, education or business. Thailand, China and Japan for example, are EFL environments and half the countries of the world fall into this category.

English as a Second Language (ESL) is where English is not necessarily spoken socially but may be used for education, or officially in the government. This is often the case where there are different groups in one country or region who speak a variety of languages and need one language that they can all use. In countries where English is the first language, the term ESL also applies to Immigrants and other foreigners, living in that country, as they need to communicate in English (as their Second language) rather than their own mother tongue. ESL countries include countries like the Philippines, India and Singapore.

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - it is usually only in British language teaching contexts that a distinction is made between EFL and ESL. The term ESOL, derived from the United States, is a general term to describe the teaching of English to anyone who is not a native English speaker.

In simple terms, EFL learners do not get much exposure to English outside the classroom and will generally have limited confidence in using English and have a smaller vocabulary range than an ESL learner. Consequently their listening and speaking skills are likely to be weaker due to lack of exposure to the language. ESL students, however, have a larger vocabulary and are more confident in using English, as there is some exposure to English in their daily life.

Other useful Acronyms: