What is EFL, ESL, TEFL/TESOL, TESL, TESOL, ELT etc?
The world of English language teaching, like most specialized fields, has a bewildering array of acronyms. ELT stands for “English Language Teaching” (or English Language Training). This is an overall term that refers to all forms of English language instruction. EFL stands for “English as a Foreign Language” and refers to the acquisition of English by non-native speakers. ESL stands for “English as a Second Language” and is essentially interchangeable with EFL. ESOL stands for “English for Speakers of Other Languages” and again, like EFL and ESL, refers to the acquisition of English by non-native speakers. EAL stands for “English as an Additional Language” and is probably an attempt at being political correct – it also refers to the acquisition of English by non-native speakers. TEFL/TESOL stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language” and refers to teaching English to non-native speakers. TESL stands for “Teaching English as a Second Language” and is essentially interchangeable
