EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language. It is a term widely recognized in the English language teaching industry, renowned for its many acronyms like TEFL, TESOL, ESOL, and ESL. Specifically, EFL refers to the teaching or studying of English by non-native speakers. While it has distinctions, it is often used interchangeably with other similar acronyms in the context of English education.
Table of Contents
What is the difference between EFL and ESL?
What is the difference between EFL and ESL?
EFL, or English as a Foreign Language, pertains to students learning English in a country where English isn't the primary language, such as a Spanish-speaker studying English in Mexico. They predominantly communicate in their native language and study English occasionally, like attending weekly lessons. Conversely, ESL, which stands for English as a Second Language, relates to students learning English in a native English-speaking country. For instance, if our Spanish-speaking student from Mexico relocated to the US, their learning context would shift to ESL. This is common in countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, where many non-native English speakers reside.
What is EFL in the classroom?
When it comes to actual teaching, EFL typically becomes TEFL which stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Once again, TEFL is used to refer to situations where English is being taught in a country where it is not an official language. An example of teaching English as a foreign language would be an American teacher teaching local people English in Brazil.
TEFL is often used interchangeably with TESOL to refer to any situation where English is being taught to non-native speakers. TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Theoretically this term is used to cover all EFL and ESL groupings, regardless of where the teaching is taking place.
Who are EFL students?
As mentioned, EFL students will be located in a country where English is not a main language and it is not used on a daily basis in government, the media, or most people's day-to-day lives. The big challenge for learners and teachers in this type of scenario is that students are not regularly exposed to English outside of the EFL classroom. Because of this, it is vital that EFL teachers are fully prepared with the necessary understanding and knowledge to provide an environment within the classroom that can, for a short while at least, encourage learning in a productive way.
The best way to achieve this understanding and to provide the very best instruction for your students is to complete a TEFL certification course. At ITTT we have a range of online and in-class TEFL course options that will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to help EFL students towards their personal study goals.
