Understanding the Differences Between TESL, ESL, TEFL and TESOL

TESOL or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is without a doubt one of the most mentioned acronym that encompasses all aspects of teaching English to individuals that are non-native speakers. The TESOL approach was born due to too little a guiding focus for teaching English to speakers of other languages. In the past, many organizations acquired their own special themes for teaching English, but while only concentrating on certain elements of TESOL. Eventually these organizations joined together to create one standardized approach for teaching English to speakers of other languages and this has become known as TESOL. Over time TESOL has expanded and became its own broad term for a number of other forms of teaching variations.
ESL or English as a Second Language is often a term widely searched for by potential teachers looking for a job in the field, but many would be surprised to learn that this is a student-centered phrase. In part, this expression is talking about those who are hoping to learn English as a second language for a particular aim in mind. For example, a non-native English speaker living in China who hopes to know English in an effort to study or work in an English speaking country.
TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a teacher-centered acronym to describe teaching within a nation where the standard language is not English. The 1940’s led to the introduction of an interest in TEFL. The advent of Linguistics plus the construction of what is now known as the American Defense Language Institute is largely recognized for preparing teachers to teach English in international countries. The first teachers to examine language in terms of linguistics were around in 1940 at the University of Michigan and presented a foundation for focusing on how etymological constructions work. The Army Language School a division of the American military, what later had become known as the American Defense Language Institute, dabbled in the study of numerous languages throughout the advent of the second world war. These two institutions made the way in the development of teaching English as a foreign language.
TESL or Teaching English as a Second Language is concerned with teaching English to non-native English speakers which are living in an English speaking country. An example of this would be a Chinese immigrant learning English in the United States.

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