ESL Vs. EFL: What's the Difference?

Interested in teaching English to non-native speakers, but unsure of where to start? You might have heard the terms ESL or EFL. But what do they mean? Essentially, it's the same job-teaching English to students who need to learn it as their second (or third or fourth) language. However, there are distinctions between the two. This article gives a brief overview of both kinds of English language teaching.

English as a Second Language teaching refers to teaching English in a country where English is already the main or official language. The United States, Canada, the U.K. and Australia are the major locations to teach ESL. Adult ESL speakers live or are planning to live in a country where their native language is not used for education, business and other activities, so they are under pressure to pick up "survival" language skills. They may enter these countries with advanced English ability, or they may be true beginners who can't even say "hello." Their children will enter public school systems and require intensive language teaching in order to attain English language levels that match their age and grade level.

ESL students may vary widely in their first-language literacy skills. Some ESL learners had very little schooling in their first languages. Others have lived and worked in English speaking countries for many years and have well-developed language skills. Beyond the need for "survival English," many of these ESL students will continue their education in community colleges, colleges or universities and need academic ESL classes on how write research papers or give presentations.