Differences Between ESL and EFL Students?

ESL and EFL students share one obvious trait in common and that is their desire to learn English. However, there are also some notable differences between the two groups of students and that is what will be discussed in this article.

Where Do ESL and EFL Students Come From?

First of all, it is important to identify where ESL and EFL students come from and how they come to learn English. ESL (English as a Second Language) students tend to be immigrants who have moved to an English-speaking country. Their intention is to learn to assimilate into a new culture and society, and one way in which they choose to do this is by learning to speak English. On the other hand, EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students are being taught English in their home country, usually by a native English speaker.

Non-fee Paying ESL Students

During my teacher training, I taught a mixture of ESL and EFL students who were immigrants as well as short term students from Russia, Japan, and parts of South America. One of the main differences I noticed was that the ESL students who were residing in America were non-fee paying. In exchange for being taught by student teachers and helping them to hone their skills, they received free English tuition. But this did not always work out well.

A Drawback to Teaching ESL Students

I remember one particular ESL student who would continually interrupt assessed lessons carried out by student teachers and make it difficult for them to continue. In the end, one of the course instructors took this gentleman to one side and reprimanded him for his behaviour and reminded him that he was not paying any fees for his lessons and that he should either leave student teachers to get on with their job or else leave. That is not to say that all ESL students feel the need to interrupt and take their lessons so lightly.

Fee-paying EFL Students