TEFL and more….
TEFL, TESOL, EFL, ESL – Common acronyms for English Language Teaching
If you’re new, or even not so new, to English language teaching (ELT) finding your way around all the acronyms might be a problem.
TEFL
Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
This means teaching English to people who don’t speak it as their native language. It’s the name of the profession.
TEFL Certificate
Although people do talk about a TEFL Certificate, this is not an official name of an internationally recognised qualification. It usually means the person has a ‘certificate to teach English as a foreign language’.
Every year there seems to be more and more organisations offering training for people who want to teach English language. But if you plan to make English teaching your career, or if you want to teach in the UK or for the British Council and other good schools around the world, then you should get an initial teaching qualification that will be recognised.
The 2 qualifications that are accepted by the British Council are:
– the Cambridge CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and
– the Trinity College CertTESOL – Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
TEFL course
This is usually used to mean a course that would prepare you to teach English as a foreign Language.
It could be a CELTA or a CertTESOL course, or it could be a lesser known course.
TEFL training
A teacher training course to prepare you to teach English. See above.
TEFLER
A term sometimes used for someone who travels and teaches English as a foreign language abroad.
TESOL
In the United States the acronym TESOL is used more often.TESOL is also the name of the professional association for Teachers of English to Speakers of other Languages in the USA.
ELT
English Language Teaching, which covers teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or as a second language (ESL).
This is the name of the profession and also the name of the industry, for
example, the branch of book publishing that deals with materials for English language teaching.
EFL
English as a Foreign Language.
ESL
English as a Second Language.
Usually refers to the English needed by immigrants when they settle in an English speaking country.Teaching English as a Second Language (see above)
ESOL
English for Speakers of Other Languages.
The Cambridge University department which deals with English Language Teaching is called Cambridge ESOL.
CELTA
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults.
The CELTA is awarded by Cambridge ESOL, part of the University of Cambridge.
This is the most respected and internationally recognised TEFL qualification in the world today. More people take the CELTA as their first qualification when they want to teach English abroad than any other qualification in the world.
CELT-YL
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Young Learners.
While the CELTA trains you to teach English to adults, the CELT-YL is for teachers with children.
This is an extension of the CELTA qualification. It is only possible to take a course to prepare the CELT-YL after you have a CELTA certificate.
CertTESOL
Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The CertTesol is awarded by Trinity College, LondonThe CertTESOL has become a popular alternative to the CELTA. It considered by many to be equivalent to the CELTA, as both involve the same number of training hours and cover similar syllabuses.
Cert IBET
Certificate in International Business English Teaching. Awarded by Trinity College London and English UK.The CertIBET is a qualification for teachers working with business people, either in a language school or in companies. To prepare the CertIBET, you will need the CELTA or CertTESOL and 2 years’ experience.
DELTA
Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults. The DELTA is awarded by the University of Cambridge
The DELTA is the advanced qualification for experienced teachers. If you want to progress in English language teaching, take on more responsibility, become a Director of Studies or a teacher trainer, then you need the DELTA.
The DELTA is internationally recognised and respected.
See link on crossroadslanguage.com, teacher training pages for more information on the course content and centres preparing the DELTA.
DipTESOL
Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The DipTesol is awarded by Trinity College, London
This is the Trinity College, London advanced qualification for experienced teachers, similar to the DELTA. Like the DELTA, it is internationally recognised and respected.
MA/MSc in TEFL (TESOL)
Master of Arts or Master of Science Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
This degree would be the next step after the DELTA. There are a great number of courses available in universities in English-speaking universities around the world. Like all courses, you should choose carefully. Take the time to look at the university’s reputation (there are some universities that have been working many years in ELT) and also make sure that the modules or specialities offered cover your interests.
ESP
English for Specific Purposes. This acronym covers the type of English that certain professions would need: engineers, doctors, lawyers.
EAP
English for Academic Purposes. This is the English and the skills that students from abroad will need to study in an English-speaking university. The type of English tested in IELTS and TOEFL for entrance to university is academic English.
