Teach English As A Second Language - Am I Teaching EFL Or ESL?

If you are thinking of becoming a teacher, you have probably heard the term “teach English as a second language.” There’s also “teach English as a foreign language.” What’s the difference?

There is a difference between teaching “English as a second language” and “English as a foreign language.” These are called, respectively, ESL and EFL. The key difference is that, with EFL, you are teaching students in their home country. In other words, you are not teaching them in a country where English is spoken. This is why we call it a foreign language.

If, for example, you are teaching English in Japan, that would be English as a foreign language. On the other hand, if you are teaching refugees or recent immigrants to Canada or the United States, this would be regular ESL.

What’s The Difference?

Actually, the situation where the student is learning makes all the difference. With ESL, the student is already immersed in an English speaking culture. This means that when they turn on their TV, or even leave their house, they will hear and experience English everywhere.

When English is a foreign language, students may not have regular access to the language. You may be in a country where there are few native English speakers, and not much in the way of English reading material or media. This is the key difference.

Teaching Styles Are Different

If you teach ESL in an English speaking country, you may find that your lesson materials are tailored to everyday survival. Your students need to know how to function in everyday life. You may focus on filling out forms, shopping at the store, taking public transportation, and so on. These may be urgent things to your students.

You will probably find that your students come to class with lists of their own questions and eager to speak. They will probably ask you, “I heard this today, what does it mean?” Or “How do I say this in English?” Your students’ motivation level will be high, because they will be aware that mastering English is their key to living a satisfactory life here.

With EFL, English is a foreign thing. It is not something everyone needs everyday, and your students will have more distance from it. They may be in a situation where they do not feel that they need English as part of their everyday life. You may find that they are reluctant to speak, and that it takes much more time for them to learn.

For you, the EFL teacher, you will need to make English come alive for your students. For them, English is something on TV, or something spoken in a foreign land. As a native speaker of English, you can bring the language into their lives. As your students progress, you can select real English materials, like magazines, newspapers and movies.

The challenge here is to keep your students motivated and interested. In many parts of the world, mastery of English can lead to better jobs and more opportunities. But, since it is not a part of everyday life, it is easy for students to give up when it becomes difficult.

English as a second language and English as a foreign language are very different, and require different approaches to teaching. This distinction has an effect at every level of teaching and learning.