Abbreviations, acronyms and terminology in the world of learning English

Once you’ve started teaching TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) lessons or if you’re just interested in the basics, you’ll find important terms that are usually abbreviated. These terms are essential when you want to communicate with your coach and associate teachers. Teaching English as a second language has its own vocabulary, so it is convenient to take notes:

• English as a foreign language is the abbreviation for English as a foreign language. This term is commonly used for students, usually a non-native English speaker, learning the English language in a non-English speaking country.
• TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Usually this is a relevant term for the teacher teaching the English language in a non-English speaking country.
• ESL stands for English as a second language. This term is used when a native non-English speaker is learning the English language in an English-speaking country. Immigrants studying English in the United States are commonly referred to as ESL students.
• ESOL is for English for speakers of other languages. This is a broad term, almost always including ESL and EFL.
• TOEFL it simply refers to Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Also, here are important teacher terms to familiarize yourself with:

• L2 is an abbreviation for “second language”. Generally, the term refers to students who speak a second language.
• task-based learning it is a teaching methodology. In ESL, as a student, you are given open-ended assignments, in which you are given a problem to solve or a goal to achieve. You are given the freedom to perform this task within your own focus.
• Protected Instruction refers to giving instructions tailored to the needs or characteristics of specific students. For TEFL or ESL teachers, this means giving content-based instruction to non-English speakers in simplified English.
• affective feedback it is a teaching method with the purpose of promoting student participation. This happens when teachers show signs of interest in understanding and understanding their students’ learning. This is usually done as a form of encouragement through the use of facial expressions, intonations, and body language so that the student is more willing to proactively ask questions if they do not understand the lesson.
• student centered learning (or student-centered) is a teaching methodology that gives responsibility to those who study. This method translates into student-centered activities and methods. Group work is an example of a student-centered activity. A student’s input on what the curriculum will be is another example.
• teacher-centered learning it is the traditional way of studying as we know it. Basically, this means that the teacher will decide how the class will run, what the class will learn, and what will be assessed with little input from the students.

The world of learning English, in many ways, has its own “language game.” It goes without saying that English teachers and learners should also be familiar with these terminologies to get the most out of their experiences.