Important Acronyms & Abbreviations
BE: Business English
This is a sub-division of ESP.
CELTA: Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The name of a specific training/certification program administered by the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge CELTA is the most widely recognized TEFL Cert in the world.
EAP: English for Academic Purposes
This sub-division of ESP refers to programs and materials designed for non-English-speaking students who are studying the language in order to attend a college or university in an English-speaking Country.
EFL: English as a Foreign Language
An EFL course is one that is taught in a non-English-speaking country or to non-immigrant students in an English-speaking country.
EIL: English as an International Language
ELL: English Language Learner
ELT: English Language Teaching
In some countries this is used in place of TESOL as an umbrella term referring to TEFL, TESL, etc.
EOP: English for Occupational Purposes
ESL: English as a Second Language
This refers to programs and materials designed for immigrant students in English-speaking countries.
ESP: English for Specific (or Special) Purposes
This refers to programs and materials designed for people who want to use English in specific occupations or industries. It includes English for Journalists, English for Aviation, English for Academic Purposes, etc.
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
An umbrella term for the teaching of EFL, ESL, EAP, etc.
GE: General English
This is used to describe the content of ESOL programs programs and materials that teach a broad range of language items and skills rather than those specific to a particular job or other use.
IATEFL: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
A UK-based professional association.
IEP: Intensive English Program
An intensive language program run in an English-speaking country for students who come to the country to study but who intend later to return to their native countries.
L1: First Language
A person's native language.
L2: Second Language
A language that is not a person's native language.
MA TESOL: Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
NNS: Non-Native Speaker
Anyone who is using a language that is not their native language.
TBE: Teaching Business English
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
The teaching of English in a non-English-speaking country or to non-immigrant students in an English-speaking country.
TEFL Cert: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
A generic term for any program or course that provides training and certification in TESOL. There are many different TEFL Certs and they vary greatly in quality and acceptance.
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
This is the umbrella term for TEFL, TESL, TBE, etc.
Note: It is also the name of the US-based professional association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
This is an English language exam for international students who want to study in U.S. colleges and universities.
This is a sub-division of ESP.
CELTA: Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The name of a specific training/certification program administered by the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge CELTA is the most widely recognized TEFL Cert in the world.
EAP: English for Academic Purposes
This sub-division of ESP refers to programs and materials designed for non-English-speaking students who are studying the language in order to attend a college or university in an English-speaking Country.
EFL: English as a Foreign Language
An EFL course is one that is taught in a non-English-speaking country or to non-immigrant students in an English-speaking country.
EIL: English as an International Language
ELL: English Language Learner
ELT: English Language Teaching
In some countries this is used in place of TESOL as an umbrella term referring to TEFL, TESL, etc.
EOP: English for Occupational Purposes
ESL: English as a Second Language
This refers to programs and materials designed for immigrant students in English-speaking countries.
ESP: English for Specific (or Special) Purposes
This refers to programs and materials designed for people who want to use English in specific occupations or industries. It includes English for Journalists, English for Aviation, English for Academic Purposes, etc.
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
An umbrella term for the teaching of EFL, ESL, EAP, etc.
GE: General English
This is used to describe the content of ESOL programs programs and materials that teach a broad range of language items and skills rather than those specific to a particular job or other use.
IATEFL: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
A UK-based professional association.
IEP: Intensive English Program
An intensive language program run in an English-speaking country for students who come to the country to study but who intend later to return to their native countries.
L1: First Language
A person's native language.
L2: Second Language
A language that is not a person's native language.
MA TESOL: Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
NNS: Non-Native Speaker
Anyone who is using a language that is not their native language.
TBE: Teaching Business English
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
The teaching of English in a non-English-speaking country or to non-immigrant students in an English-speaking country.
TEFL Cert: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
A generic term for any program or course that provides training and certification in TESOL. There are many different TEFL Certs and they vary greatly in quality and acceptance.
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
This is the umbrella term for TEFL, TESL, TBE, etc.
Note: It is also the name of the US-based professional association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
This is an English language exam for international students who want to study in U.S. colleges and universities.
