Frequently Asked Questions about TEFL What does TEFL mean?
TEFL simply stands for Teaching
English as a Foreign Language. The term has no official significance. What's with all this EFL, ESL, TEFL, TESL, TESOL, ELT
etc?
Confusingly, the English language teaching world has a bewildering
array of abbreviations and acronyms, many of which mean the same thing, and
most of which have no official significance. ELT stands for English Language Teaching (or English Language
Training—take your pick). This is a blanket term that covers all forms of
English language acquisition, whether for native- or non-native speakers. EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language and involves the
acquisition of English by non-native speakers. ESL stands for English as a Second Language and involves the
acquisition of English by non-native speakers. ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages and
involves the acquisition of English by non-native speakers. EAL stands for English as an Additional Language and involves
the acquisition of English by non-native speakers. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and
involves teaching English to non-native speakers. TESL stands for Teaching English as a Second Language and
involves teaching English to non-native speakers. TEAL stands for Teaching English as an Additional Language and
involves teaching English to non-native speakers. TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
and involves teaching English to non-native speakers. The acronym TESOL is also
used by an American teachers' association, the full name of which is "Teachers
of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Incorporated". Are there any differences in the above
terms?
Theoretically, EFL is for non-native speakers learning English in
a non-English-speaking environment (typically learners in their own countries).
ESL is for non-native speakers learning English in an English-speaking
environment (typically students on a language holiday or immigrants in an
English-speaking country). There are some theoretical differences in the way
that English is taught and acquired in these different situations, though with
the growth of technology and communication many of these differences are
becoming increasingly academic. In practice, many teachers make little
distinction between the two terms, or are even aware of the distinction. It
might be said that by and large British teachers, for example, instinctively
use the term EFL, while American teachers instinctively use the term ESL. The
term EAL seems to be an attempt at political correctness, neatly avoiding the
nasty inference of "foreign" while accepting that many learners may well be on
their third, fourth or fifth language. Is it necessary to speak a foreign language?
In
general, today's communicative approach to teaching English requires that the
teacher speak only in English. Speaking a foreign language is therefore of no
particular value. Indeed, if you are teaching a class of students who have ten
different mother tongues, as is not impossible, even your fluency in say three
foreign languages would have little relevance. The ability, therefore, to speak
a foreign language is not a requirement for teaching English. Having said that,
some experience of learning and speaking a foreign language will help you
understand language in general and how we learn it, as well as help you learn
more about English—especially English grammar—itself. If you are
teaching in a foreign country, some knowledge of that country's language and
culture can also make your life easier and enrich your experience. Are there any age limits for TEFL?
Yes and no. This
depends very much on the country, the culture, the school, the type of students
the school may have, the principal's dogmas, and legal requirements. It can
work both ways. Some schools actually prefer more mature teachers, especially
if their clientele are mainly business people. Others consider—rightly or
wrongly—that younger teachers are more "dynamic". Some countries are so
desperate for teachers that age is irrelevant. EFL teachers can be any age from
18 to 80, though it has to be said that it is more difficult to find employment
under 21 and over 50. Also, some countries have compulsory retirement ages of
around 60 or 65. But in general, don't let the question of age put you off.
With a good TEFL certificate, you will find employment somewhere. What if English is not my mother-tongue?
If you have a
good TEFL certificate, not being a native speaker should not be a problem. One
of the entrance requirements for any serious TEFL course is the ability to
speak (and write) English fluently. Thus anyone—native- or non-native
speaker—with a good TEFL certificate will be on a level footing.
Non-native speakers who have not taken a serious TEFL course can still find
employment, but may encounter resistance and will certainly need to demonstrate
a very high degree of fluency. Can I make a real career out of TEFL?
Yes, if you want
to. There are many opportunities for long-term or permanent positions, or for
advancement to Director of Studies or administrative positions. Other
possibilities are teacher training and materials writing. But a real career in
TEFL almost always requires at least a heavy-weight TEFL certificate (for
example Cambridge ELT or Trinity) and for more senior positions a TEFL diploma
or degree or similar. See also: | 
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