If you are totally new to the world of teaching English you will see that there are so many acronyms and vocabulary to describe courses, classes and teaching activities.
With so many different terms, it can be really confusing, even for experienced teachers! The most common questions we get are, TEFL, TESOL, TESL, CELTA, & DELTA – what are they and what’s the difference?
To help, we have put together a guide to the most common TEFL and teaching abroad phrases to help you gain a better understanding!
Before we get started though, you might like to view these articles:
What is TEFL
Top reasons to teach abroad
Best online TEFL courses
General TEFL / Course Terminology Words and Phrases
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language
TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Are TESOL and TESL the same as TEFL? In short, yes, they are interchangeable.
CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
DELTA – Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults
TrinityCert TESOL – UK-accredited highly respected TEFL certificate from Trinity College in London.
EFL/ESL Terminology
ESL – English as a Second Language
EFL – English as a Foreign Language
ESOL – English to Speakers of Other Languages
L1 – Language 1
L2 – Language 2
EAP – English for Academic Purposes
ESP – English for Specific Purposes
IEP – Intensive English Program
TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
IELTS – The International English Language Testing System
FCE – First Certificate in English
TOEIC – Test of English for International Communication
CALL – Computer Assisted Language Learning
CEFR – Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
ELT – English Language Teaching or Training
ESP – English for Specific Purposes
Describing Students
YL – Young Learners
VYL – Very Young Learners
ELL – English Language Learner
K12 – Kindergarten to 12th Grade
General Teaching / School Terminology
DOS – Director of Studies
EAP – English for Academic Purposes
CLT – Communicative Language Teaching
CLIL – Content and Language Integrated Learning
OTP – Observed Teaching Practice
TBL – Task-based Learning
TPR – Total Physical Response
TTT – Teacher Talking Time
STT – Student Talking Time
PPP – Presentation, Practice, and Production
Teaching Specific Phrases
PGCE – Postgraduate Certification in Education
QTS – Qualified Teacher Status
Asia TEFL Terminology
These phrases you will see when looking to teach in Japan or Korea:
JET – The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program
EPIK – English Program in Korea
SMOE – Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education
View more articles like this on our TEFL teaching blog.