What is TESOL?

The demand for acquiring English language skills continues to increase throughout the world. The ability to use the English language is quickly becoming a valuable global commodity and as a result, the requirement for TESOL teachers all over the world continues to grow.

Currently there is a huge demand for teachers who are skilled, trained and certified in TESOL. The standard, international qualification for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)/Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a TESOL/TEFL certificate. With a TESOL certificate you would be able to put your English teaching skills to good use teaching English in countries around the world.

International TEFL and TEFL Training’s TESOL certificate courses will provide you with all the necessary English teaching skills, techniques, knowledge and training to be an effective modern teacher.

What is TESOL?

This question is probably the one we find we are asked the most frequently. The use of the acronyms below (amongst others) can be somewhat confusing, especially as they are often used interchangeably. The list of definitions below should, hopefully, clarify their meanings:

  TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

This term theoretically encompasses both TEFL and TESL.

  TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

This term is most often used when English is being taught in a country where it is not the native language (teaching English to Spanish people in Spain, for example).

  TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language.

This is where English is being taught to non-native speakers of English in a country where it is the native language (teaching immigrants to the UK/USA, for example).

  ELT - English Language Teaching.

This term is mostly used by bodies in the UK.

Whilst there are some minor differences in theory, these acronyms are used interchangeably. Employers will generally accept TESOL, TEFL and TESL certificates equally as teaching English qualifications.