TESOL vs TEFL vs ESL vs EFL
These terms are used a lot in English teaching and they can be confusing at first. Here is a simple breakdown:
✓TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is the broadest term and includes both ESL and EFL contexts.
✓TEFL
Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This usually refers to teaching English in countries where English is not the primary language.
✓ESL
English as a Second Language. This refers to teaching English to students who live in English-speaking countries.
✓EFL
English as a Foreign Language. This refers to students learning English in countries where English is not widely used.
The bottom line: These terms all refer to teaching English to non-native speakers. The differences are about context — where and why students are learning English.
Quick Tip: In the US, you will most often hear ESL and TESOL. TEFL is more common when referring to teaching abroad.