ESOL and Other Terms What Do They Mean?

There are many acronyms used in the field of education and if you are looking for a position with a school system it would be helpful if you knew what they mean. Of course if you are applying for a particular position you should already know how that position would be using an acronym, but at times your qualifications may allow you to teach in another area for which the acronym used is unfamiliar.

All students who have a language other than English spoken in their home and who after assessment are determined to be limited in English proficiency are eligible for ESOL services. The ESOL program provides educational programs and services for all students who are classified as Limited English Proficient. The program surveys and screens all students who are new to a district to determine their level of English proficiency and then provides appropriate education programs and services for all students who are classified as Limited English Proficient (LEP)

EFL stands for English as a foreign language

ELL stands for learners who are beginning to learn English as a new language or have already gained some proficiency in English.

ELT stands for English Language Teaching, but is mainly used by institutions in the U.K.

ESL is used for a learner who speaks a language or languages other than English at home and who learns English as the dominant language of the media and education in the host culture. English as a second language can be training for individuals whose first language is not English. Training is designed to help participants learn English reading, writing, listening and speaking.

ESOL in many districts means English for Speakers of Other Languages.

LEP is a term for "limited English proficient" which is defined in section 91-1 of Title IX by the United States Department of Education (USDE) in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), No Child Left Behind (NCLB), (2001. When used for an individual LEP means a person who is aged 3-21 and who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary or secondary school and who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English or who is Native American or Alaskan native or a native resident of the outlying areas; and who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency or who is migratory and whose native language is other than English and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant.

ESP stands for English for Special Purposes

Language Minority Students: are students who do not use English as their main language at home and whose family culture is different than the host culture. They are considered to be fluent in English, especially in their social language skills, not so much in academic skills.

Non-English Speaker: Speaker whos primar language is not English.

Non-Native English Learners: A learner whose family and/or native language background is not English.

TEAL Teaching English as an Additional Language

TEFL means Teaching English as an Additional Language

TEFL means Teaching English as a Foreign Language and this term is predominantly used when English is being taught in a country where it isn't the native language (for example teaching English to Spanish people in Spain).

TESFL means Teaching of English as a Second or Foreign Language

TESL Means Teaching English as a Second Language and this is where English is being taught to non-native speakers of English in a country where it is the native language (for example teaching emigrants to the UK/USA).

TESOL means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and encompasses both TEFL and TESL.