Teaching English as a second or foreign language

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Teaching English as a second (TESL) or foreign language (TEFL) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) are terms that refer to teaching English to students whose first language is not English. The terms TEFL, TESL, and TESOL distinguish between a class's location and student population,^[1] and have become problematic due to their lack of clarity.^[2] TEFL refers to English-language programs conducted in countries where English is not the primary language, and may be taught at a language school or by a tutor. For some jobs, the minimum TEFL requirement is a 100-hour course; the 120-hour course is recommended, however, since it may lead to higher-paid teaching positions.^[3] TEFL teachers may be native or non-native speakers of English.

TESL and TESOL include English-language programs conducted in English-speaking countries. These classes often serve populations who have immigrated, temporarily or permanently, or whose families speak another language at home. TESL is considered an outdated term, because students may speak more than one language before they study English.^[4] TESOL is an umbrella term that includes TEFL and TESL programs, and is widely accepted in the field of English-language teaching.^[5]

Students who are learning English in their home country, typically in a school, are EFL (English as a foreign language) students.^[6] More generally, students learning English are referred to as ELLs (English language learners).