Abbreviations & Acronyms

The following is a quick guide to some of the more common terms you're likely to encounter on this site. Many of the terms, while having slight, technical differences, essentially mean the same thing.

ESL - English as a Second Language
Though originally meant to indicate the English used by a non-native English speaker living in an English-speaking country, it is now generally accepted by most as the catchall for the field as a whole.

TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
TESL can also stand for Test of English as a Second Language, though you're unlikely to encounter that meaning of it on this site.

EFL - English as a Foreign Language
Technically meant to indicate the English used by non-native speakers living in a non-English speaking country.

TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TEFL can also stand for Test of English as a Foreign Language.

ESOL -  English for Speakers of Other Languages

TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TESOL can also mean Test of English for Speakers of Other Languages.

ELT - English Language Teaching

CALL -  Computer Assisted Language Learning

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
Originally designed as a test for foreign students applying to American universities (and still used for the purpose), it has also been adopted by many foreign businesses and universities as a general English aptitude test.

TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication
Created as an alternative to the academically-oriented TOEFL, the goal of the TOEIC is to test a more general, everyday type of English, though with an emphasis on business English.