ESL
3 synonyms for ESL, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The teaching or learning of English by people whose first language is something else, especially while they are living in an English-speaking country.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ESL
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
ESL teacher
ESL classes
ESL students
teach ESL abroad
Standard in education; some institutions have moved to 'EAL' or 'English learner'.
Etymology
An initialism of 'English as a Second Language'.
Full origin of ESL →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ESL and EFL?
ESL describes learning English in a country where it is the everyday language, so learners hear it outside class. EFL, English as a Foreign Language, describes learning it in a country where English is not spoken day to day, such as studying English in Japan or Brazil.
What does TESOL mean, and how is it different from ESL?
ESL names the subject from the learner's side; TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, names the profession and the qualification a teacher holds. A TESOL certificate is what many schools ask for before hiring an ESL teacher.
Is 'ESL' still the preferred term?
Many schools now prefer 'English learner', 'EAL' (English as an Additional Language) or 'multilingual learner', because 'second' is inaccurate for students who already speak three or four languages. ESL remains widely understood, especially in the United States.
