International TEFL Academy

A term used in the field of linguistics that refers to the natural omission or “skipping” of sounds in fluent spoken language.

English Language Teaching.

Although the educator may not be familiar with the ESL student’s culture or language, a strong attempt must be made to validate the student’s first language. It is very important that the teacher of an ESL learner empathize with the student’s position. The instructor should try to imagine what the ESL student is experiencing after being immersed in a new culture and new language for the first time.

An important issue for ESL teachers is when and how to correct the errors of language learners. Some researchers feel there is no need to correct errors at all, as errors will automatically correct over time. However, some researchers think that error correction is necessary in order to “get it right from the beginning” as opposed to in the end. Different classroom theories propose different solutions for error correction.

English as a Second Language. A program for students from other countries who are learning English in an English-speaking country (e.g., Korean students learning English in the U.S., or Polish students learning English in England).

English for Speakers of Other Languages. This term is similar to ESL, but it has been argued that many students learn English as a third or fourth language and not necessarily as a second language, so ESL is not really accurate; therefore, some programs prefer to use the term ESOL.