If you have an interest in teaching English to people from other countries, you have likely come across the term TESOL. This term stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
This is a more modern term that encompasses the old way of describing this sector of education: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language).
TEFL was primarily focused on helping people who didn’t speak English in their day-to-day life in their native countries. People who might be from Russian cities where only their native language was spoken, would be an example. TESL, on the other hand, was the approach developed for people who came from countries that used English in some capacity, such as in government and business related affairs. These types of learners have a background that includes English, but still requires a formal education to gain a complete comprehension of the language.
The importance of TESOL is more apparent than ever in our increasingly global and diverse world.
For teachers who want to teach these types of student populations through a TESOL program, can become certified to teach in these roles.
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