ESL stands for English as a Second Language and refers to non-native speakers of English in countries where English might be less familiar. It means people who learn English as a secondary language to their own.
Students worldwide study English as a Second Language, from Japan to Spain. In addition, teachers from English-speaking countries such as the UK, the USA, and Australia often travel abroad to teach English. Countries such as Vietnam, Spain, China, South Korea, Japan, and the UAE are popular locations for ESL teachers.
ESL is taught as a subject in many schools with students who have a different native language. ESL teachers will help students speak, read, write, and listen.
ESL teachers can be ‘native language speakers,’ who often move abroad to teach English, or local teachers who are fluent in English. In many countries, ESL is a public subject but is commonly taught in private institutions, international schools, and after-school academies by private tutors and online learning platforms.
In practice, ESL education can happen in many different settings. For example, some students learn English by talking to friends, playing video games, or even on the radio.
Why do students study ESL?
Learning a second language is never a bad idea. English is widely spoken, with around 20% of the world saying it, so if you’re visiting England, the United States of America, Australia, or anywhere, it will come in handy.
As some of these English-speaking countries are so influential on media and how things are done, it’s a pretty good language to learn. So not only is it useful for holidays and watching movies, but learning English can open up many student life opportunities.
Learning ESL English as a second language can open up work opportunities worldwide. It’s seen as “the language of business,” so knowing English is essential for working internationally. In addition, many international companies expect people to be fluent in English to work there.
How is ESL taught in the classroom?
ESL is taught as a language subject to encourage students to be able to communicate with people from all around the world. Therefore, students can express themselves in English and speak and write in this second language.
ESL classes will focus on vocabulary and grammar in spoken and written forms, as well as pronunciation and intonation.
In modern-day classrooms, there is more emphasis on ‘real-life’ language and the kinds of phrases we use in different situations, from meeting friends to writing formal letters.
ESL students can learn in various ways, whether through discussing current events or by increasing their vocabulary in topics that interest them, such as animals, food, or the human body.
What’s the difference between ESL, EFL, and EAL?
While ESL stands for English as a Second Language, this is often used interchangeably with EFL, which stands for English as a Foreign Language. This is because ESL refers to students learning English as a second language after their native language. In contrast, EFL relates to students learning English in a country that does not have English as a first language.
EAL stands for English as an Additional Language. It’s usually used to describe English being taught to a non-native speaker in a country where English is the first language.
The difference between ESL and EFL, EAL is that ESL students usually will be taught English only in their ESL lessons, whereas an EAL student will be hearing and need to use English across all subjects. As a result, ESL and EFL students will have less exposure to an English daily, making it more challenging to practice and pick up new words and expressions.