TEFL and TESOL — What is the difference?
Nothing!
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Both acronyms refer to teaching English to students who are non-native speakers.
Internationally there is no ‘one’ acronym for this vast industry and so colleges and organizations’ from the many, different English speaking countries created their own acronym.
A certificate with any of the above acronyms would be recognized for teaching English as a second language internationally.
What is important, is that the course you undertake is a minimum of 140 – 200hrs and include topics such as; TESOL Methodology, Lesson planning, Grammar, Classroom management, Communication skills (listening/speaking/reading/writing) as well as phonics & vocabulary and instruct in the teaching of children and adults.
In addition, school and colleges overseas look for teachers who have completed a teaching practice. The course you choose should also include an observed and assessed teaching practice with ‘real’ ESL students either online or face-to-face (minimum 6 x 30 min teaching sessions for an International course and 6 x 60 min sessions for Certificate IV in TESOL).
Click here to read more about TESOL courses
