TEFL Introduction

The English language is accepted as being one of the first languages of international communication. In the western and/or developed countries English is already taught in most schools from an early age so that, by the time the student leaves school, he or she will probably have a reasonable working knowledge of the language. However, although as native English speakers we tend to think that all the world now speaks and understands English this just isn't the case. There are vast numbers of people in undeveloped countries without basic skills in English and, as well, there are many countries in the world where an understanding of English isn't, or hasn't so far been, considered an essential requirement in their education system. Many of these countries might feel that a different second language is more appropriate to their needs. It is to plug these gaps that TEFL exists.

TEFL has been known by many names and you will find references to TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). TESOL is used to describe the teaching of English as a foreign language within the framework of the UK. TEFL is used to describe the teaching either inside or ouside the UK . Over 20 years ago, in its infancy, you might have seen it referred to as E2L (English as a Second Language). In the 1970s and 1980s particularly, it was focused on teaching English to the large numbers of children coming into Britain from the Indian sub-continent and being enrolled into British schools with no knowledge of the language. Pro-active local authorities set up language centres with a core of qualified teachers who went into schools specifically to teach the children basic skills in English language so that they could then go on to take full advantage of the education offered in British schools. Today, TEFL is the most widely used acronym and its scope is now far greater.