See also: Language education and Second language acquisition

ESL (English as a second language), ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), and EFL (English as a foreign language) all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with a different native language. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is described below. These terms are most commonly used in relation to teaching and learning English, but they may also be used in relation to demographic information. Demographics or demographic data refers to selected population characteristics as used in government Marketing or opinion research or the Demographic profiles

ELT (English language teaching) is a widely-used teacher-centred term, as in the English language teaching divisions of large publishing houses, ELT training, etc. The abbreviations TESL (teaching English as a second language), TESOL (teaching English for speakers of other languages) and TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) are all also used. TEFL or teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to Students whose First language is not English and

Other terms used in this field include EAL (English as an additional language), ESD (English as a second dialect), EIL (English as an international language), ELF (English as a lingua franca), ESP (English for special purposes, or English for specific purposes), EAP (English for academic purposes). A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of International English is the concept of the English language as a global means of communication in numerous dialects and also the movement towards an international standard A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely English for Academic Purposes (EAP entails training students usually in a Higher Education setting to use language appropriately for study Some terms that refer to those who are learning English are ELL (English language learner), LEP (limited English proficiency) and CLD (culturally and linguistically diverse).

Terminology and types

The many acronyms used in the field of English teaching and learning may be confusing. Acronyms, initialisms, and alphabetisms are Abbreviations that are formed using the initial components in a phrase or name English is a language with great reach and influence; it is taught all over the world under many different circumstances. In English-speaking countries, English language teaching has essentially evolved in two broad directions: instruction for people who intend to stay in the country and those who don't. These divisions have grown firmer as the instructors of these two "industries" have used different terminology, followed distinct training qualifications, formed separate professional associations, and so on. Terminology is the study of terms and their use Terms are Words and Compound words that are used in specific contexts A professional body or professional organization also known as a professional association or professional society is an organization usually Non-profit, that exists Crucially, these two arms have very different funding structures, public in the former and private in the latter, and to some extent this influences the way schools are established and classes are held. Matters are further complicated by the fact that the United States and the United Kingdom, both major engines of the language, describe these categories in different terms: as many eloquent users of the language have observed, "England and America are two countries divided by a common language. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located " (Attributed to Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 George Bernard Shaw ( (26 July 1856 &ndash 2 November 1950 was an Irish Playwright. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900 was an Irish Playwright, Novelist, poet and Author of ) The following technical definitions may therefore have their currency contested.

English outside English-speaking countries

EFL, English as a foreign language, indicates the use of English in a non-English-speaking region. Study can occur either in the student's home country, as part of the normal school curriculum or otherwise, or, for the more privileged minority, in an anglophone country that they visit as a sort of educational tourist, particularly immediately before or after graduating from university. An Anglophone (or anglophone) is someone who speaks the English language. TEFL is the teaching of English as a foreign language; note that this sort of instruction can take place in any country, English-speaking or not. TEFL or teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to Students whose First language is not English and Typically, EFL is learned either to pass exams as a necessary part of one's education, or for career progression while working for an organisation or business with an international focus. EFL may be part of the state school curriculum in countries where English has no special status (what linguist Braj Kachru calls the "expanding circle countries"); it may also be supplemented by lessons paid for privately. In formal education a curriculum (plural curricula) is the set of courses and their content offered at a School or University. Braj Kachru was born around 1932 in Kashmir. He is a scholar of different varieties of World English and of Kashmiri. Teachers of EFL generally assume that students are literate in their mother tongue. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth The Chinese EFL Journal [3] and Iranian EFL Journal [4] are examples of international journals dedicated to specifics of English language learning within countries where English is used as a foreign language.

English within English-speaking countries

The other broad grouping is the use of English within the Anglosphere. The word Anglosphere describes a concept of a group of Anglophone ( English -speaking nations which share historical political and cultural characteristics rooted In what theorist Braj Kachru calls "the inner circle", i. Braj Kachru was born around 1932 in Kashmir. He is a scholar of different varieties of World English and of Kashmiri. e. countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, this use of English is generally by refugees, immigrants and their children. According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term It also includes the use of English in "outer circle" countries, often former British colonies, where English is an official language even if it is not spoken as a mother tongue by the majority of the population. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth

In the US, Canada and Australia, this use of English is called ESL (English as a second language). This term has been criticized on the grounds that many learners already speak more than one language. A counter-argument says that the word "a" in the phrase "a second language" means there is no presumption that English is the second acquired language (see also Second language). A second language (L2 is any Language learned after the first language or mother tongue (L1 TESL is the teaching of English as a second language.

In the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, the term ESL has been replaced by ESOL (English for speakers of other languages). In these countries TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) is normally used to refer to teaching English only to this group. In the UK, the term EAL (English as an additional language), rather than ESOL, is usually used when talking about primary and secondary schools. ^[1]

Other acronyms were created to describe the person rather than the language to be learned. The term LEP (Limited English proficiency) was created in 1975 by the Lau Remedies following a decision of the US Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. ELL (English Language Learner), used by United States governments and school systems, was created by Charlene Rivera of the Center for Equity and Excellence in Education in an effort to label learners positively, rather than ascribing a deficiency to them. LOTE (Languages other than English) is a parallel term used in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. LOTE or Languages Other Than English is the name given to language subjects at Australian schools

Typically, this sort of English (called ESL in the United States, Canada, and Australia, ESOL in the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand) is learned to function in the new host country, e. g. within the school system (if a child), to find and hold down a job (if an adult), to perform the necessities of daily life. The teaching of it does not presuppose literacy in the mother tongue. A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth It is usually paid for by the host government to help newcomers settle into their adopted country, sometimes as part of an explicit citizenship program. It is technically possible for ESL to be taught not in the host country, but in, for example, a refugee camp, as part of a pre-departure program sponsored by the government soon to receive new potential citizens. In practice, however, this is extremely rare.

Particularly in Canada and Australia, the term ESD (English as a second dialect) is used alongside ESL, usually in reference to programs for Canadian First Nations people or indigenous Australians, respectively. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. ^[2] It refers to the use of standard English, which may need to be explicitly taught, by speakers of a creole or non-standard variety. A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin. It is often grouped with ESL as ESL/ESD.

Umbrella terms

All these ways of teaching English can be bundled together into an umbrella term. An umbrella term is a word that provides a Superset or grouping of related concepts also called a Hypernym. Unfortunately, all the English teachers in the world cannot agree on just one. The term TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) is used in American English to include both TEFL and TESL. Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology. British English uses ELT (English language teaching), because TESOL has a different, more specific meaning; see above. British English or UK English ( BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the

Which variety to teach

It is worth noting that ESL and EFL programs also differ in the variety of English which is taught; "English" is a term that can refer to various dialects, including British English, American English, and many others. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of British English or UK English ( BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology. This is a list of varieties of the English language. Dialects are linguistic varieties which differ in Pronunciation, Vocabulary and Obviously, those studying English in order to fit into their new country will learn the variety spoken there. However, for those who do not intend to change countries, the question arises of which sort of English to learn. If they are going abroad for a short time to study English, they need to choose which country. For those staying at home, the choice may be made for them in that private language schools or the state school system may only offer one model. Students studying EFL in Hong Kong, for example, are more likely to learn British English, whereas students in the Philippines are more likely to learn American English. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP

For this reason, many teachers now emphasize teaching English as an international language (EIL), also known as English as a ­lingua franca (ELF). An international auxiliary language (sometimes abbreviated as IAL or auxlang) or interlanguage is a Language meant for communication between people from A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely Linguists are charting the development of international English, a term with contradictory and confusing meanings, one of which refers to a decontextualised variant of the language, independent of the culture and associated references of any particular country, useful when, for example, a Saudi does business with someone from China or Albania. International English is the concept of the English language as a global means of communication in numerous dialects and also the movement towards an international standard The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics.

Systems of simplified English

For international communication several models of "simplified English" have been suggested, among them:

• Basic English, developed by Charles Kay Ogden (and later also I. A. Richards) in the 1930s; a recent revival has been initiated by Bill Templer^[3]
• Threshold Level English, developed by van Ek and Alexander^[4]
• Globish, developed by Jean-Paul Nerrière
• Basic Global English, developed by Joachim Grzega^[5]
• Nuclear English, proposed by Randolph Quirk and Gabriele Stein but never fully developed^[6]. Basic English is an attempted core Subset of The English language created by Charles Kay Ogden and described in his book Basic English A General Introduction For the children's book writer see Charles Ogden (children's writer. Ivor Armstrong Richards ( 26 February, 1893 in Sandbach, Cheshire &ndash 7 September, 1979 in Cambridge) was A Portmanteau of the words Global and English, Globish is a version of the English language that uses only the most common 1500 English words Charles Randolph Quirk Baron Quirk, CBE, FBA (born 1920 is a British linguist.

Difficulties for learners

Language teaching practice often assumes that most of the difficulties that learners face in the study of English are a consequence of the degree to which their native language differs from English (a contrastive analysis approach). English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Contrastive analysis is the systematic study of a pair of Languages with a view to identifying their structural differences and similarities A native speaker of Chinese, for example, may face many more difficulties than a native speaker of German, because German is closely related to English, whereas Chinese is not. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. This may be true for anyone of any mother tongue (also called first language, normally abbreviated L1) setting out to learn any other language (called a target language, second language or L2). A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth See also second language acquisition (SLA) for mixed evidence from linguistic research. Second language acquisition is the process by which people learn a second language in addition to their native language(s.

Language learners often produce errors of syntax and pronunciation thought to result from the influence of their L1, such as mapping its grammatical patterns inappropriately onto the L2, pronouncing certain sounds incorrectly or with difficulty, and confusing items of vocabulary known as false friends. In Linguistics, syntax (from Ancient Greek grc συν- syn-, "together" and grc τάξις táxis, "arrangement" is the False friends (or faux amis) are pairs of Words in two Languages or Dialects (or letters in two alphabets that look and/or sound similar but differ This is known as L1 transfer or "language interference". Language transfer (also known as L1 interference, linguistic interference, and crossmeaning) refers to speakers or writers applying knowledge from their However, these transfer effects are typically stronger for beginners' language production, and SLA research has highlighted many errors which cannot be attributed to the L1, as they are attested in learners of many language backgrounds (for example, failure to apply 3rd person present singular -s to verbs, as in 'he make'). Second language acquisition is the process by which people learn a second language in addition to their native language(s. Grammatical person, in Linguistics, is deictic reference to a participant in an event such as the speaker the Addressee, or others

While English is no more complex than other languages, it has several features which may create difficulties for learners. Conversely, because such a large number of people are studying it, products have been developed to help them do so, such as the monolingual learner's dictionary, which is written with a restricted defining vocabulary. Monolingual learner's dictionaries are written for learners of a Foreign language. A defining Vocabulary is a published stable and culturally accepted Core glossary specifically used by dictionary publishers to standardize their use of simple words

Pronunciation

• Consonant phonemes

English does not have more individual consonant sounds than most languages. In Articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a Speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the upper Vocal tract, the upper vocal However, the interdentals, /θ/ and /ð/ (the sounds written with th), which are common in English (thin, thing, etc. ; and the, this, that, etc. ) are relatively rare in other languages, even others in the Germanic family (e. The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. g. , English thousand = German tausend), and these sounds are missing even in some English dialects. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Some learners substitute a [t] or [d] sound, while others shift to [s] or [z], [f] or [v] and even [ts] or [dz]).

Speakers of Japanese, Korean and Chinese varieties have difficulty distinguishing [r] and [l]. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system The distinction between [b] and [v] can cause difficulty for native speakers of Spanish, Japanese and Korean.

• Vowel phonemes

The precise number of distinct vowel sounds depends on the variety of English: for example, Received Pronunciation has twelve monophthongs (single or "pure" vowels), eight diphthongs (double vowels) and two triphthongs (triple vowels); whereas General American has thirteen monophthongs and three diphthongs. In Phonetics, a vowel is a Sound in spoken Language, such as English ah! or oh!, pronounced with an open Vocal tract Received Pronunciation ( RP) is a form of Pronunciation of the English language (specifically British English) which has long been perceived as A monophthong ( Greek μονόφθογγος "monophthongos" = single note) is a "pure" Vowel sound one whose articulation at In Phonetics, a diphthong (also gliding vowel) (from Greek grc δίφθογγος "diphthongos" literally "with two sounds" or "with In Phonetics, a triphthong (from Greek τρίφθογγος, "triphthongos" literally "with three sounds" or "with three General American is an accent of American English within American English General American and accents approximating it are contrasted with Southern American Many learners, such as speakers of Spanish, Japanese or Arabic, have fewer vowels, or only pure ones, in their mother tongue and so may have problems both with hearing and with pronouncing these distinctions. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language

• Syllable structure

In its syllable structure, English allows for a cluster of up to three consonants before the vowel and four after it (e. A syllable ( Greek:) is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds In Linguistics, a consonant cluster (or consonant blend) is a group of Consonants which have no intervening Vowel. g. , straw, desks, glimpsed). The syllable structure causes problems for speakers of many other languages. Japanese, for example, broadly alternates consonant and vowel sounds so learners from Japan often try to force vowels in between the consonants (e. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities g. , desks /desks/ becomes "desukusu" or milk shake /mɪlk ʃeɪk/ becomes "mirukushēku").

Learners from languages where all words end in vowels sometimes tend to make all English words end in vowels, thus make /meɪk/ can come out as [meɪkə]. The learner's task is further complicated by the fact that native speakers may drop consonants in the more complex blends (e. g. , [mʌns] instead of [mʌnθs] for months).

• Unstressed vowels - Native English speakers frequently replace almost any vowel in an unstressed syllable with an unstressed vowel, often schwa. In Linguistics, stress is the relative emphasis that may be given to certain Syllables in a word In Linguistics, specifically Phonetics and Phonology, schwa can mean the following An unstressed and toneless neutral For example, from has a distinctly pronounced short 'o' sound when it is stressed (e. g. , Where are you from?), but when it is unstressed, the short 'o' reduces to a schwa (e. g. , I'm from London. ). In some cases, unstressed vowels may disappear altogether, in words such as chocolate (which has four syllables in Spanish, but only two as pronounced by Americans: "choc-lit". )

Stress in English more strongly determines vowel quality than it does in most other world languages (although there are notable exceptions such as Russian). Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages For example, in some varieties the syllables an, en, in, on and un are pronounced as homophones, that is, exactly alike. A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning Native speakers can usually distinguish an able, enable, and unable because of their position in a sentence, but this is more difficult for inexperienced English speakers. Moreover, learners tend to overpronounce these unstressed vowels, giving their speech an unnatural rhythm.

• Stress timing - English tends to be a stress-timed language - this means that stressed syllables are roughly equidistant in time, no matter how many syllables come in between. Language timing is the rhythmic quality of a particular type of speech in particular how Syllables are distributed across time Although some other languages, e. g. , German and Russian, are also stress-timed, most of the world's other major languages are syllable-timed, with each syllable coming at an equal time after the previous one. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Language timing is the rhythmic quality of a particular type of speech in particular how Syllables are distributed across time Learners from these languages often have a staccato rhythm when speaking English that is disconcerting to a native speaker. In Musical notation, the Italian word staccato (literally detached, plural staccatos or staccati) indicates that notes

"Stress for emphasis" - students' own languages may not use stress for emphasis as English does.

"Stress for contrast" - stressing the right word or expression. This may not come easily to some nationalities.

"Emphatic apologies" - the normally unstressed auxiliary is stressed (I really am very sorry)

In English there are quite a number of words - about fifty - that have two different pronunciations, depending on whether they are stressed. They are "grammatical words": pronouns, prepositions, auxiliary verbs and conjunctions. Most students tend to overuse the strong form, which is pronounced with the written vowel.

• Connected speech

Phonological processes such as assimilation, elision and epenthesis together with indistinct word boundaries can confuse learners when listening to natural spoken English, as well as making their speech sound too formal if they do not use them. Assimilation is a common Phonological process by which the phonetics of a speech segment becomes more like that of another segment in a word (or at a word boundary Elision is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a Vowel, a Consonant, or a whole Syllable) in a word or phrase producing a result that is easier In Phonology, epenthesis (/əˈpɛnθəsɪs/ Ancient Greek ἐπένθεσις - epenthesis from epi "on" + en "in" For example, in RP eight beetles and three ants /eɪt biːtəlz ənd θriː ænts/ becomes [eɪtbiːtl̩znθɹiːjæns]. Received Pronunciation ( RP) is a form of Pronunciation of the English language (specifically British English) which has long been perceived as

See also: Accent reduction

Grammar

• Tenses - English has a relatively large number of tenses with some quite subtle differences, such as the difference between the simple past "I ate" and the present perfect "I have eaten. Accent reduction, also known as accent modification is a systematic approach used to learn or adopt a new accent Grammatical tense is a temporal linguistic quality expressing the time at during or over which a state or action denoted by a verb occurs " Progressive and perfect progressive forms add complexity. (See English verbs. Principal parts A regular English verb has only one principal part, the infinitive or dictionary form (which is identical to the simple present tense for all persons and )
• Functions of auxiliaries - Learners of English tend to find it difficult to manipulate the various ways in which English uses the first auxiliary verb of a tense. In Linguistics, an auxiliary (also called helping verb, helper verb, auxiliary verb, or verbal auxiliary) is a Verb functioning These include negation (eg He hasn't been drinking. ), inversion with the subject to form a question (eg Has he been drinking?), short answers (eg Yes, he has. ) and tag questions (has he?). A Tag question (also question tag) is a grammatical structure in which a declarative statement or an imperative is turned into a question by A further complication is that the dummy auxiliary verb do /does /did is added to fulfil these functions in the simple present and simple past, but not for the verb to be.
• Modal verbs - English also has a significant number of modal auxiliary verbs which each have a number of uses. A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of Auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality. For example, the opposite of "You must be here at 8" (obligation) is usually "You don't have to be here at 8" (lack of obligation, choice), while "must" in "You must not drink the water" (prohibition) has a different meaning from "must" in "You must not be a native speaker" (deduction). This complexity takes considerable work for most learners to master.
• Idiomatic usage - English is reputed to have a relatively high degree of idiomatic usage. An idiom is a Phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal Definition, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only For example, the use of different main verb forms in such apparently parallel constructions as "try to learn", "help learn", and "avoid learning" pose difficulty for learners. Another example is the idiomatic distinction between "make" and "do": "make a mistake", not "do a mistake"; and "do a favour", not "make a favour".
• Articles - English has an appreciable number of articles, including the definite article the and the indefinite article a, an. ' A' and ' an' function as the indefinite forms of the grammatical article in the English language and can also represent the number one At times English nouns can or indeed must be used without an article; this is called the zero article. Some of the differences between definite, indefinite and zero article are fairly easy to learn, but others are not, particularly since a learner's native language may lack articles or use them in different ways than English does. Although the information conveyed by articles is rarely essential for communication, English uses them frequently (several times in the average sentence), so that they require some effort from the learner.

Vocabulary

• Phrasal verbs - Phrasal verbs in English can cause difficulties for many learners because they have several meanings and different syntactic patterns. A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition a verb and an adverb or a verb with both an adverb and a preposition any of which are part of the syntax of the sentence There are also a number of phrasal verb differences between American and British English.
• Word derivation - Word derivation in English requires a lot of rote learning. In Linguistics, derivation is "Used to form new words as with happi-ness and un-happy from happy, or determination from Rote learning is a Learning technique which avoids understanding of a subject and instead focuses on memorization. For example, an adjective can be negated by using the prefix un- (e. An affix is a Morpheme that is attached to a stem to form a word g. unable), in- (e. g. inappropriate), dis- (e. g. dishonest), or a- (e. g. amoral), or through the use of one of a myriad of related but rarer prefixes, all modified versions of the first four.
• Size of lexicon - The history of English has resulted in a very large vocabulary, essentially one stream from Old English and one from the Norman infusion of Latin-derived terms. English is a West Germanic language which originated from the Anglo-Frisian Dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. (Schmitt & Marsden claim that English has one of the largest vocabularies of any known language. ) This inevitably requires more work for a learner to master the language.

Differences between spoken and written English

As with most languages, written language tends to use a more formal register than spoken language. In Linguistics, a register is a subset of a Language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting A spoken language is a human Natural language in which the Words are uttered through the Mouth. The acquisition of literacy takes significant effort in English. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen,

• Spelling - Because of the many changes in pronunciation which have occurred since a written standard developed, and the retention of many historical idiosyncrasies in spelling, English spelling is difficult even for native speakers to master. Spelling is the Writing of a Word or words with the necessary letters and Diacritics present in an accepted standard order This difficulty is shown in such activities as spelling bees that generally require the memorization of words. A spelling bee is a competition where contestants usually Children, are asked to spell English words English speakers may also rely on computer tools such as spell checkers more than speakers of other languages, as the users of the utility may have forgotten, or never learned, the correct spelling of a word. In Computing, a spell checker is an applications program that flags words in a document that may not be spelled correctly The generalizations that exist are quite complex and there are many exceptions leading to a considerable amount of rote learning. Rote learning is a Learning technique which avoids understanding of a subject and instead focuses on memorization. The spelling system causes problems in both directions - a learner may know a word by sound but not be able to write it correctly (or indeed find it in a dictionary), or they may see a word written but not know how to pronounce it or mislearn the pronunciation.

Varieties of English

• There are thriving communities of English native speakers in countries all over the world, and this historical diaspora has led to some noticeable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar in different countries, as well as those variations which exist between different regions, and across the social strata, within the same country. The word Anglosphere describes a concept of a group of Anglophone ( English -speaking nations which share historical political and cultural characteristics rooted Even within the British Isles, there are significant regional language differences, differences of (i) pronunciation/accent, (ii) vocabulary, and even (iii) grammar/dialect, when the local dialect differs from that of another region or from the grammar of 'received English'. The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan

• The world holds over 7000 languages, and most exist within only a small geographic area; even most of the top 100 are limited to a small number of countries or even a single state. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them Some of the more well-known languages are to some degree managed by a specific organisation that determines the most prestigious form of the language, e. g. French language and the Academie de la langue française or Spanish language and the Real Academia Española. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people L'Académie française, or the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Real Academia Española (“Royal Spanish Academy” the RAE, is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language Since many students of English study it to enable them to communicate internationally, the lack of a uniform international standard for the language poses some barriers to meeting that goal; see international English. International English is the concept of the English language as a global means of communication in numerous dialects and also the movement towards an international standard

• Teaching English therefore involves not only helping the student to use the form of English most suitable for his purposes, but also exposure to other forms of English (e. g. regional forms/ cultural styles) so that the student will be able to discern 'meaning' even when the words/grammar/pronunciation may be quite different to the form of English with which he has become more familiar.

Exams for learners

See also: Category:English language tests

Learners of English are often keen to get accreditation and a number of exams are known internationally^[7]:

• Cambridge ESOL General English exams, a suite of five including First Certificate in English (FCE), Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System), accepted by most tertiary academic institutions in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and by many in the USA. The University of Cambridge ESOL examinations are Examinations in English language ability for non-native speakers of English The First Certificate in English (FCE is one of the exams available from University of Cambridge ESOL examination. The Certificate in Advanced English or CAE is the advanced general English exam provided by the University of Cambridge as part of the University of Cambridge The Certificate of Proficiency in English or CPE (as it is usually referred to is the most advanced general English exam provided by the IELTS (pronounced /'aıelts/ stands for International English Language Testing System
• Trinity College London ESOL offers several sets of exams: Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE), a suite of twelve exams. Trinity College London ESOL is an international examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and offering English language exams since Integrated Skills in English (ISE), a suite of five exams. ESOL Skills for Life and ESOL for Work.
• City and Guilds International ESOL and International Spoken ESOL on demand examinations available at six levels: Preliminary, Access, Achiever, Communicator, Expert and Mastery
• London Tests of English from Pearson Language Tests, a series of six exams each mapped to a level from the CEFR
• Secondary Level English Proficiency test
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), an Educational Testing Service product, developed and used primarily for academic institutions in the USA, and now widely accepted in tertiary institutions in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. The City and Guilds of London Institute ( City & Guilds) is a United Kingdom examining and accreditation body for vocational managerial and engineering training offering The London Tests of English are international English language exams for speakers of English as a foreign language ( EFL) Pearson Language Tests is a new unit of the Pearson PLC group dedicated to assessing and validating the English language usage of non-native English speakers The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Learning Teaching Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages The Secondary Level English Proficiency Test is a test created by ETS and administered by American middle and high schools to applicants whose first language is not English The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFLs, pronounced "toe-full" or sometimes "toy-ful" evaluates the potential success of an individual to use The Educational Testing Service (or ETS) is the world's largest private educational testing and measurement organization operating on an annual budget of approximately $1 The current test is Internet based, and is known as the TOEFL iBT. Used as a proxy for English for Academic Purposes. English for Academic Purposes (EAP entails training students usually in a Higher Education setting to use language appropriately for study
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), an Educational Testing Service product for Business English
• TSE - Test of Spoken English
• TWE - Test of Written English

Many countries also have their own exams. Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC measures the ability of non-native English-speaking examinees to use English in everyday workplace activities Business English is English especially related to International trade. The Test of Spoken English (TSE is the most widely used assessment of spoken English worldwide measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to communicate effectively ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland usually take the national Skills for Life qualifications, which are offered by several exam boards. An examination board is an organization that sets Examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results EFL learners in China may take the College English Test. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The College English Test, better known as CET, is a national English as a Foreign Language test in the People's Republic of China. In Greece English students may take the PALSO (PanHellenic Association of Language School Owners) exams.

The Common European Framework

Between 1998 and 2000, the Council of Europe's language policy division developed its Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 Many countries have a language policy designed to favour or discourage the use of a particular Language or set of languages The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Learning Teaching Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages The aim of this framework was to have a common system for foreign language testing and certification, to cover all European languages and countries.

The Common European Framework (CEF) divides language learners into three levels:

• A. Basic User
• B. Independent User
• C. Proficient User

Each of these levels is divided into two sections, resulting in a total of six levels for testing (A1, A2, B1, etc).

This table compares ELT exams according to the CEF levels:

• The TOEIC and TOEFL exams are not part of the Common European framework, and the CEF levels can only be approximately equated to scores in these test. The origin of the scores in this table are uncertain.

Qualifications for teachers

Non-native speakers

Most people who teach English are in fact not native speakers of that language. They are state school teachers in countries around the world, and as such they hold the relevant teaching qualification of their country, usually with a specialism in teaching English. State school is an expression used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to distinguish schools provided by the government from privately A teaching qualification or teacher qualification is one of a number of academic and Professional degrees that enables a person to become a registered teacher For example, teachers in Hong Kong hold the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (abbreviation LPAT;) is an assessment examination for the Language proficiency of teachers in Hong Kong Those who work in private language schools may, from commercial pressures, have the same qualifications as native speakers (see below). A language school is a School where one studies a Foreign language. Widespread problems exist of bogus qualifications and poor quality providers of training, and as the industry professionalises, it is trying to self-regulate to eliminate these^[8].

United States qualifications

Most U. S. instructors at community colleges and universities qualify by taking an MA in TESOL. A community college is a type of Educational institution. The term has different meanings in different countries A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects This degree also qualifies them to teach in most EFL contexts. In some areas of the United States, nearly all elementary school teachers are involved in teaching ELLs (English Language Learners, that is, children who come to school speaking a home language other than English. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also Primary education An elementary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory education known as elementary ) The qualifications for these classroom teachers vary from state to state but always include a state-issued teaching certificate for public instruction. This state licensing requires substantial practical experience as well as course work. The MA in TESOL typically includes both graduate work in English as one of the classical liberal arts (literature, linguistics, media studies) with a theoretical component. The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. in language pedagogy. Admission to the MA in TESOL typically requires at least a bachelor's degree with a minor in English or linguistics, or, sometimes, a degree in a foreign language instead. A foreign language is a Language not spoken by the people of a certain place for example English is a foreign language in Japan.

It is important to note that the issuance of a teaching certificate or license is not automatic following completion of degree requirements. All teachers must complete a battery of exams (typically the Praxis subject and method exams or similar, state-sponsored exams) as well as supervised instruction as student teachers. A Praxis test is one of a series of Teacher certification exams written and administered by the Educational Testing Service. A student teacher (also called pupil-teacher) is College or Graduate student who is Teaching under the supervision of a Certified teacher Certification requirements for ESL teachers vary greatly from state to state; out-of-state teaching certificates are recognized if the two states have a reciprocity agreement.

British qualifications

Common, respected qualifications for teachers within the United Kingdom's sphere of influence include TESOL certificates and diplomas issued by University of Cambridge ESOL and Trinity College London ESOL. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate ( UCLES) a non-teaching department of the University Trinity College London ESOL is an international examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and offering English language exams since

A certificate course is usually undertaken before starting to teach. This is sufficient for most EFL jobs (see TEFL for an extended discussion of travel-teaching) and for some ESOL ones. TEFL or teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to Students whose First language is not English and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) and CertTESOL (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are the most widely taken and accepted qualifications for new teacher trainees. The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, or CELTA (ˈsɛl The Certificate in TESOL (CertTESOL is an accredited professional qualification awarded in the teaching of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL by Trinity Courses are offered in the UK and in many countries around the world. It is usually taught full-time over a one-month period or part-time over a period up to a year.

Teachers with two or more years of teaching experience who want to stay in the profession and advance their career prospects (including school management and teacher training) can take a diploma course. University of Cambridge ESOL offers the DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults) and Trinity College London ESOL offers the LTCL DipTESOL (Trinity Licentiate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate ( UCLES) a non-teaching department of the University DELTA, the Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults, is a professional qualification in English language teaching awarded by Cambridge Assessment Trinity College London ESOL is an international examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and offering English language exams since The Licentiate Diploma in TESOL (LTCL DipTESOL is a professional qualification awarded in the teaching of English for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL) by Trinity These diplomas are considered to be equivalent and are both accredited at level 7 of the revised National Qualifications Framework. The National Qualifications Framework ( NQF) is a credit transfer system developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland Some teachers who stay in the profession go on to do an MA in a relevant discipline such as applied linguistics or ELT. A Master of Arts ( Latin: Magister Artium) is a Postgraduate academic Master's degree awarded by universities in a large Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that identifies investigates and offers solutions to language-related real life problems Many UK master's degrees require considerable experience in the field before a candidate is accepted onto the course.

The above qualifications are well-respected within the UK EFL sector, including private language schools and higher education language provision. A language school is a School where one studies a Foreign language. Higher education is Education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, Community colleges Liberal arts colleges However, in England and Wales, in order to meet the government's criteria for being a qualified teacher of ESOL in the Learning and Skills Sector (i. e. post-compulsory or further education), teachers need to have the Certificate in Further Education Teaching Stage 3 at level 5 (of the revised NQF) and the Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists at level 4. Further education (often abbreviated "FE" is Post-secondary Education (in addition to that received at Secondary school) that is distinct from Recognised qualifications which confer one or both of these include a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in ESOL, the CELTA module 2 and City & Guilds 9488. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education ( PGCE) is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for Undergraduate degree The City and Guilds of London Institute ( City & Guilds) is a United Kingdom examining and accreditation body for vocational managerial and engineering training offering Teachers of children within the state sector in the United Kingdom are normally expected to hold a PGCE, and may choose to specialise in ELT. State school is an expression used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to distinguish schools provided by the government from privately

Professional associations and unions

• TESOL Inc. is Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, a professional organization based in the United States. TESOL ( Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Inc In addition, there are many large state-wide and regional affiliates, see below.
• IATEFL is the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, a professional organization based in the United Kingdom. International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL is an organisation in the field of English language learning and teaching.
• Professional organisations for teachers of English exist at national levels. Many contain phrases in their title such as the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) or the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT). Some of these organisations may be bigger in structure (pan-national, such as TESOL Arabia in the Gulf states), or smaller (limited to one city, state, or province, such as CATESOL in California). CATESOL is the independent California and Nevada affiliate of the international organization Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages ( TESOL California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Some are affiliated to TESOL or IATEFL.
• NATECLA is the National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults, which focuses on teaching ESOL in the United Kingdom. National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA is a British Professional organisation of teachers of ESOL and what are
• National Union of General Workers is a Japanese union which includes English teachers. is a Japanese national Labour union affiliated with the Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council which is itself one of the three main federations within the Japanese trade union In Japan, three main labour federations represent Japan's Labour unions They are in order of number of members, 6
• University and College Union is a British trade union which includes lecturers of ELT. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The University and College Union ( UCU) is a UK Trade union A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming

Acronyms and abbreviations

See also: Language education for information on general language teaching acronyms and abbreviations. Language education includes the Teaching and Learning of a Language.

Types of English

• BE - Business English
• EAL - English as an additional language. Business English is English especially related to International trade. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• EAP - English for academic purposes
• EFL - English as a foreign language. English for Academic Purposes (EAP entails training students usually in a Higher Education setting to use language appropriately for study English for use in a non-English-speaking region, by someone whose first language is not English. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• EIL - English as an international language (see main article at International English)
• ELF - English as a lingua franca
• ELL - English language learner. International English is the concept of the English language as a global means of communication in numerous dialects and also the movement towards an international standard A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• ELT - English language teaching. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• ESL - English as a second language. English for use in an English-speaking region, by someone whose first language is not English. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• ESOL - English for speakers of other languages. This term is used differently in different countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• ESP - English for special purposes, or English for specific purposes (e. g. technical English, scientific English, English for medical professionals, English for waiters).
• EST - English for science and technology (e. g. technical English, scientific English).
• TEFL - Teaching English as a foreign language. TEFL or teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to Students whose First language is not English and This link is to a page about a subset of TEFL, namely travel-teaching. More generally, see the discussion in Terminology and types.
• TESL - Teaching English as a second language. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• TESOL - Teaching English to speakers of other languages, or Teaching English as a second or other language. See the discussion in Terminology and types.
• TYLE - Teaching Young Learners English. Note that "Young Learners" can mean under 18, or much younger.

Other abbreviations

• BULATS - Business Language Testing Services, a computer-based test of business English, produced by CambridgeEsol. The test also exists for French, German, and Spanish.
• CELTA - Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
• DELTA - Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults
• IELTS - International English Language Testing System
• LTE - London Tests of English by Pearson Language Tests
• TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
• TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication
• UCLES - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, an exam board

References and notes

See also

Language terminology

• Second language
• Foreign language

General language teaching and learning

• Language education
• Second language acquisition
• Applied linguistics
• Contrastive rhetoric

English language teaching and learning

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), for an extended discussion of travel-teaching
• Non-native pronunciations of English

Contemporary English

• English language
• American and British English differences
• English studies
• International English

Other

• List of countries by English-speaking population
• Ruth Hayman - ESL pioneer
• Crazy English, an idiosyncratic methodology

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External links

• TESOL International
• NCELA - National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition
• International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
• Open Directory listing of ELLT-related websites

Journals:

• Asian EFL Journal
• English as an International Language Journal
• TESL-EJ: Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language