Acronymns

There are many different acronymns associated with English language teaching. Below are the most common ones that you'll come across. If there are others that you feel should be added to the list, please feel free to send us a note using the contact form.

Acronym
Meaning
ARELS Association of Recognized English Language Services (UK)
BASELT British Association of State English Language Teachers (UK)
CALL Computer Aided/Assisted Language Teaching
EAP English for Academic Purposes
EFL English as a Foreign Language
ELL English Language Learner
ELT English Language Teaching
ESL English as a Second Language
ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages
ESP English for Special Purposes
ETS Education Testing Service (US)
IATEFL International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
IELTS International English Language Testing System (UK)
IEP Intensive English Program
L1 Native Language
L2 Second Language
SLA Second Language Acquisition
TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL Teaching English as a Second Language
TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TEYL Teaching English to Young Learners
TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language (US)
TOEIC Test of English for International Communication
UCLES University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UK)
VSO Voluntary Service Overseas
ESD English as a Second Dialect
EIL English as an International Language
EAL English as an Additional Language