View acronyms
Category:Teaching
Category:Teaching -> Acronyms
As in any specialized professional field there are many acronyms that one should be aware of in order to be able to talk the talk and use the correct lingo. Below is a list of several of these - feel free to add to it.
ALM Audio-Lingual Method of teaching English.
B.Ed Bachelor of Education degree.
CALL Computer Assisted Language Learning
CEELT Cambridge Examination in English for Language Teachers.
CELTA Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults - Cambridge University’s TEFL certificate program, formerly the CTEFLA.
CELTYL Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young Learners - Cambridge University’s certificate program for teaching children.
CV Curriculum Vitae - Interchangeably used with more common (in North America) term ‘resume.’
DOSDoS Director of Studies - Head teacher/administrator responsible for staff and/or academic aspects of school management.
DELTA Diploma English Language Teaching to Adults - Cambridge (see UCLES) advanced in-service qualification, formerly the DTEFLA
Dip Diploma - usually refers to a post-experience and/or in-service teaching qualification.
EAP English for Academic Purposes - Learning/teaching English to enable further academic study in any discipline. Often associated with TOEFL or IELTS preparation.
EFL English as a Foreign Language – Refers to the English studied and used by non-native speakers in non-English speaking countries (as opposed to ESL which is defined below).
ELT English Language Teaching/Training - General term for the field of teaching ESL. More common in the United Kingdom part interchangeably with TEFL, TESOL and TESL.
EPIK English Program in Korea - Korean Ministry of Education sponsored program places foreign teachers in public school classrooms.
EMT English Mother Tongue - Sometimes used to request teachers who are ‘native speakers.’
EOP English for Occupational Purposes - Sub-category of ESP; specialized language learning for specialized fields of employment like manufacturing and oilfield construction.
EPP English for Professional Purposes - Sub-category of ESP; specialized language learning for specialized fields of employment like law, medicine and finance.
ESL English as a Second language – Refers to the English spoken by people whose native language is not English while they are living or in an English-speaking host country like Canada. Often (though inaccurately) used as an umbrella term for the entire field of teaching English to non-native speakers, at home or abroad.
ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages – Updated umbrella term for the field of teaching English, as both a foreign and a second language. Set to become the standard.
ESP English for Special/Specific Purposes - Teaching learners who need to use a specific vocabulary in their work (aircrew, engineers, electronic engineers, software developers) but will not need to use English otherwise. This umbrella term can include business English learning and academic English learning (EAP) as well as the above listed categories of EOP and EPP.
EYL English for Young Learners - This term relates to language learning as it relates to young people (usually 7-12 years old).
FCE First Certificate in English – The third of five tests in the Cambridge ESOL examinations suite for general English language learners. The others are KET, PET, CAE and CPE. Click here for more information.
IATEFL International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language - British based teachers association, like TESOL Inc. in America.
IELTS International English Language Testing System – IELTS takes two forms: 1) an academic test often used by universities to determine a non-native speaker’s preparedness for study in countries like Australia and Great Britain ; 2) a more general test used to measure competence for non-academic training or work experience.
JET The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Ministry of Education sponsored program places foreign teachers in public schools classrooms (and some administrative positions) throughout the country.
L1 Learner’s first language
L2 Learner’s second language (English is often L2 for students but can be L3 or more depending on how many other languages they speak.)
LTCL Licentiate of Trinity College London - Name of the Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages moderated by Trinity College. The certificate program which precedes it is usually referred to as the CertTESOL
NET Native English-speaking Teacher scheme. Hong Kong Ministry of Education program that places foreign language teachers in public school classrooms. also known as NEST
NNS Non-native speaker.
NS Native speaker.
PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education – The British equivalent of the North American B.Ed (see above).
PPP Presentation, Practice, Production (teaching methodology).
RSA Royal Society of Arts – Forerunner to CELTA and DELTA, RSA certificates and diplomas are no longer offered but are still often (mistakenly) requested. If an employer asks for an RSA certificate, odds are they mean CELTA.
STT Student Talking Time
TEAL Teaching English as an Additional Language – Uncommon generic term for teaching English to non-native speakers, at home or abroad. See TESOL (below) for more common term.
TEAP Teaching English for Academic Purposes – Specialized teaching positions usually focussed on test preparation.
TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language – As taught ‘abroad,’ to learners in countries where English is not a native language.
TESL Teaching English as a Second Language – Strictly speaking, English as taught to learners in countries where English is a native language (eg. English to immigrants in Canada), the term is nonetheless often used to describe teaching overseas as well.
TESP Teaching English for Specific Purposes – Specialized teaching jobs may be labelled as TESP positions (business, medicine, etc.)
TEYL Teaching English to/for Young Learners – Positions requiring approaches tailored to language learning for children.
TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – The catch-all term for teaching English that includes both TEFL and TESL, TESOL is emerging as the term to describe the practise of teaching English to non-native speakers, at home and abroad. Also the name of the American membership organization (TESOL Inc.) for ESL/EFL teachers.
TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language - Exam used to gauge level of English competence for international students seeking admission to universities in Canada, United States and a growing number of other countries.
TOEIC Test of English for International Communication. A proficiency exam used to gauge communicative competency by businesses, particularly in East Asia. TOEIC scores can be found on the resumes/CVs of EFL speakers around the world.
TPR Total Physical Response (teaching methodology).
TTT Teacher Talking Time.
TWE Test of Written English. – Supplement to the TOEFL, is must be completed to demonstrate competency in writing in English at a university level.
UCLES University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate - Department of Cambridge University responsible for, amongst other things, overseeing the delivery of CELTA and DELTA programs worldwide.
VSO Voluntary Service Overseas – Placement program for Brits and Canadians, similar in nature to the American Peace Corps.
