The Distinction Between EFL and ESL and the EFL Bias in Language Teaching

Abstract

The use of acronyms such as ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) in the English language industry or applied linguistics has often been a source of confusion. What seems to be ignored most of the time is that the official and social status of English in a particular speech community is an important factor to keep in mind when trying to disentangle both the theoretical and practical issues involved in the teaching and learning of the language. The recognition of this fact would naturally determine the content, methodology, and materials to be adopted in the teaching-learning process. Nevertheless, economic considerations have often masked the necessary distinction between the two teaching and learning situations. In fact many books or programmes generally purporting to deal with issues in teaching the language as Second Language, without exception, deal with the Foreign Language situation. This paper argues that the distinction between the two situations is crucial to the content, methodology and materials to be used in the teaching of English.