English As A Second Language

ENL, ESL, and EFL are terms that frequently come up when referring to speakers and learners of English. These acronyms may at first glance make you think of major league sports. However, they are actually terms which distinguish those speakers who know English as a native language, as a second language, or as a foreign one.

In terms of language learning, ESL and EFL are distinctions which might have become a bit blurry over the past few decades. ESL refers to learners of English as a second language, that is, people who learn English after being fluent in another language. This is also true for learners of English as a foreign language.

Why Do These Distinctions Matter?

So, where does the difference lie? It lies in the context in which the language is being learned. If you are learning English in a country like, say, Argentina, France, or Japan, where you are perfectly able to lead a normal life without the need for using English in your everyday life. This is not the case when you are a learner of English as a foreign language.

If, on the other hand, you are learning the language in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, then you are an ESL learner. This distinction, which might sound somewhat irrelevant, can have enormous repercussions in the level and speed of your language learning. At the minimum, it means the difference between learning and practicing English a few hours a week and having it emerge as a serious need during most hours of your everyday life.