Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language

Teaching English as a second or foreign language is the theory and practice of teaching English to people whose first language is not English, in English-speaking environments or elsewhere.

Connect

Communicative language teaching: A language-teaching approach that develops communicative competence through meaningful interaction. It makes purposeful communication, rather than isolated language drills, the organizing principle of lessons.
English as a second or foreign language: The learning and use of English by people whose first language is another language. This broader field includes both English teaching and learners’ wider language experiences.
English for specific purposes: English instruction tailored to learners’ particular academic, professional, or occupational needs. It adapts teaching to defined goals such as medical practice or university study.
English as a second language: English learned or used in a community where it has a substantial social role. The label emphasizes an English-speaking environment, unlike foreign-language settings.
Stephen Krashen: An American linguist known for theories of second-language acquisition and the comprehensible input hypothesis. His account of comprehensible input has strongly influenced English teaching debates.
Task-based language teaching: An approach in which learners use the target language to complete meaningful tasks. It turns communicative goals into classroom tasks that require learners to exchange meaning.
English grammar: The system of forms and rules that structures English words, phrases, and sentences. Grammar is one component teachers help learners recognize and use accurately.
English for academic purposes: English instruction focused on the language and skills needed for academic study. It prepares learners for tasks such as reading research and writing academic papers.
English as a foreign language: English learned where it is not the dominant language of everyday public life. The label distinguishes many classroom-based settings from English-speaking communities.
Jim Cummins: A linguist known for research on bilingual education and language proficiency. His distinction between conversational and academic language informs teaching multilingual learners.