Job Discussion Forums

[ktodba]

Scanning / skimming the boards it is noticeable that the particular nomenclature for a thing / concept becomes the focus of debate. In the broadest sense EFL, ESOL, ESL, EAL, etc. have the same core issues to deal with.
Migrant woker / Ex pat seems to be another term that rferes to people who are basically facing the same situation - namely living a country other than their own presumably on this forum being in a country with a language other than English. ( Exceptions acknowledged).

How many terms are there that can be used interchangeably?

And while I'm asking what terms do people absolutely insist have different meanings?

Some suggestions for answers - English vs British ( nationality)
English vs /american (language)
Overseas worker / Immigrant
Thick / Educationally challenged

Please don't feel restrained - I have no idea where this may go and am genuinely interested in seeing what terms people see as meaning the same thing.

If we can't agree then we need to give a lot of sympathy to our students for even trying.

[denise]

EFL and ESL are sometimes used interchangeably here (or at least, people write ESL when they mean EFL) although they are two distinct things.

I rarely see ESOL--I usually see the teaching aspect included: TESOL, which includes both EFL and ESL.

And I must disagree with "American" being a separate language! All my life I've spoken "correct" English, albeit with liberal sprinklings of "dude".

d

[kaw]

English = a person from England vs British = a person from England OR N.Ireland OR Scotland OR Wales

American English - didn't know they spoke English . Only joking - there are a lot of differences between Brit. English and American English - just look at the vocab - aubergine vs eggplant for example (sorry - don't know why those vegetables popped into my head..) and the spelling - travelling vs traveling etc etc etc

ESL/EFL - hmmm..........I think (but there are bound to be cleverer people out there who'll disagree) that ESL/ESOL is when English is being taught to students for use where English - whether British/U.S./Australian is used in a natural environment i.e. outside the classroom in everyday situations whereas EFL is where there is much less chance to use the language outside of the classroom - um....like Turkey and Wales......-oops fingers slippled on keyboard - I meant to say...Japan.

[Justin Trullinger]

Interesting. I agree that EFL and ESL have separate meanings- but exactly what separate meanings they have depends on the speaker.

"american" a language? Not sure where that comes from. I heard it a bit when I was living in Europe, but the people who used it were invariable A) Brits with an anti-yank complex, or B) Non-English speakers without a clue.

Differences abound, of course- as with regional variations of any language. BUt the language(s?) spoken in England and the US share a common heritage, and are mutually comprehensible. (Well, for the most part.) Most regions in the US speak "englishes" that are probably more comprehensible to Southern English ear than the varieties which one hears in or near Glasgow, for example.

What's an "l" or a "u" more or less?

Best,
Justin