Job Discussion Forums

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

How do you pronounce our grand achronym of a profession?

Would you say TESS-ol or TEE-sol?

khmerhit · Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:52 am Post subject:

rhymes with pestle

maybe

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I pronounce TESL tess-el
I pronounce TESOL tee-sol.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I say TEE-sol.

I think the other one, TESS-ol, is a different acronym: TESL=teaching English as a second language.

d

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

TEA-SOL, as in COFFEE.

The other one TESL I have never heard spoken, but I suppose it would rhyme with pestle, as in mortar and.

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Apparantly I have been mispronouncing TESOL for years. Embarassed

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Thank you. Perhaps I won't commit suicide afterall.

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

If you decide to end it all then you should do it on webcam. This is the cybernetic age !

Capergirl · Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject:

I pronounce both TESL and TESOL "tess-el". I've never heard the pronunciation "tea-sel" (until now). Shocked

As for ESL and EFL, I just say the letters; I don't say "essel" and "effel".

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

I heard a colleague refer to ESL as 'essle' a couple weeks back. It was the first time I had heard it referred to as such. My reaction must have been priceless. I believe I c0cked my head to the side like a confused dog! Laughing

Shaman

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

I have always heard TESOL pronounced "tea-sol" and TESL, TEFL pronounced "tessle" and "teffle."

In either case, unless you are talking to an ESL/EFL teacher, no one usually knows what we are talking about, anyhow!

Ha!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I always find the looks funny when I tell people I teach ESL (or EFL). They have no idea what I am talking about. I usually just say English.