Korean Job Discussion Forums

[regicide]

Is English a second language or a foreign language in Korea? In other words, are we EFL Teachers or ESL Teachers?

[tzechuk]

English is a foreign language in Korea.

English is only a second language in countries where they use English as an official language, like Hong Kong and Singapore.

[gang ah jee]

EFL.

[regicide]

That seems to be the definition in the major dictionaries as well. Then why is ESL almost always used, including the name of this site, when it is in fact EFL?

[VanIslander]

ELT

[braunshade]

So, what are we called if we teach in a country where English is the first/native language like UK, US......

[VanIslander]

ELT

[regicide]

What about a Teacher of English to speakers of other languages?

[regicide]

[gang ah jee]

[ddeubel]

[regicide]

[jajdude]

Just to be silly, I liked the term EVFL:

V for very.

How about EVIL? (very international?)

[regicide]

ESL - English as a second language


English for use in an English-speaking region, by someone whose first language is not English. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types



From Wikepedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESL/ESOL/EFL/ELT


Is Korea one of these countries?

English outside English-speaking countries

EFL indicates the use of English in a non-English-speaking region. Study can occur either in the student's home country, as part of the normal school curriculum or otherwise, or, for the more privileged minority, in an anglophone country which they visit as a sort of educational tourist, particularly before or after graduating from university. TEFL is the teaching of English as a foreign language; note that this sort of instruction can take place in any country, English-speaking or not. Typically, EFL is learned either to pass exams as a necessary part of one's education, or for career progression while working for an organisation or business with an international focus. EFL may be part of the state school curriculum in countries where English has no special status (as is the case in most of the European Union); it may also be supplemented by lessons paid for privately. Teachers of EFL generally assume that students are literate in their mother tongue.

It seems EFL is the proper term in Korea.

[spyro25]

never quote from wiki - i could have written that entry (i didnt though )