Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or TEFL, as it’s most commonly referred, involves teaching English as a foreign language in countries where English is not the primary language.
It is important to understand that TEFL is different from TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), in that TEFL educators teach English abroad, while English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers educate non-native English Language Learners (ELLs) located within the U.S. However, TEFL educators may find that the acronym TESOL (or versions of it) are often used abroad to describe TEFL.
Typical activities for TEFL teachers include:
- Planning, preparing and delivering lessons
- Providing feedback on oral and written work
- Administering examinations and other assessments
- Creating and writing materials
TEFL does not always require being fluent in another language; however, it is quite typical for foreign employers to request bilingual educators for TESL work. In addition, most educators find that being fluent in another language helps them while living or working abroad.