ESL Acronyms

ELA - English Language Acquisition

ELL - English Language Learner

ELL is used to describe students who are learning English in K-12 and sometimes in adult education.

ELT - English Language Teaching

EFL - English as a Foreign Language

EFL usually describes students, classes, materials, and instructors in situations where one of the primary languages of the country is not English. EFL does not generally fit the context of the United States.

ESL - English as a Second Language 

ESL can refer to materials, teaching, students, or instructors. However, English is not necessarily the second language many students are learning. They may speak two, three, or more languages already. ESL is the most commonly used acronym in adult education.

ESOL - English to Speakers of Other Languages

Some prefer to use ESOL in place of ESL because it is more reflective of our students. Note, however, that ESOL refers to higher-level courses (above the adult education level) in some situations.

NMAEA - New Mexico Adult Education Association

This is the state professional organization for all of adult education, including ESL.

NMTESOL - New Mexico Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

This is the state professional organization for ESL and ESOL instructors, including K-12, adult education, and higher education.

SLA - Second Language Acquisition

SLA is the term often used in research about the field.

TESOL - Teaching/Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

TESOL is also the international professional organization for EFL/ESL/ESOL educators.