English Teaching Abbreviations Explained

You might be a bit confused by all the English teaching abbreviations that are used in the profession. Here is a list of the most common English teaching abbreviations that are used in the profession with an emphasis on ESL/EFL teaching. ELT: English Language TeachingESL: English as a Second LanguageEFL: English as a Foreign Language The main difference between these is that ESL is English taught to foreign-language speakers living in an English speaking country like the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, etc. English as a foreign language, on the other hand, is taught to those wishing to learn English for their study, work, or hobby needs, but who live in countries where English is not the primary language. Teaching Abbreviations to Know Here are some more important abbreviations related to teaching, teaching certificates, and English exams: A-C AAAL: American Association for Applied LinguisticsACTFL: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign LanguagesAE: American EnglishBAAL: British Association of Applied LinguisticsBC: British CouncilBEC: Business English Certificate, the Cambridge business English exam certificateBrE: British EnglishBVT: Bilingual Vocational TrainingCAE: Certificate in Advanced English, the fourth Cambridge Exam, the standard in English examination throughout the world outside of the U.S., where the TOEFL is preferredCALI: Computer-Assisted Language InstructionCALL: Computer-Assisted Language LearningCanE: Canadian EnglishCAT: Computer Adaptive TestingCBT: Computer-Based TeachingCEELT: Cambridge Examination in English for Language Teachers, which tests the English competency of non-native English teachersCEIBT: Certificate in English for International Business and Trade for advanced levelsCPE: Certificate of Proficiency in English, the fifth and most advanced of Cambridges series of exams, roughly comp arable to a score of 600 to 650 on the TOEFLCELTA: Certificate in English language teaching to adults, the Cambridge/RSA Teaching Certificate also known as C-TEFLA D-G DELTA: Diploma in English language teaching in the Cambridge/RSA Language Teaching SchemeEAP: English for Academic PurposesECCE: Exam for the Certificate of Competency in English at low levels at Michigan UniversityECPE: Exam for the Certificate of Proficiency in English at the higher level at Michigan UniversityEGP: English for general purposesEIP: English as an International LanguageELICOS: English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students, Australian government registered centers teaching English to overseas studentsESOL: English for Speakers of Other LanguagesESP: English for Specific Purposes (business, tourism, etc.)ETS: Educational Testing ServiceFCE: First Certificate in English, the third of Cambridges series of exams, which is comparable to a score of 500 on the TOEFL and 5.7 on the IELTSGMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test, which measures general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skillsGPA: Grade Point AverageGRE: Graduate Record Examination, an evalu ation test for graduate admission to colleges and universities in the U.S. I-N IATEFL: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign LanguageIPA: International Phonetic AssociationK12: Kindergarten through 12th gradeKET: Key English Test, the most elementary of Cambridges series of examsL1: Language 1 or native languageL2: Language 2 or the language you are learningLEP: Limited English ProficientLL: Language LearningMT: Mother TongueMTELP: Michigan Test of English Language ProficiencyNATECLA: National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults (UK)NATESOL: National Association of Teachers of English for Speakers of Other LanguagesNCTE: National Council of Teachers of EnglishNLP: Neurolinguistic ProgrammingNNEST: Non-Native English Speaking TeacherNNL: Non-Native Language O-Y OE: Old EnglishOED: Oxford English DictionaryPET: Preliminary English Test, the second of Cambridges series of examsRP: Received Pronunciation, the standard British pronunciationRSA/Cambridge C-TEFLA: Certificate of Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults, a professional qualification for prospective EFL teachersRSA/Cambridge D-TEFLA: Diploma of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, the advanced qualification for EFL teachers who have already completed the C-TEFLASAE: Standard American EnglishSAT: Scholastic Assessment (Aptitude) Test, a pre-university entrance exam in the USATEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign LanguageTEFLA: Teaching English as a Foreign Language to AdultsTEIL: Teaching English as an International LanguageTESL: Teaching English as a Second LanguageTESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesTOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language, the most common English proficiency exam for North American universities and colleges, also accepted by some Br itish universities and employers as proof of English proficiencyTOEIC: Test of English for International Communication, pronounced toe ickVE: Vocational EnglishVESL: Vocational English as a Second LanguageYLE: Young Learners English Tests, the Cambridge Examinations for young learners