Since English-L has just started, in fact there're not any Frequently Asked Questions on the list yet. I mainly collect these FAQ from other groups for your reference. As our discussion goes on, we will be able to write our own FAQ in the near futher.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MAILING LISTS ON ESL?
There are several other lists which focus on ESL/EFL/ESOL.
NETEACH-L is a mailing list concerned with electronic ESL teaching. Subscribe by sending a message (without a signature) to [email protected] the message should read subscribe NETEACH-L Firstname Lastname
TESL-L is a moderated mailing list populated by thousands of
ESL/EFL/ESOL professionals. Subscribe by sending an email to [email protected] with
a blank subject line. In the body of the message, write:
SUBSCRIBE TESL-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME
where firstname is your first name and lastname is your last
name. Use all caps. TESL-L also has a number of sublists, which
can be subscribed to similarly once you've subscribed to TESL-L.
EST-L is a mailing list for teachers of English for Science
and Technology. Subscribe by sending an email message with a
blank subject line to [email protected]
In the body of the messaage write:
SUB EST-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME
where firstname is your first name and lastname is your last name
CTESL-L: An International online fellowship for Christians who
teach ESL.
To subscribe just email to the Mail-Server: [email protected]
Enter in the message area: Subscribe ctesl-l
ESLCC (English as a Second Language at the Community Colleges)
(In spite of its name, which is the same as the address from
which this message is coming, this list is NOT a TESL-L branch).
To subscribe to the eslcc list, send the following command to [email protected]
in the body of e-mail: subscribe eslcc
GLESOL-L
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Educators of English to Speakers of
Other Languages (and their friends) The purpose of this
discussion group is to foster serious dialog and exchange of Gay,
Lesbian and Bisexual issues in the field of Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages. To sign up for GLESOL-L, send an
e-mail to: [email protected]
In the body of the message, type the following:
subscribe glesol-l
***Disclaimer: Participation in this discussion is not to be construed as an indication of a participant's sexual orientation.
LINGUIST
Write to [email protected]
subscribe LINGUIST first-name last-name
Example: Sub LINGUIST Alexander Magnus
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION list.
To subscribe, enter only the following command in the BODY of
your e-mail message:
Sub Mult-Cul real name
This command should be sent to: [email protected]
SLART-L Second Language Acquisition, Research, and Teaching
Send a message to [email protected]
In the body of the message, type: SUB SLART-L first-name
last-name
Example: SUB SLART-L Jeanne d'Arc
LATTICE, the Language and Technology Centre of the National
Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia, for language,
literacy and linguistics specialists, based at the University of
Queenland in Brisbane, Australia, provides a home for several
linguistics-related lists.
To subscribe to the lists, send an email message with a blank
subject line to: [email protected]
The body of the message should read: subscribe [name of list]
There are other newsgroups which discuss the English language. Some of these might be more appropriate to your topic of discussion.
ESL is the popular shortcut term for English as a Second Language. (It is most often pronounced "EE-ES-EL" although some occasionally try to pronunce it as a n acronym, "EE-SUL".) It is normally used when referring to the teaching of English, in an English- speaking country, to people whose native language is one other than English.
EFL (pronounced "EE-FUL" is the short form corresponding to English as a Foreign Language. It is commonly used when referring to the teaching of English, in a non-English-speaking country, to people whose native language is one other than English.
ESOL (pronounced "EE-SOL") is the acronym for English to/for Speakers of Other Languages. Some prefer this term to the traditional ESL and EFL, as it takes into consideration that some learners may already speak a second language, i.e., they may be working on their third, fourth or fifth language.
The two are basically the same, however there are some differences.
EFL programs tend to have one basically homogenous group of students of the same linguistic, and cultural background (although this is not engraved in stone). Classes may be taught using both English and the native language of the students. (then again, they may be English-only, and, in some places, English classes are actually taught virtually entirely in the native language of the students!) The teachers in EFL courses may be non-native-English speakers (with command of the language varying from minimal to excellent), or they may be native speakers of English. They may be foreigners in the country in which they are teaching.
EFL is taught to people in non-English-speaking countries. The students normally study English for work purposes (or at school, or for exams, because they have no choice). Students may be studying English for the purpose of speaking with other non-native speakers. Often EFL students care little about the U.K., the U.S.A., or any other English-speaking country.
ESL programs are likely to have students from a number of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They tend to be taught exclusively in English (the teachers may or may not have any foreign language background), although some teachers working with homogenous groups may rely on L1 explanations.. Teachers tend to be native speakers of English (although this is by no means a hard and fast rule). ESL teachers tend to find themselves obliged to deal with cultural issues, as classes may be comprised of individuals from a number of different cultures, and many students have questions about the new culture in which they find themselves. ESL is studied by people trying to survive in a country new to them. They may often be working-class people whose aims are to deal with everyday language and sometimes with administrative issues. Many may have no previous foreign language learning experience.
Of course, there are other aspects to ESL and EFL and the differences between them. This is just a basic overview.
TEFL ("tee-ful") is an acronym corresponding to Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
TESL ("tee-sul") is an acronym corresponding to Teaching English as a Second Language.
Both are used primarily in relation to programs involved in educating people who would like to teach English to non-English-speakers.
TESOL ("tee-sawl") is an acronym corresponding to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is also the name of the U.S.-based professional organization for ESL/EFL/ESOL professionals.
The TOEFL ("toe-ful"; less commonly, "toy-ful" is a Test of English as a Foreign Language. Its purpose is to measure the English proficiency level of non-native speakers of English. The TOEFL is the examination which most universities in the United States require of prospective foreign students prior to admission. Government agencies and scholarship programs may also require the TOEFL.
The lowest TOEFL score usually accepted by good U.S. universities is 500. While the test can be taken an unlimited number of times, if more than two years have passed since one last took the TOEFL. the scores are no longer valid, and the test must be taken again.
The TOEFL consists of several sections, designed to measure different competencies. Most of these sections are multiple choice:
Information and schedules of TOEFL testing dates and sites can
be obtained by requesting the Bulleting of Information from:
The Cambridge exams are generally considered the standard for EFL exams in Europe. The most important for most students is the First Certificate in English (FCE) which is at approximately upper intermediate level (roughly comparable to a score of 500 on the TOEFL) With this certificate, students can request a pay increase on the job in some countries. at work in some countries
The Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is the exam which most British universities request of foreign students (It is roughly comparable to a score of 600-650 on the TOEFL). Thus it is is the goal of many European students.
The Cambridge series of exams is as follows, going from elementary to advanced:
Both the TOEFL and the Cambridge CPE test listening, reading and writing quite rigorously. (They are challenging even to native speakers). While the CPE also tests spoken English, there is a companion test - the Test of Spoken English (TSE) in the U.S. for testing spoken English. Both exams take 4-5 hours to complete.
British universities accept both the Cambridge exams and TOEFL scores as evidence of language level. U.S. universities generally require satisfactory TOEFL scores. (I don't know whether or not the CPE would be accepted in lieu of the TOEFL by U.S. universities)
One of the weaknesses of the Cambridge examinationsis that they don't expire. Once students have passed the exam, they have the qualification for life, even if they never speak a word of English again. TOEFL scores, on the other hand, become invalid two years after the test has been taken.
Information about tthe Cambridge Examinations of English can be obtained from: