With increasing internationalization, English is becoming an even more commonly spoken language, and there are two classes meant to teach non-English speakers the English language: ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language).
ESL and EFL are similar: ESL is taught in countries where English is the primary language, but there is a constant flow of non-English speaking immigrants, such as the United States. EFL is taught in countries that do not have English as a primary language, but since English-speaking countries are ripe with career opportunity, learning English has become a requirement in many districts.
Overall, the idea of teaching English in countries where it's not a primary language is picking up in popularity. It is being taught in school and in businesses for corporate sponsors planning on traveling to America, or another country where English is the dominant language. Overall, teaching English to non-native speakers seems like a good idea.
Why? Because English-speaking countries offer a lot of opportunities to all people. Opportunities are offered in both education and workforce in English-speaking countries. English is one of the most common spoken languages throughout the world, and learning English to further educational study is a positive step. ESL and EFL create an easy opportunity to transition into a foreign English-based country with relative ease.
Students who enroll in English language learning classes don’t need any past experience with English; when it comes to ESL, they don’t even need to be fluent in their former country’s primary language. English language learning classes offer a wide opportunity for more than just “survival English.” Both classes allow people with little to no fluency in English to continue their studies after learning the fundamentals, and go on to learn at the college or university level.
There is, however, criticism directed toward these programs, and that criticism stems from the difficulty that students experience when learning English. Pronunciation and grammar use provide struggles for the student. English language rules like “I before E except after C” confuse students, as they are not always true. Arguments toward negative claims, however, have stated that learning a new language requires just as much effort from the student as from the teacher.
Learning enough English to master the language takes time and patience from both teacher and student. However, learning even simple “survival English” such as “hello”, “goodbye”, and how to ask for directions, has multiple advantages. The ability to speak more than one language is a highly coveted skill and will make admissions to future schools, or applications for jobs, stand out more from other students.
The overall adoption of ESL in English based countries for newly immigrated people and EFL in countries where there is no direct need for English will allow students who wish to eventually study, live or start families in English speaking countries allows the individual or family to give themselves a head start. With all the educational benefits many English speaking countries have, and the continued amount of immigration to English speaking countries, the implementation of ESL and EFL will teach people how to speak English fluently so they can expand their educational future.
About the author: Chris Treanor is a junior at Empire High School who enjoys spending time with his family and hanging out with his friends.
