Teach English in Zhouliang Jiedao [Zhouliang ZhuAng Zhen] - Tianjin

Teaching ESL vs EFLEnglish is an important language throughout the world, thus teachers are needed worldwide to try and help others learn the language. There are two ways in which this is done: through ESL and EFL. ESL refers to english as a Second Language and is mostly used to teach english in a multilingual classroom (Krieger, 2005). In this setting the students are mostly all of different background and speak different languages. They are not in their native country. EFL on the other hand refers to english as a Foreign Language. This is mainly monolingual and the students who are in the classroom speak the same native language and are in their home country. Even though there are only small differences in the physical atmosphere, the two types of teaching require different teaching methods. There are certain aspects of the students? behaviours in these two groups that require a different approach to teaching the same language. These aspects include but are not limited to the students? motivation, the use of their native language in the class, getting them to speak english and how to limit the use of their native language while in class. For students who are learning english in a foreign country, whose main language is english, their motivation to get a good understanding of the language will be greater. This is because they are faced with language challenges on a daily basis both in the classroom and outside of it. They chose to move to an english country in order to learn the language so they are not going to waste their time in the classroom and doodle as oppose to listen to the teacher. For students in EFL classes, their motivation may be less because they are taking the course because it may be a curriculum requirement or their parents made them sign up for it. It is important in EFL classes that activities are never the same and that students interests are always met. This ensures that they stay focused on the lesson at hand and hopefully retain some of the information they have learned. Use of the students? native language in ESL classrooms is very unlikely. This is due to the fact that there are many students in the classroom, all of whom speak a different language. This is beneficial to the english learning experience because the students are forced to try out their english on one another. In EFL classrooms on the other hand, the native language may be spoken more often than not because it is what the students are familiar with and they have limited opportunity to practice it outside of the classroom. Also with EFL courses there are often many students,therefore it is hard for the teacher to focus on one student at a time, and with so many students it is hard to control what language they are speaking. It really all comes down to the motivation of the students. Why are they there? For EFL students it is simple, they made the conscious decision to want to learn english and went directly to the source, an english speaking country. ESL students on the other hand may be a little less motivated because they do not have to speak english outside of the classroom. Students in EFL courses are most likely there because english is part of the school?s curriculum or because it is potentially an easy grade (Lee, 2007). From what I?ve read it seems that ESL students have a harder time grasping english because they are not able to use english regularly outside of the classroom, whereas EFL students have to use it outside of the classroom to do the simplest tasks. It is also important for the english teacher to make pronunciation and conversation a large part of the lesson plans. Anyone can memorize grammar but can they accurately speak it? In order for anyone to learn a new language or skill they must practice it often, but the best way to learn any language is to immerse yourself in that culture. From my Personal Experience growing up in Germany, I was forced to learn a second language both in school and outside the home, whereas I spoke english in the home. Being able to step into a Culture makes all the difference in retaining a new language and having the positive motivation to keep it up. It is much easier to learn something if it is around you all the time as opposed to a few hours a day. References Krieger, D. (2005). Teaching ESL Versus EFL: Principles and Practices. english Teaching Forum , 43 (2). Lee, R. (2007, 01 30). ESL versus EFL. Retrieved 07 05, 2011, from TEFL Courses: http://www.teflonline.net/articles/complete_articles.php?index=521&category=46