Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, or TESOL, is the method and practice of teaching the English language to people whose first language is not English. This can be done in English-speaking countries, where individuals may need to learn English to function in their everyday lives, or in non-English-speaking countries, where English is often taught as a second language in schools or for purposes such as business or tourism. TESOL has various techniques and methodologies that are specialized to meet the unique needs of learners, who often come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It often encompasses teaching all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. There are various qualifications that a person can get to teach TESOL, such as a certificate, diploma or masters in TESOL. These programs usually cover both the theoretical aspects of language teaching and practical teaching experience. TESOL is similar to TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), but while TEFL is specifically for teaching English in countries where English is not the main language, and TESL is for teaching English in English-speaking countries, TESOL encompasses both contexts.
