English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language (ESL) is an umbrella term used to define those for whom English is not their native language. For some, the term ESL may be a misnomer, as it may be used to designate those for whom English is in actuality their third, fourth, or fifth language, not necessarily their second. For this reason, there are now several terms used in addition to ESL. Other terms include ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), EAL (English as an Additional Language), and EFL (English as a Foreign Language). ESL speakers are also sometimes called NNS (non-native speakers), which emphasizes the fact that they are not native born to a country speaking the language, or ELL (English Language Learner) and CLD ...