What are the main differences between EFL and ESOL?

There are two main differences which separate ESL and EFL. Firstly, English as a Second Language is much more immersive than its counterpart, as you experience a greater level of exposure with more opportunities to communicate and apply what you have learned to a whole range of situations. This is much less limited than EFL, where the majority of learning will happen in a classroom.

The other main difference is the cultural aspect of their study. Whilst somebody learning English as a foreign language might be able to hold a conversation well, the intricacies of social situations and language uses will be hard to teach. People in an ESL environment are constantly immersed in the language and will get to apply what they have learned to real life situations, whereas someone learning English in their own country might not even get access to a native speaker. Teaching in classrooms doesn’t fully compensate for the real life experiences of someone learning English as a second language.