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We hope for this to be a comprehensive list of terms and acronyms related to English language
teaching. We've included organizations, publishers, teaching terms and job titles. If we've missed any,
please let us know.
Macmillan
has an excellent, extensive glossary of ELT-related words and expressions.
A - D | E - L | M - Z | Japanese ELT-related Words
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MELTA
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Malaysian English Language Teaching Association; Web site)
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MLAT
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Modern Language Aptitude Test (developed at Harvard University and published by the
Psychological Corporation; Web site)
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MLU
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Mean Length of Utterance (Means of calculating the linguistic activity or proficiency of
young children; in short, the number of words spoken divided by the number of times they speak)
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NA
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Natural Approach (stresses simplified conversation and visual or physical cues
to make English input comprehensible)
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NATESOL
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Northern Association of Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (UK;
Web site)
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NCTE
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National Council of Teachers of English (US; Web site)
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NLP
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Neurolinguistic Programming (based around the idea of the mind map, which helps
the student to express in English their inner virtual world)
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NNS
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Non-native Speaker
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NS
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Native Speaker
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ODA
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Overseas Development Agency
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OHP
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Overhead projector
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OUP
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Oxford University Press (OUP Japan web site)
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PGCE
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Post Graduate Certificate in Education (for teaching in UK state sector;
Web site)
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PPP
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Presentation, Practice, Production (Presenting new language; Practicing the
language with controlled exercises; Producing the language with free exercises)
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RP
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Received Pronunciation (the accent of English which is considered a mark of
an educated speaker; sometimes referred to as Standard English or BBC English)
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RSA
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The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (Web site)
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SAIP
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Special Alternative Instructional Program (a form of immersion education in which
students are taught primarily through sheltered English techniques, with the native language
used as little as possible; does not promote the development of bilingual skills)
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SIG
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Special Interest Group
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SL
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Second Language (in this case, English)
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SLA
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Second Language Acquisition
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STEP
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The Society for Testing of English Proficiency (test also known as Eiken;
Web site)
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STT
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Student talking time
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SW
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Silent Way (a teaching approach where the teacher is as silent as possible and students 'discover'
language for themselves)
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TBE
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Transitional Bilingual Education (teaching students in their native language and
phasing in English instruction)
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TEAL
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Teaching of English as an Additional Language (Canada; Web site)
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TEFL
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Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (mostly UK; Web site)
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TENAR
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Teaching English for No Apparent Reason (one of several facetious expressions used to describe a learning
situation where the purpose is, at best, vague; this includes language courses that apparently exist merely to
allow students to meet university graduation requirements; common in Japan)
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TENOP
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Teaching English for No Obvious Purpose (see TENAR)
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TENOR
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Teaching English for No Obvious Reason (see TENAR)
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TESL
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Teaching of English as a Second Language (mostly US)
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TESOL
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Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (Web site)
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TL
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Target Language
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TOEFL
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Test of English as a Foreign Language (commonly used to gauge English ability for university entrance;
Web site)
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TOEIC
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Test of English for International Communication (commonly used in Japan to test proficiency in English for
business purposes; a minimum TOEIC score is increasingly being used as a job requirement;
Web site)
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TPR
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Total Physical Response (ususally used with children to get them to
respond physically to learned language)
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TSE
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Test of Spoken English
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TT
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Team Teaching
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TTT
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Teacher Talking Time (for giving motivation, instructions and exposure
to the new language)
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TWE
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Test of Written English
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UCLES
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University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (Web site)
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UG
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Universal Grammar
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USIA
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United States Information Agency (Web site)
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VSO
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Voluntary Service Overseas (UK web site;
Canada web site)
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A - D | E - L | M - Z | Japanese ELT-related Words
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