English teacher, teacher of English, or both?

Question

I thought one uses "English teacher" for a person who teaches Eng. But I've seen a British woman who wrote that she is a "teacher of Eng.".Perhaps both expressions are correct?Cheers,Sextus

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

"English teacher" Yes, a person who teaches Eng. But, could also refer to a Math. teacher who is English, not French.

"teacher of Eng.".More precisely a person who teaches Eng.

Best wishes, Clive

PS - Thus, for myself, I'm an English teacher but I'm not an English teacher. Sounds like a riddle!

Sextus · Answer

Yes, I know that "English teacher" also means so. who is English. But I asked that because I had usually heard this expression, not the other one, to refer to so. who teaches English.

Sextus

Joey_five · Answer

How about English Language teacher? I think that sounds better!?

Khoff · Answer

I think that in a situation where no ambiguity is possible I would just say "English teacher." If I ask my daughter, "Did your English teacher assign any homework today?" she is not going to respond "I don't have any English teachers - my teachers are all American!" However, if I were talking to or about someone I didn't know, where both interpretations were possible, I would say something like "Does she teach English?" or "Is she an English language teacher?" or perhaps "Is the teacher English?"

If I did use the same phrase, "English teacher" in the two different ways, I would stress it differently. In "Did your English teacher give any homework," the stress is on "English." If, however, I said "English teachers are more strict than American teachers," I would put equal stress on "English" and "teachers."

Since you can't indicate stress in writing, I would be more careful to eliminate the ambiguity by my choice of words in writing than in conversation.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I'd say that my colleagiues and I usually respond to questions about our occupation by saying 'I teach English'.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

I think that an English teacher is a teacher who is an Engish person. But Teacher of English is a person who teaches English. Does anyone agree with me?

Teo · Answer

A teacher of English is one who teaches English.

An English teacher can mean a teacher of English when the stress is on Enlish. If the stress is on teacher, it refers to a teacher who comes from England whatever subject he/she teaches.

English teacher, teacher of English, or both?

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