A debt consolidation loan is when you get one big loan to pay off all your other debts, like credit cards or other loans. It's like putting all your debts into one basket. The new loan usually has a lower interest rate, so you pay less. Payments are generally fixed and monthly which makes it easier than keeping up with many payments.
A balance transfer means moving money you owe on one credit card to another credit card. The new card usually lets you pay no interest, or very low interest, for about a year.
You can choose how much money you want to pay back each month, as long as you pay at least the smallest amount the card company asks for.