What does the acronym TESOL stand for?

The acronym TESOL stands for "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages." This definition accurately encapsulates the primary focus of TESOL, which is to provide English language instruction to individuals whose first language is not English. This field encompasses various methodologies, techniques, and strategies aimed at helping learners acquire English skills for both social and academic purposes.

The other choices, while related to language instruction, do not correctly represent the accepted definition of TESOL or its core mission. For instance, options that reference "secondary official language" or "standardized oral language" diverge from the actual aim of teaching English to non-native speakers. Therefore, the first option is the most precise and widely recognized interpretation of the acronym.