Which term is the standard abbreviation for English for Speakers of Other Languages?

• A. ESOL
• B. ESP
• C. ELF
• D. EIL

Answer: (A)

ESOL is the standard abbreviation used to refer to English for Speakers of Other Languages. This label is widely adopted in education policy and program catalogs, especially in the UK and other countries, to describe English language courses and curricula for learners whose first language isn’t English. The other terms point to different ideas: English for Specific Purposes focuses on language tailored to particular fields like business or healthcare; English as a Lingua Franca refers to English used as a common means of communication among people with different native languages; English as an International Language is a broader concept about English used globally. Among these, ESOL is the established umbrella term for the field of teaching English to non-native speakers.