Teaching a second language vs. a foreign language
What's the difference and why does it matter?
"I teach French in Australia. Am I a second language teacher or a foreign language teacher? And why does that even matter?"
Someone sent me that question, and it's a fair one. Many of us don't really think about it. But the answer can change what you teach and how you teach it.
It's about context
If you teach a language in a region where it's spoken every day, in the shops, on the news, at work, we call it a second language. If your learners only hear the language in your classroom, and not in daily life outside it, it's a foreign language.
Take someone who moves from the UK to France. As soon as they step outside, they're surrounded by French. What do they need first? Introducing themselves, chatting at the bakery, buying food, filling in forms, applying for a job. They are learning French as a second language.
Now take a French class in Australia. Outside the classroom, learners hear and speak English. French only exists in the lessons. So the classroom has to bring them the culture and the context that daily life can't give them. The learners are learning French as a foreign language.
Same language, completely different learning context.
What does this mean for your teaching?
In a second language classroom, I'd focus strongly on speaking and keep the target language as the language of the class. Your learners need it for real life.
In a foreign language classroom, culture, literature and comparing the target language with the learners' own language often play a bigger role. Learners can't pick those things up outside school.
"The make-up of the group matters too. Foreign language groups are often homogeneous: learners share one mother tongue and culture, so you can compare the two languages directly. Second language groups are usually heterogeneous, with many different languages in one room."
Other terms you'll come across
World language is common in North America. It avoids the word "foreign" and presents the language as something global and worth learning in itself.
Additional language recognises that many learners already speak more than one language, so yours is simply one more.
Heritage language is a language a learner has a personal or family connection to. They may already have a strong feel for its sounds and culture, even with a limited active vocabulary.
"None of these terms is more correct than the others. They developed in different places for different reasons. But knowing them helps you understand what a colleague means when they call themselves a world language teacher, for example."
Three questions to ask yourself
Do you actively help your learners use the target language as the shared language in your classroom?
Do you ever lean on a bridge language? And if so, why?
Do you compare the target language with your learners' own language, or are there too many mother tongues in the room to do that?
Your answers may also explain why your teaching materials sometimes don't feel right for your group. For example, your textbook may be full of everyday situations, like buying bread or asking for directions, while your learners live far away from the place where your language is spoken, and actually need culture and context. Or it may be the other way round.
Did this help you think about what kind of language teacher you are? Then please share it with a colleague who might find it useful too!
Listen to the full episode, Teaching a Second Language vs. a Foreign Language.
Happy teaching!
Peter Schoenaerts