Concept of L2

The second language is the one that is learned by the speaker after his/her native language. Although the concept is named 'second language', it can also include the learning of a third, fourth, or subsequent languages. It differs from a foreign language by its context of usage. While FL is only learned in a teaching environment (schools, universities, etc), L2 is acquired in a natural process, by constant contact with the target language in social and/or family environments. Some examples of L2 acquisition are countries that speak more than one language, the population usually has one first language, and then later acquires a second one that is also widely used by its same society. It can also occur when someone moves to a country that speaks a different language of their own.

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