English as a Second/Foreign Language

[Rayan]

Hi,

I will be thankful if you could help me to distinguish between : English as a second language and English as a foreign language.

When , and where, do we describe/classify English as a second language or as a foreign language!?

Thanks for reading

[Jamie (K)]

Usually when we refer to English as a foreign language, it means the person learns English in a non-English-speaking country and not for his ordinary, day-to-day language needs.

English as a second language refers to learning English for life in an English-speaking country to meet one's daily language needs.

I speak Czech as a second language, which means I not only can read the newspaper, watch TV, go shopping, etc., but I also know ordinary household language, baby-talk, slang, how to flirt in the language, etc. I know German as a foreign language, so I'm very fluent (but not completely perfect) at reading and writing it -- sometimes even types of texts that most native Germans can't understand -- but I hardly know any German slang, baby-talk, or even how to order a meal at Burger King, and I definitely can't flirt in German. So I can use Czech for all my daily needs, if I want to, but I can't use German for them.

[Rayan]

Hi Jamie,
Thank you for your reply. I really do appreciate it.

So, we can not under any circumstances describe English as a foreign language for those who are currently learning English in the UK.
Is this right!? or there are some exceptions!

In India, for example, i heard that English is considered as a second language although most of people communicate in their native language in the everyday life.
In fact, i could not fine a clear distinction and all definitions still fluid.

I hope you help me to know more about this issue.

Thanks again Jamie

[Torsten]

This distinction between English as a foreign language and English as a second language doesn't make sense because a person living in English speaking country can be surrounded by their native language all day long. Let's a say a 30 year old Chinese immigrant to the US spends most of their time in Chinatown talking to Chinese people watching Chinese TV and reading Chinese newspapers.

If that person started learning English by watching American TV rather then by mingling with Americans would you define this as English as a second or English as a foreign language? What if a Polish person living in Poland got married to an American and both would only speak English with each other, raising their child using English, watching American TV, socializing with other American ex-pats? Would that Pole be learning English as a second or as a foreign language? Where exactly do you draw the line between both? How many slang expressions do you need to know before you can be classified as a 'learner of English as a second language'?

TOEIC listening, photographs: Preparation for a meeting

[Rayan]

Thank you Torsten.
I agree with you.