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second language vs a second language

Both 'second language' and 'a second language' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Second language' is used when referring to the concept of a language learned after the native language, while 'a second language' is used when specifying that someone knows more than one language.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 667 views

second language

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a language learned after the native language.

This phrase is used to describe a language that is learned after the native language. It is a common term in the field of language learning and education.

Examples:

English is often taught as a second language in many countries.
She speaks Spanish as a second language.
Learning a second language can be challenging but rewarding.
French is considered a second language in Canada.
Many people around the world speak English as a second language.

Show examples from the web [+]

A person's second language or L2, is a language that is not the native language of the speaker, but that is used in the locale of that person. In contrast, a foreign ...
Second-language acquisition, second-language learning, or L2 (language 2) acquisition, is the process by which people learn a second language.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016. Cite This Source. British Dictionary definitions for second language. Expand ...
second language. n. 1. (Linguistics) a language other than the mother tongue that a person or community uses for public communication, esp in trade, higher ...

Alternatives:

foreign language
additional language
target language
acquired language
non-native language

a second language

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when specifying that someone knows more than one language.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone knows more than one language. It is often used in contexts where the focus is on the individual's language abilities.

Examples:

She speaks English as a second language and French as a third language.
Learning a second language can open up new opportunities.
Being bilingual means knowing a second language fluently.
He is proficient in English as a second language.
Many professionals are required to know a second language for their work.

Show examples from the web [+]

More informally, a second language can be said to be any language learned in addition to one's native language, especially in context of second language ...
English as a second language (ESL) is often used for non-native English speakers learning English in a country where English is commonly spoken. English as ...
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast. ESL Podcast Blog. Tue, 01 Mar 2016. Super (Crazy) Tuesday. This year's election of the next president of ...
Acquiring English as a Second Language. What's "Normal," What's Not. [en Español]. By the 2030s, say demographers, English language learners (ELLs) will ...

Alternatives:

an additional language
another language
a supplementary language
a secondary language
a new language

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