The many permutations of spoken English have called for an interrogation into the notions of 'standard English' and 'native accents'. Despite their problematic nature, these terms remain commonly used, and familiarity with 'standard', inner-circle varieties of English is typical among L2 English speakers, differences in education and language…

Because of a lack of preparation, student visits to France are likely to be unproductive in acquiring competence in spoken French. Non-linguistic factors are important here: the student should build up a circle of acquaintances to learn more quickly the differences between spoken and written French. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A "system" comprising the learner-speaker, the specific linguistic system itself, and the interactions with native speakers is posited to explain the dynamics of the acquisition of French as a second language. Through self-regulation, this system devises solutions which pertain to that common area in language at the crossroads of…