Asserts that language mastery should be judged separately from knowledge, reasoning ability and personality traits. Recognition of and communication of intention are discussed as key factors in language mastery, and the skills of reading, speaking, writing and comprehension are described as independent skills. (RM)

Contradicts a theory that second language learning is necessarily an identical process to native language learning, and cites some of the differences, with relevance to language instruction. (CK)

Second language (L2) learning has much more in common with L1 acquisition than has been traditionally acknowledged. New ideas about the nature of language, how it is learned, and how it is used must be taken into consideration when planning foreign language programs. (Author/CFM)

This article is a very general discussion of foreign language instruction and the nature of foreign language learning. (KM)