Secon language learning in Mauritius

1.1 Second Language Learning

Second language learning is quite a recent field of study in the Maritian context. Second language learning has been defined “as the study (of) the way in which people learn a language other than their mother tongue, inside or outside of a classroom.” (Ellis 1997). However, second language learning in Mauritius starts mostly in a formal setting. In Mauritius, English has no social functions within our community and learning English as a second language is basically for communication outside our own society. Although English is our official language, it plays only an institutional role, and is restricted to the classroom situation.
The objective of studying SLA is to show how an L2 is acquired, but in Mauritius, it will be referred to as “learning”. It is important to highlight the distinction between “acquisition” and learning because in Mauritius, English as an L2 is learned in an educational setting. If we ha...