In:Approaches and Methods in French Second Language Acquisition Research:
Edited by Martin Howard
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 9] 2025
► pp. 308–333
Chapter 13Child L2 acquisition of French
A review with a focus on research areas and methodology
Published online: 3 March 2025
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.9.13gra
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.9.13gra
Abstract
This paper reviews research on child L2 French (cL2) published since 2000 with a focus on research
areas and methodology in a broad sense. The aim of the review is to identify methodological trends in the research, to
exemplify, and to provide a discussion of prominent features. The review shows that research on cL2 French has mainly
focused on the acquisition of morphosyntax based on oral production data. There are few longitudinal studies while
experimental research focusing on comprehension and online processing is largely lacking. Despite being a world
language, the number of different settings and L1s in cL2 French research is limited. Following trends in bilingualism
research, methods for studying exposure and input have developed from an initial reliance on the Length of Exposure
measure to more sensitive measures of relative exposure, but there are still few studies presenting any absolute
measures of input. In recent years, a focus on the use and development of standardized tests for clinical purposes is
noticeable. The review also shows that reporting practices concerning ethical considerations need to become more
consistent in the future.
Keywords: French, child L2 acquisition, methodology, study designs
Article outline
- Introduction
- Why child L2 acquisition?
- Procedures and research questions guiding the review
- Step 1.Identifying the questions guiding the review
- Step 2.Searching for the literature
- Step 3.Selecting studies: Additional inclusion criteria
- Results of the analysis
- Areas of research
- Study designs
- Types of language data collected
- The use and development of standardized tests
- Study settings and methods for studying exposure and input
- L1s and socio-economic status
- Ethical considerations
- Discussion and future directions
- Conclusion
Acknowledgements Note References
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