Socio-psychological factors in second language acquisition : the case of North African speakers of L2 French

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research has made great strides in learning more about the L2 user. Much is known about the biological nature of second language learning; however, less emphasis has been placed on socio-psychological aspects, such as identity and attitude. Ignoring these factors leaves the profile of the L2 user incomplete, at best. The purpose of this thesis is to review current methodology in Second Language Acquisition research and to argue for its refinement, by including socio-psychological measures and qualitative data. Utilizing such methodology, a study on the phonology of North African speakers of L2 French will be proposed, along with three possible outcomes. Finally, implications for the field of SLA will be discussed.