What is a synonym for ‘L1’ in language education?

In the context of language education, 'L1' refers to a person's first language or mother tongue. A synonym for 'L1' is therefore 'native language,' which describes the language that a person has been exposed to from early childhood and is typically used for everyday communication. Understanding the concept of 'L1' is fundamental in language education, especially when discussing the relationship between a learner's first language and additional languages they may be studying (often referred to as L2). Recognizing the significance of a learner's native language can have implications for instructional strategies and learning outcomes in multilingual settings.

While 'secondary language,' 'foreign language,' and 'acquired language' all relate to language learning, they do not accurately capture the essence of what 'L1' stands for in this context. A secondary language generally refers to any language learned after the first, a foreign language is often a language that is not widely spoken in a person's immediate environment, and an acquired language typically implies a language learned in a more informal or natural setting rather than through formal education. Each of these terms highlights a different aspect of language use and acquisition that is distinct from the concept of a native language.