Second Language Speakers (L2 Users) in the United States

In the field of education, the term second language speakers refers to students who speak a language other than a society's dominant language at home and are therefore learners of the dominant language. Second language learners must often overcome significant educational barriers, and, consequently, linguistic diversity in schools is an [Page 1919]important area of research in the field of contemporary education. This entry focuses on the growing number of second language speakers in U.S. schools. In particular, the entry will discuss the demographic characteristics and diversity of second language speaking students, the factors that are likely to affect their language acquisition and school success, and instructional practices that have been shown to be effective in supporting them academically.