If only you would help me a bit, I would be grateful. :)

Hi Sublime-elation This is indeed a good question (one which often puzzeles me ) . It seems I really need to make efforts though I don't like that field at all But it's good, that way we're all learning together

Here is a wonderful explanation I found on the net, and i'm sure you will understand it and it will make this clear for you (since even I could understand it )
The second language acquisition would be the acquisition of the language that follows the maternal language ( 1st language),regardless from the place of birth or the current residence. If you are a Chinese born in England, English would be your second language acquired. If you are British born in India, learning Hindu would be your acquisition of a second language.


Your second language is that one where you use more cognitive skills like reasoning ,perception to learn it than your 1st mother tongue,that you start to learn very early. At that stage your acquisition is more dependent on intuition and implicit subconscious acquirement. At a later stage at school you will be developing more and more cognitive skills in improving both your 1st and 2nd language, but your maternal language will usually be better because of the initial acquisition at a very
early stage.
This is one of the possible definitions of the 2nd language acquisition. Accordingly a second language is also a foreign language, but marked by an early childhood learning process due to residence in the country speaking the language for example.

Every foreign language is not a second language though. The foreign language could be defined as the language one didn't learn at home at early stages, where its acquisition depends more on developing cognitive skills than merely on early childhood intuitive acquisition such as taking language courses, learning a new language as an adult etc. I hope
this definition helps you distinguish between the 2 terms

Hi again Here are also some books (but have a deep look at the explanation I posted above because I really think it a fine one)

Second Language Acquisition - Foreign Language Learning



LINK:
http://ifile.it/qpah1l/__Second_Language_Acquisition__Foreign_Language_Learning.l_29x2j5to3x68x44.pdf

Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course, 3rd edition



LINK:
http://ifile.it/56bln1/__Second_Language_Acquisition__An_Introductory_Course__3rd_edition.l_29x2j5to3x68x44.pdf

Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition



LINK:
http://ifile.it/jck7fn/__Principles_and_Practice_in_Second_Language_Acquisition__Language_Teaching_Methodology_.l_29x2j5to3x68x44.pdf

The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition




LINK:
http://ifile.it/slfywi/__The_Handbook_of_Second_Language_Acquisition__Blackwell_Handbooks_in_Linguistics_.l_29x2j5to3x68x44.pdf

I never had the chance to thank you Sassy. I'm so overwhelmed with studies. Thank you so much, you are simply great. If you need anything please do ask me Rabbi ykhallik

you're welcome dear, no problem God bless you I saw your post about ESP, I don't know if I can help you, i'm was an EST teacher (and grammar teacher) during the previous semester but I had just few sessions of EST -English for sciences and technology) (so I don't know I can be of some help

Actually, we haven't done much on ESP (a bit of development, types of ESP, genre analysis and the like) I just wanted to know to what extent is ESP needed in Algeria and is it a must in some cases? By the way you are always here for us, this is so kind of you thank you very much. Respects

Thank you so much indeed for you kind words Sublime_elation I'll always be here as long as there is anything I can do.

As for your research, I think you've done most of it by the time so you just need to draw some analogies between the work you've done and its importance in Algeria. I believe you should just put some emphasis on the fact that the English language is really needed these days and in all fields (medicine, biology, electronic and electrical engineering ......etc and SO MANY others). You just have to look at the huge number of English schools opening their doors for all practitioners of all fields to realize that there is such a great need and long to learn English.

I realized this myself when I finished my studies and entered 'the world of work', some professors of biology and some of electronics i've met seemed to give great attention to the language and very willing to learn. I can give you endless examples I'v noticed in daily life.

Don't be afraid of referring to such examples that anyone can notice in our society since you're doing a personal work and most of all something close to you, your experience (your country)

Kind regards