This introductory article introduces the field of second language acquisition (SLA) to specialists in French linguistics who are not familiar with it. Its purpose is to present a map of the field which will then enable the reader to better situate the following in depth articles which present focused theoretical and empirical investigations as they apply to French. The first part summarises recent, and sometimes apparently contradictory, research findings. The second part explores the theoretical approaches which have been most influential in recent investigations, outlining where each of these approaches originates, and which aspects of the SLA process it investigates.