ArticleAuthors: Nguyễn, Hữu Cầu (2002)
This paper discusses some of the major questions with regard to types of
language competence, the relationship between language 1 (mother tongue) and
language 2 (foreign language) as well as elements of language competence in
relation to culture. The paper stresses the fact that language competence involves
both written and spoken language. In a broad sense, this competence would
translate into speaking, listening, reading, writing and translating skills. Also, it
is important to keep in mind that the acquisition of speaking and writing in a
target language is conditional upon a host of factors apart from socio-cultural
knowledge, hence different teaching & learning methods are called for. 
