These 16 papers in French and English deal with questions related to the purpose of learning a language, one's native language as well as a second one. Specifically, the presentations deal with the following topics: (1) consideration of learners' needs; (2) the usefulness of learning English in Quebec; (3) the tension between knowledge and competence with regard to a second language; (4) language styles; (5) norms in the teaching of French as a native language; (6) language for special purposes with reference to French as a second language; (7) error analysis and the teaching of second languages; (8) literature in teaching French as a native language; (9) teaching and learning strategies; (10) methods in teaching French as a native language; (11) communication skills; (12) techniques for teaching language skills to native speakers of English; and (13) perspectives for the future. The contributors are: K. Chastain, A. Boudreau, M. Perez, A. Lowe, J. Hamers, G. Bibeau, R. Pelchat, H. Cedergren, L. Van Toch, M. Buteau, A. Mareuil, H. Holec, S. Savignon, Y. Sirois, A. Sharma, and D. Girard. (AMH)