This study tested the equivalence classification hypothesis, which claims that in learning a second/foreign language ‘new’ sounds are more easily mastered than ‘similar’ ones. Participants included 49 speakers of St Lucian French Creole (SLFC) and St Lucian English Creole (SLEC), all secondary school students studying French as a foreign language, and a control group of 11 Martiniquan French speakers.

This article is concerned with the viability of current educational provision in the overseas French departement of Martinique. It contains a critical examination of the French educational system and its implementation overseas. It seeks to illuminate in this context the relationship between educational provision, culturally meaningful learning, and socio-economic participation.