FCIL, which stands for "French as a foreign language," is a term commonly used in the field of language education. There are numerous synonyms that can be used in place of FCIL, including French as a second language, French for non-native speakers, and French for speakers of other languages. These synonyms all refer to the teaching and learning of French as a means of communication for those who did not grow up speaking the language. FCIL programs are designed to help individuals improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in French, and these various synonyms help to encompass the different approaches and goals of language education.