In terms of communication language, I almost agree with Khaobadi's logic. But in Canada french and english are both official language. So in the following one, Second language is FRENCH, it means this guy studied in english with second laguage as french perhaps... and he can communicate well in french as well... therefore he writes english as first language while french as second laguage. - http://www.usask.ca/mindfields/db/1/411.html But in this case, a person writes french as working knowledge, meaning he is not expert in french. (working knowledge) - http://www.usask.ca/mindfields/db/4/414.html So, if these both guys go and live in Quebec, then the first guy might write french as first language with second choice as english, since french is predominant there. But the second guy cannot do that. Otherwise, don't write anything like these guys below have done. - http://www.usask.ca/mindfields/db/1/11.html - http://www.usask.ca/mindfields/db/8/208.html Now who cares about hindi, nepalese begali language, they are not even official language. But since Nepalese being not official language yet it's your mother language, it's not appropriate to term it a second laguage... he ba ba... you are not required to say that you have only one first language.... it could be several first languages. Coz Dr karki is damn proficient in Nepali, he can write, read, speak better than english. There is not need to put nepaelse as second laguage for him.. he could have shut off as others did!!!!!