Vocabulary learning is a fundamental aspect in second language acquisition, yet it produces difficulties due to the use of translation as its most common means. An interesting thesis in this field is the connection between words and culture. But what are the actual theories and tools that make this connection worthwhile? How could it be operative for teachers of FLE (French: French as a foreign language) in Sweden?

On the first place, a theoretical framework is established in order to formulate pedagogical propositions. It will examine the connection between vocabulary and culture through a wide array of literature in the field of second language learning. Thus, the intercultural context of language learning offers a relevant platform where notions such as intercomprehension, “lexiculture”, cultural and lexical competences and authentic texts are at play.

Based on this theoretical framework, a practical teaching proposition is elaborated. Exercises, ways to introduce new words or examples of the use of intercomprehension in language learning are thus explored. This proposition is supported by two interviews made in dialogue with two French teachers. Their answers tend to confirm in part the relevancy of the theoretical notions explained earlier such as intercomprehension. However, the connection between vocabulary and culture seems to remain vague in the field of word learning. It seems this assumption is rather a context or a framework that emphasizes the complexity of word acquisition and that offers the ability to develop a certain desire in learning new words.