Abstract
The aim of the project "South-Tyrolean pupils and their second language: a linguistic and socio-psychological investigation", which was originated in the collaboration between the EURAC and the University of Trento, is to analyze the second language competence of South-Tyrolean pupils and to contextualize the results of such an investigation by commenting on crucial sociolinguistic and psychosocial aspects that influence it. In this paper some preliminary results of the project's preparatory study, i.e. an interview study as well as focus groups, are presented.