The author opens the topic of adult foreign-language learning for the perspective of adult-education research. Theories and concepts, research, statistics, teaching-learning methods and recommendations are brought together in a detailed overview, in order to encourage new research. The author shows adult-education access to foreign-language learning for adults by using succinct case studies. These include programme analyses, interaction research and biography analysis. Furthermore, she formulates suggestions for research and requirements for future multi-facetted basic research in this area of adult education. An area that is firmly established, yet little analysed, in further education practice.