How can cognitive load affect language acquisition?

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort that working memory must handle. When cognitive load is high, learners may find it challenging to process new information, which can impede language acquisition. This happens because language learning involves not just the memorization of vocabulary and grammar rules, but also the ability to understand context, draw inferences, and apply knowledge in real-time conversations.

When cognitive resources are overwhelmed, children or learners may struggle to grasp new concepts or retain information. For example, if a child is tasked with learning new vocabulary while also trying to understand a complex grammatical structure, the cognitive burden may prevent them from effectively internalizing either component. Therefore, understanding and processing language can be significantly hindered under high cognitive load conditions.

This understanding of cognitive load highlights the importance of managing the difficulty and complexity of language tasks, especially for younger learners, to facilitate better language acquisition and comprehension.