DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v13.i5.4
Aditya Thakur
Independent Researcher
Himachal Pradesh, India
Abstract
In an era of increasing globalization and multicultural interaction, adolescents are frequently exposed to multilingual environments both within educational settings and social contexts. This manuscript examines how exposure to multiple languages influences cognitive load among adolescents, exploring whether the mental effort required for managing and switching between languages affects learning, attention, and working memory. Drawing upon cognitive load theory, bilingualism research, and developmental psychology, the study investigates intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive loads in multilingual settings. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating standardized cognitive assessments, dual-task paradigms, and qualitative interviews, was employed to gauge cognitive load and coping strategies in adolescents aged 12 to 16. Findings indicate that while multilingual adolescents may initially experience elevated extraneous load due to language interference, they also develop enhanced executive control and adaptive strategies that reduce overall cognitive strain. Recommendations for educators include integrating scaffolding techniques and minimizing unnecessary linguistic complexity to support cognitive processing. Implications for educational policy and further research into adaptive cognitive mechanisms are discussed.
Keywords
multilingual environment cognitive load adolescents executive control bilingualism educational strategies
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