Page 12 - ELG2005 Jul Issue 471

RESEARCH NEWS . NEWS

Be aware language learning Paying attention to bilingual babies

coincides with awareness By Gillian Ragsdale controversy over the so-called
This study adds to the ongoing

Babies in bilingual homes adapt by
‘bilingual advantage’, whereby
switching attention more easily some researchers – but not others J. X. AND D’SOUZA, H.
and more often, according to a – have found bilingual speakers D’SOUZA, D., BRADY, D., HAENSAL,
Eye tracking study shows awareness is the key to language learning study from Anglia Ruskin have improved cognitive skills.
University, UK. One leading theory proposes
Two groups of 51 babies, aged that production of two languages
By Gillian Ragsdale 7-9 months, were exposed to four requires better inhibitory control
ANDRINGA, S. cognitive tests involving looking in order to supress one language
Second language learners need to at moving shapes on a screen while using the other. However,
be consciously aware of their while their eye movements were D’Souza found no support for
learning in order to learn, suggests tracked and recorded. One group better inhibitory control, which is
a study by Sible Andringa at the of babies came from bilingual perhaps unsurprising since the
University of Amsterdam. homes while the others were babies were not producing any
The role of awareness in second monolingual – but all were language. But they did find
language learning has a long and preverbal. increased attention switching,
controversial history. Does Dean D’Souza and colleagues showing that exposure to the two
unconscious, implicit learning found that babies from bilingual languages was enough to promote A relationship was observed in bilingual but not monolingual
precede awareness, or is awareness homes switched their attention cognitive adaptation without infants, between the ability to disengage attention and
necessary for learning? Andringa’s from one picture to another faster actually producing language. number of attentional switches per second of looking time
study sought to answer this and more often than babies from The authors wisely point out
question by analysing the process monolingual homes. This suggests that this is not so much an poorer metacognition in adult Haensal, J. X. and D’Souza, H.
of learning using a method that that babies exposed to more than advantage as a difference that bilingual speakers – or better (2020) Is mere exposure enough?
did not itself trigger awareness. one language adapt by focussing could have both positive and mental health in elderly bilingual The effects of bilingual
Thirty-nine Dutch speakers more on exploring novel stimuli, negative consequences, speakers (see article below). environments on infant cognitive
aged 18-28 were told they were while babies from monolingual depending on the context. Future development R. Soc. open
taking part in a study on the homes focus more on research might explore, for REFERENCE sci.7180191http://doi.org/10.1098/
‘automisation of linguistic Esperanto, and matched the preceded the nouns were used Andringa was not expecting so consolidating familiar stimuli. example, whether this is related to n D’Souza, D., Brady, D., rsos.180191
knowledge’. It may be worth phrase to one of a pair of pictures. then eye tracking data would few of the participants to learn the
noting here that very few Dutch Participants were instructed to show that they could anticipate target language structure, and this
speaking adults are new to “learn the language and try to the correct picture before hearing effectively reduced the sample size How the elderly brain benefits from bilingualism
language learning. Studying become fast in responding.” the noun. For example, ‘gitene’ from 39 to 13, meaning that the
English and at least one other The phrases used contained 18 means near and animate, so when results are not statistically robust.
foreign language, typically nouns with determiners indicating given the choice of a cat or a Nevertheless, the pattern that By Gillian Ragsdale brain tends to decline naturally The aim of the study by Chan The team did not find links
Germany or French, are whether the noun was near or far bicycle (at the same distance) and emerges is distinct, and hopefully with age, leading to a search for et al, was to see whether it matters between this more focussed use of
compulsory at secondary school, from the viewer and whether they hearing ‘tio estas gitene cato’ their a larger study will follow. Sustained use of both languages lifestyle factors that might help to how actively each of the two either language and other
and in 2012 an EU test of language were animate or inanimate. In eyes would go to the cat on As to why so few participants may protect the bilingual elderly protect against this depressing languages are used. To do this, they cognitive functions such as
proficiency found that, on average, order to match the correct picture hearing ‘gitene’ before hearing were able to learn the target from age-related cognitive prospect. Alongside physical recruited 76 Singaporeans aged working memory, suggesting that
Dutch 15-year-olds were B1 or to the phrase, the listener needed ‘cato’. language – it may be just a matter decline, according to a recent activity and education, there is between 60 and 84 years old, different aspects of language use
above in two foreign languages. to have learned the nouns by trial By using eye tracking in this of giving them more time. There study from Singapore on increasing support for bilingualism bilingual in a Chinese dialect and exercise and strengthen different
The study participants listened and error. way, Andringa was able to are also unanswered questions switching language frequently. as a non-medical therapy for the English. The participants were processes.
to phrases such as ‘this is a cat’ in However, if they also learned examine the process of learning in concerning the possible role of The speed and efficiency of the aging brain. quizzed on their use of both With the decline in learning
a novel language derived from how the determiners which real time without interfering with implicit, unconscious learning, languages to find out whether they languages other than English in
the learners’ awareness. the which might be gradual over time, used both equally or tended to use schools and the rise of automated
ANDRINGA, S. participants were asked if they measured. SHUTTERSTOCK the dominant language frequently. a reminder that cradle-to-grave
mainly one, switching back into
translation, studies like these are
After
288
trials,
and if so, how that would be
bilingualism remains a valuable
A crucial question for students
Next, they were given a battery
were aware of the target language
structure, i.e. the determiners for
necessary for learning, how, why
distance and animacy, and if so, and teachers is – if awareness is of tests assessing a range of asset. Additional research
cognitive functions relating, for
identifying how best to use a
during which of 7 sets of trials and when is that awareness example, to working memory, second language to bolster
they had become aware. Of the 39 triggered? Also intriguing is the attention and also inhibition, working memory in the older
participants, only 13 reported variation in how long it took for which has been touted as a brain would be especially
awareness, with times ranging the aware 13 to become aware, bilingual advantage (see story this welcome.
from the 2 to the 7 set of trials. which might reflect individual page).
th
nd
Analysing eye tracking data differences in implicit learning or The researchers found that REFERENCE
showed that for the 13 aware cognitive skills. using both languages equally, with n Chan, C. G. H., Yow, W. Q.
participants, learning coincided less language switching, predicted and Oei, A. 2020. Active
with awareness and did not REFERENCE higher scores on tests associated Bilingualism in Aging: Balanced
precede it. n Andringa, S. (2020). The with attention. This is supported Bilingualism Usage and Less
For the remaining 26 emergence of awareness in by previous research suggesting Frequent Language Switching
participants, who were not uninstructed L2 learning: A visual that there is more cognitive effort Relate to Better Conflict
consciously aware of the target world eye tracking study. Second in the focussed used of one Monitoring and Goal Maintenance
language structure, there was no Language Research. language while supressing the Ability, Journals of Gerontology,
A screenshot of the visual scene with areas of interest eye-tracking evidence of learning https://doi.org/10.1177/02676583 Elderly bilingual Singaporeans that use both languages other language than in frequent Psychological Sciences
superimposed, as shown to subjects at all. 20915502 equally had higher scores on tests associated with attention language switching. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbaa058
12 July 2020 editorial@elgazette.com 13