UNRAVELING THE COGNITIVE ADVANTAGES OF BILINGUALS IN ACQUIRING ENGLISH AS A THIRD LANGUAGE: A FOCUS ON LINGUISTIC AND METALINGUISTIC AWARENESS

Abstract

The article delves into the cognitive advantages that bilingual individuals possess when acquiring English as a third language. The introduction highlights the significance of bilingualism in language acquisition, particularly in the context of learning English as an additional language. It emphasizes the relevance of linguistic and metalinguistic awareness in optimizing the language learning process. The article explores the concepts of linguistic awareness and metalinguistic awareness, defining their roles in language comprehension and production. It discusses how bilingual individuals develop heightened linguistic sensitivity and metalinguistic skills, enabling them to navigate the complexities of multilingual communication.

Moreover, the cognitive benefits of bilingualism are examined, showcasing enhancements in executive functions, attention control, and problem-solving abilities. Drawing from studies, the article demonstrates how bilinguals have a cognitive edge compared to monolingual individuals, specifically when acquiring a third language like English. The superiority of bilinguals in learning a third language is further investigated, focusing on how their existing linguistic knowledge can be harnessed to facilitate English acquisition. The transferability of language skills from their first two languages to the third language plays a crucial role in their linguistic development.