TUTORIAL TASK (30SEPT) – NUR FARRA ANIESYA BINTI ZOHARIZAN

1.      Read the article attached and explain why is working memory important in second

language acquisition of young learners?

The learning ability of a foreign language suggests that when studying a second

language, people will somehow appear to be present. It is recognised abroad that one of

the reasons for predicting the individual differences in the outcomes of language learning

is the learning ability of a foreign language. Working memory has a great influences on

many aspects of language learning and it is also important in the concept of cognitive

psychology. The aspects of language learning including vocabulary acquisition,

language understanding, language performance, reading comprehension and so on. So

it is regarded as an important element of learning ability of a foreign language. Working

memory is generally understood as a limited-capacity processing and storage system

that is necessary for carrying out a wide range of tasks (Baddeley, 2003). It is important

in second language acquisition of young learners because learners with small working

memory capacity fail in many different activities on many occasions. They will struggle in

order to achieve normal rates of learning and will make poor general academic progress.

Losing crucial information from working memory will cause them to forget many things.

Learners with small working memory capacities will struggle in these activities, simply

because they are unable to hold in mind sufficient information to allow them to complete

the task. Working memory is also important to many learning activities in the classroom,

because learners often have to hold information in mind while engaged in an effortful

activity.