Vol. 2 No. Special Issue (2025): Teaching Young Language Learners
Articles

Bilingualism, Cognitive Flexibility, and Educational Outcomes in Young Learners: Exploring the Benefits of Early Language Acquisition

Amy Sepioł
University of National Education Commission, Krakow, Poland

Published 2025-01-28

Keywords

  • Early Bilingualism,
  • Cognitive Flexibility,
  • Cognitive Control,
  • Bilingual Education,
  • Educational Implications

How to Cite

Sepioł, A. (2025). Bilingualism, Cognitive Flexibility, and Educational Outcomes in Young Learners: Exploring the Benefits of Early Language Acquisition. Journal of Language and Culture in Education, 2(Special Issue), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.5281/e1zjht25

Abstract

This paper presents a literature review that explores the cognitive benefits associated with early bilingualism and its educational implications. It addresses three principal research questions: (1) How does early bilingualism affect cognitive flexibility in young learners? (2) What cognitive advantages do bilingual children exhibit compared to their monolingual peers in tasks requiring cognitive control? (3) What are the educational implications of promoting bilingualism in early childhood education? The findings suggest that early bilingualism enhances cognitive flexibility and attentional control, with bilingual children generally outperforming monolingual peers in tasks involving inhibitory control and task switching. However, these cognitive advantages do not apply consistently across all domains; notably, no significant bilingual advantage was identified in working memory. The review emphasizes the importance of additive bilingual programs in early childhood education. Such programs foster bilingualism and biliteracy without diminishing native language proficiency. It is crucial that educational policies support bilingualism, both within formal schooling and at home, to maximize cognitive and academic outcomes for bilingual learners. In summary, the findings highlight the significance of promoting bilingualism in early childhood education, underscoring its role in preparing children for success in an increasingly multilingual world.

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