THE ROLE OF WORKING MEMORY IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AMONG BILINGUAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

This study investigates the critical role of working memory in language development among bilingual undergraduate students. Bilingualism, defined as the ability to fluently speak and understand two languages, presents unique cognitive demands, particularly in managing working memory capacity. Using quantitative research methods, this study investigates the relationships between digit span tasks (forward and backward), verbal skill levels, and comprehension abilities. The results reveal significant associations between working memory performance and language outcomes. Higher working memory capacity, as measured by digit span tasks, correlates with improved verbal and comprehension skills. These findings underscore the importance of cognitive resources in bilingual education and highlight the potential benefits of memory enhancement interventions. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts of working memory development on bilingual proficiency to inform targeted educational strategies.