Working Memory in L2 Speaking: An Overview
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Second language (L2) speaking is a complex, cognitively demanding skill that requires learners to simultaneously access vocabulary, retrieve syntactic structures and maintain f luency during interaction. Individual differences in working memory (WM) — a limited-capacity system for temporary storage and processing of information — appear to critically shape speaking performance. This paper provides an overview of the role of WM in L2 speaking by drawing on key WM models and definitions and reviewing the research examining how individual differences in WM inf luence L2 speaking performance. Finally, practical pedagogical implications are discussed, offering preliminary guidance for English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers to design speaking activities and support L2 learners.
Author: Diego Elisandro Dardon
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7155028268
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