How Confirmation Bias Hinders Language Acquisition

Let me tell you a little about confirmation bias: confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms or strengthens our existing beliefs or values, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them. This means we actively seek out, interpret, and recall information in a way that reinforces our pre-existing views.

But what does it have to do with language learning? Something that I witness a lot, mainly when teaching adults, is how our brains both aid and hinder language learning. One such obstacle is the ever-present confirmation bias. This cognitive, let’s say, idiosyncrasy, compels us to favor information that reinforces our existing beliefs and at the same time filters out anything contradictory. When it comes to  language acquisition, this bias can become a huge obstacle for adult learners.

Imagine, for example, being introduced to a new grammar rule in English. Confirmation bias might make you become attached – laughs - to the first example you understand, thus ignoring the exceptions that often go with grammatical structures. This selective focus can lead to a mistaken application of the rule, thus hindering your ability to use it accurately in diverse contexts.

Let me give you an example, using the adored Present Perfect, which is usually a nightmare for Brazilian students.  The student may, for example, focus only on instances where the action began in the past and continues to the present, overlooking others uses, for example, the  use of the present perfect to denote a completed action with an unspecified past time (e.g., "I've eaten breakfast"). This biased perception can lead to errors like "I have finished the project yesterday."

I will provide some hints on how to “fight” this bias, making it clear they are not exhaustive.

You should, for example, embrace the challenge, meaning you must acknowledge the confirmation bias is there and try to seek out situations that expose you to the complexities of the language. Also, you can diversify your learning resources, by not relying on materials that resonate with your understanding.

Indeed, your teacher/mentor is your most reliable source of ideas and techniques to fight against this bias. Seeking feedback from your teacher/mentor can help you identify the areas where your confirmation bias may be causing you to be lead astray.  By challenging your bias with the help of a more capable person, it is possible to create a more open and receptive learning environment. Language acquisition is a process of continuous refinement. Being open to the possibility that your initial understanding might be incomplete is a great way to cater for deeper and more nuanced knowledge.

• Mackey, Annette. Error correction in language teaching: Reactions, effects, and alternative approaches. Language Learning, vol. 46, no. 3, 1996, pp. 331-364
• Nickerson, Rebecca S. Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises. Review of general psychology, vol. 2, no. 2 (1998), pp. 175-225.
• Willingham, Daniel T. Why Don't Students Like School?: A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Brain Learns. John Wiley & Sons, 2010.