TITLE: THE ROLE OF ENGLISH ENVIRONMENT IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES: A COGNITIVE AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE

This paper explores the influence of an English-rich environment on the process of learning other foreign languages. While English is often the target language in second language acquisition, this study examines how immersion in an English-speaking environment can both facilitate and hinder the acquisition of additional foreign languages. Drawing on theories from cognitive linguistics, sociocultural theory, and empirical data, the study demonstrates that English functions as both a cognitive scaffold and a sociolinguistic bridge in multilingual contexts. However, excessive reliance on English can also create interference and inhibit the full acquisition of target languages. The paper concludes with recommendations for educators and policymakers on how to balance English use within foreign language education frameworks.