Robert supports Claire’s position:
… you need “cognitively undemanding and context embedded” language. For beginning language learners, Cummin’s theories claim we must lighten the cognitive load, as well as their linguistic burden.
This is not just for languages. Various articles and books that I have read on neuropsychology discuss the idea of cognitive load. Since we can consciously attend to only ±7 items at a time, if our conscious memory / cognitive function is occupied with attending to grammatically correct constructions (either interpreting or presenting them), there isn’t a lot left for establishing meaning from this flow of sound or those marks on a page (or for creating them).
I am all for cognitively undemanding and context-embedded language.