Eye-Tracking Dataset Reveals Cognitive Costs in L2 Idiom Processing

So, there's this article about a new eye-tracking dataset that helps us understand how people learning a second language, like English, deal with idioms. Native speakers get the figurative meanings right away, but learners often take things too literally at first, which can trip them up. The dataset gathers eye movement data from Portuguese speakers at all levels, from A1 to C2. Even though they used basic equipment, they found it was good enough to pick up key reading moments, like when someone gets stuck or goes back to re-read. Early results show that the dataset is valid, revealing that lower language skills are linked to more regressions. This work is part of the MIA project, which aims to improve our understanding of how L2 learners grasp figurative language.