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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Gender Disparity in Second Language Learning: Reality or Illusion?
Author(s)
Syed Md Golam Faruk; Rajib Saha
Full-Text PDF
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DOI:10.17265/1539-8072/2016.11.005
Affiliation(s)
Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Chittagong, Bangladesh; Chittagong City Corporation Premier College, Chittagong, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
The paper draws a comparison between female and male students’ language learning capabilities in the backdrop of age-old idea that males are better than females in language learning on the one hand, and some recent study findings indicating females’ superiority over males on the other. To this end, 43 female and 80 male higher secondary students’ 468 answer scripts of their regular English exams were collected. For the traditional question pattern, the collected data could measure only “remembering” and “understanding” of the examinees. Therefore, the students were compared only on the basis of these two lowest levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. The participants were of same age, studying at the same level (Grade 11), and were taught by the same teacher. The study finds that if other variables remain the same, there is no essential difference between male and female regarding learning English as a second language.
KEYWORDS
female students, male students, learning English as a second language, Bloom’s taxonomy, Bangladesh
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References
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Burstall, C. (1975). Factors affecting foreign-language learning: A consideration of some relevant research findings. Language Teaching and Linguistic Abstract, 8, 5-125.
Catalán, R. M. J. (2003). Sex differences in L2 vocabulary learning strategies. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 54-77.
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Francis, B. (2000). Boys, girls and achievement: Addressing the classroom issue. London: Routledge.
Gascoigne, C. (2002). The role of gender in L2 interaction: Socialization via L2 materials. Encuentro Revista de investigación e innovación en la clase de idiomas, 13-14, 81-89.
Gass, S., & Varonis, E. (1986). Sex differences in non-native speaker interactions. In R. Day (Ed.), Talking to learn: Conversation in second language acquisition (pp. 327-351). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
Halpern, D. F. (1986). Sex differences in cognitive abilities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Larsen-Freeman, D., & Long. M. H. (2000). An introduction to second language acquisition research. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Liang, X. (2001). The neurolinguistic significance of gender differences to the establishment of optimized SLA strategies. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching, 6.
Lin, L. F. (2011). Gender differences in L2 comprehension and vocabulary learning in the video-based CALL program. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2(2), 295-301. doi:10.4304
Lubbers, J., & Menting, C. (1987). Girls and science education: Selection in classroom interaction. In D. Brouwer and D. de Haan (Eds.), Women’s language, socialization and self-image (pp.114-126). Dordretch: Foris Publications.
Maccoby, E. E., & Jacklin, C. N. (1974). The psychology of sex differences. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Mulac, A., Wieman, J., Widenmann, S., & Gibson, T. (1998). Male/Female language differences and effects in same-sex and mixed-sex dyads: The gender-linked language effect. Communication Monographs, 315-335.
Oxford, R. (1995). Gender differences in language learning styles: What do they mean? In J. M. Reid (Ed.), Learning styles in the ESL/EFL classroom. New York: Heinle and Heinle.
Oxford, R., & Nyikos, M. (1989). Variables affecting choice of language learning strategies by university students. Modern Language Journal, 73, 291-300.
Penelope, J. (1990). Speaking freely: Unlearning the lies of the fathers’ tongues. NY: Pergamon.
Piasecka, L. (2010). Gender differences in L1 and L2 reading. In J. Arabski and A. Wojtaszek (Eds.), Neurolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives on SLA (pp. 145-158). Toronto: Multilingual Matters.
Politzer, R. L. (1983). An exploratory study of self reported language learning behaviors and their relation to achievement. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 6, 54-68.
Powell, R. C. (1979). Sex differences in language learning: A review of the evidence. Audio-Visual Language Journal, 17(1), 19-24.
Powell, R. C., & Batters, J. D. (1985). Pupils perceptions of foreign language learning at 12+: Some gender differences. Educational Studies, 11(1), 12-23.
Powell, R. C., & Littlewood, P. (1983). Why choose French? Boys’ and girls’ attitudes at the option stage. The British Journal of Language Teaching, 21(1), 36-40.
Richard, J. C., & Lesley, T. (2007). Interlanguage language placement test. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
RÚA, P. L. (2006). The sex variable in foreign language learning: An integrative approach. Porta Linguarum, 6, 99-144.
Shenadeh, A. (1999). Gender differences and equal opportunities in the ESL classroom. ELT Journal, 53(4), 256-261.
Spender, D. (1985). Man made language (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Spolsky, B. (1990). Conditions for second language learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tran, T. V. (1988). Gender differences in English language acculturation and learning strategies among Vietnamese adults aged 40 and over in the United States. Gender Roles, 19, 747-758.
Wharton, G. (2000). Language learning strategy use of bilingual foreign language learners in Singapore. Language Learning, 50, 203-243.
Yang, Y. L. (2001). Sex and language proficiency level in color-naming performance: An ESL/EFL perspective. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 238-256
Aries, E. (1967). Interaction patterns and themes of male, female, and mixed groups. Small Group Behavior, 7-18.
Aslan, O. (2009). The role of gender and language learning strategies in learning English (Master’s dissertation). Retrieved from http:// etd.lib.metu.edu.tr /upload/ 12611098/index.pdf
Bacon, S. M. (1992). The relationship between gender, comprehension, processing strategies, cognitive, and affective response in foreign language listening. The Modern Language Journal, 76(2), 160-178.
Burstall, C. (1975). Factors affecting foreign-language learning: A consideration of some relevant research findings. Language Teaching and Linguistic Abstract, 8, 5-125.
Catalán, R. M. J. (2003). Sex differences in L2 vocabulary learning strategies. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 54-77.
Dale, P. (1976). Language development: Structure and function. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Dörnyei, Z., & Clément, R. (2001). Motivational characteristics of learning different target languages: Results of a nationwide survey. In Z. Dörnyei and R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and second language acquisition (pp. 399-432). Hawai’i: Second Language Teaching and Curriculum Center.
Dulay, H., Burt, M., & Krashen, S. (1982). Language two. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Francis, B. (2000). Boys, girls and achievement: Addressing the classroom issue. London: Routledge.
Gascoigne, C. (2002). The role of gender in L2 interaction: Socialization via L2 materials. Encuentro Revista de investigación e innovación en la clase de idiomas, 13-14, 81-89.
Gass, S., & Varonis, E. (1986). Sex differences in non-native speaker interactions. In R. Day (Ed.), Talking to learn: Conversation in second language acquisition (pp. 327-351). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
Halpern, D. F. (1986). Sex differences in cognitive abilities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Holmes, J. (2001). An introduction to sociolinguistics (2nd ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson Education.
Hu, Z. (1989). Linguistics: An introduction. Peking : Peking University Press.
Krashen, S. (1988). Second language acquisition and second language learning. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Larsen-Freeman, D., & Long. M. H. (2000). An introduction to second language acquisition research. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Liang, X. (2001). The neurolinguistic significance of gender differences to the establishment of optimized SLA strategies. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching, 6.
Lin, L. F. (2011). Gender differences in L2 comprehension and vocabulary learning in the video-based CALL program. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2(2), 295-301. doi:10.4304
Lubbers, J., & Menting, C. (1987). Girls and science education: Selection in classroom interaction. In D. Brouwer and D. de Haan (Eds.), Women’s language, socialization and self-image (pp.114-126). Dordretch: Foris Publications.
Maccoby, E. E., & Jacklin, C. N. (1974). The psychology of sex differences. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Mulac, A., Wieman, J., Widenmann, S., & Gibson, T. (1998). Male/Female language differences and effects in same-sex and mixed-sex dyads: The gender-linked language effect. Communication Monographs, 315-335.
Oxford, R. (1995). Gender differences in language learning styles: What do they mean? In J. M. Reid (Ed.), Learning styles in the ESL/EFL classroom. New York: Heinle and Heinle.
Oxford, R., & Nyikos, M. (1989). Variables affecting choice of language learning strategies by university students. Modern Language Journal, 73, 291-300.
Penelope, J. (1990). Speaking freely: Unlearning the lies of the fathers’ tongues. NY: Pergamon.
Piasecka, L. (2010). Gender differences in L1 and L2 reading. In J. Arabski and A. Wojtaszek (Eds.), Neurolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives on SLA (pp. 145-158). Toronto: Multilingual Matters.
Politzer, R. L. (1983). An exploratory study of self reported language learning behaviors and their relation to achievement. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 6, 54-68.
Powell, R. C. (1979). Sex differences in language learning: A review of the evidence. Audio-Visual Language Journal, 17(1), 19-24.
Powell, R. C., & Batters, J. D. (1985). Pupils perceptions of foreign language learning at 12+: Some gender differences. Educational Studies, 11(1), 12-23.
Powell, R. C., & Littlewood, P. (1983). Why choose French? Boys’ and girls’ attitudes at the option stage. The British Journal of Language Teaching, 21(1), 36-40.
Richard, J. C., & Lesley, T. (2007). Interlanguage language placement test. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
RÚA, P. L. (2006). The sex variable in foreign language learning: An integrative approach. Porta Linguarum, 6, 99-144.
Shenadeh, A. (1999). Gender differences and equal opportunities in the ESL classroom. ELT Journal, 53(4), 256-261.
Spender, D. (1985). Man made language (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Spolsky, B. (1990). Conditions for second language learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tran, T. V. (1988). Gender differences in English language acculturation and learning strategies among Vietnamese adults aged 40 and over in the United States. Gender Roles, 19, 747-758.
Wharton, G. (2000). Language learning strategy use of bilingual foreign language learners in Singapore. Language Learning, 50, 203-243.
Yang, Y. L. (2001). Sex and language proficiency level in color-naming performance: An ESL/EFL perspective. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 238-256