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Gender Difference in Foreign Language Learning

Gender Difference in Foreign Language Learning

English abstract:Language is human communication tool. Through the words, People not only can exchange emotions, More can transfer civilization.In the process of language learning, Gender difference is a complicated problem, It involves language politics, ideology, by education degree, and many other factors. In order to make clear English learning and gender relations, Domestic and foreign scholars have been done many research. They hope to find in English learning male and female differences, And the effects of it.In order to promote boy, girl students in English learning for common progress, the boys and girls in language learning of gender differences is great significance, This paper, from the comparative analysis of the characteristics of male and female students English study to explore the gender difference on English learning effects, and puts forward relevant countermeasures for reference.

Key Words:Gender differences 、English learning

1. Introduction

In 20th Century, linguists have found that boys and girls learn in English are different. After 60 time,They do many researches in the syntax, phonology and other related field.Then they found one of the important factors gender. Especially when the learners who are in age 10 to 18 try to learn English . Learning English is more difficult than learning the native language,if we just think about the differences of two language , It’s not only having th e limination of their theories,but also not good for the person who come from other countries to learn them. They are young,their sense、attentions、memories、logic、imagination are not mature,so, it’s necessary for us to know the diffierences between boys an d girls when they are learning English.

2. Difference of boy and girl in English learning

There are great differences exsit between boys and girls when they are learning English.According to the research,the development of girls’ are more earlier than boys’, the mature of the brain is also relatively early.The boys’ right brain s are more developed,because of this, Spatial perception ability and Math skills of boys’ are strong, natural science scores are often higher than girls.However,the ability of left brains of boys’ are less stronger than girls’, boys' language discipline result also relative to lower. The boys tended to abstract thinking, on the knowledge learning process more tend to understand the memory, not too

happy to mechanical memory. In learning methods, most of the boys use the rabbit type learning method,jumping the gun.But most girls use the turtle type learning method. In the study manner,most of boys don’t want to work hard, they just want to be fun.But the girls always can keep clam,learn English by heart. In addition, there are other differences exist in the process of boys and girls learning English.

2.1 the difference of learning attitude

In the process of learning E nglish, the attitude of boys’ and girls’ are different, girls are more positive for learning English than boys,they listen to the teacher carefully in class,finish the homework, try to digest what they learn,and finish your homework after class, try to make sure what they have done is correct, strive to all-round development,so the study results are excellent.on the contrary,Some of the boys are not interested in English learning,they are not moving ahead, just want to pass it,they learn English just for tests and parents and teachers' inspection,even think that learning English is useless,so classroom behavior problems, it also is increasing. The attitude of Learning English is correct or not Is the effect of learning effect is one of important factors. Because attitude decides everything.

On the other hand,there are difference exsit on the interesting for English learning between boys and girls. Large studies show that the interesting of English learn is proportional to the English scores. If students are not interested in learning English,they can't get good grades. Because girls choose English major is rooted in the love of English, therefore, strong study interest make them in English learning more than boys initiative, the persistence and stability, English result also far more than boys. The boys usually more interested in science,A lot of boys are not choosing English majors by themselves,but in science hopeless or to meet the parents of desire, and make the helplessness of the choice. So, after admission, they generally lack of interest for learning English,appear even psychological tired and truancy phenomenon, this shows of girls and boys in interest in English difference is great different.

2.2 the difference of learing strategies

Boys and girls take the different methods to learning English, for example,most of the boys use the rabbit type learning method, when they hit upon a sudden idea,they will actively learn for a while,however,when the interesting of learning English is missing,they will give up, they just want to jump the gun,and often hope that the short-term breakthrough, don't want to remember more, don't take the time to accumulate,however,t he acquisition of language exquisite accumulation and circulation repeatedly the memory training. At the same time in solution most boys could notice partial and the whole relationship, But they pay less attention to the part and details.

The girls are different from boys, they are more carefully, down-to-earth, most of them use the turtle type learning method, they listen to the teacher carefully in class,finish the homework, try to digest what they learn,and finish your homework after class, try to make sure what they have done is correct, strive to all-round development,so the study results are excellent.

2.3 Reasons for the differences

2.3.1 Differences caused by emotional factors

Many researchers believe that the three elements of human existence (physical, mental and emotional, the most important is emotion, is the natural expression of human nature, the same, all the emotional factors are the basis of language learning success. Treated the same emotion different approach may produce opposite results.

2.3.2 Differences in social factors

We believe that the decision to the direction of social development in the power of a thing not only from the characteristics of the thing itself, but also features the development of things from the decision of the social environment, ignoring the environmental factors on the impact of boys and girls learning English, will result in errors Social development of boys and girls gender roles, the concept has a significant difference in English language learning for the girls have higher expectations and higher requirements.

2.3.3 Differences in herd behavior

Herd behavior in boys and girls are great different, girls more likely than boys to imitate and exhibit herd behavior, girls are more susceptible to environmental effects of the atmosphere. Girls are often more inclined to learn English, tend to be more effort to be more pragmatic style of study, tend to the choice of English, it should be said that this is a more positive herd behavior.

2.3.4. Differences in educational factors

Both parents by the offspring of different gender are given different concerns affect their development, families and their parents for the children of different gender impact of learning English, mainly in the atmosphere of the home environment, parental expectations and the impact of family education efforts.

2.3.5 Caused by differences between men and women teaching methods

In our lives far more than female teachers male teachers, female teachers tend to focus and memorize, memory, oral expression and listening training, to the neglect of knowledge, rational thinking, analysis and guidance, this method is appropriate for girls, while male teachers tend to use more extensive form of education for boys, which led to the boys and girls in academic achievement in English learning are quite different.

4. Suggestions for English teaching and learning

In order to improving the efficiency of learning English, Spread English better,we need to do something necessary. As we know, learning is not on one side, it needs teachers and students work together,we need to stimulate the enthusiasm of students to learn English, improve the quality of English teaching,we must attach importance to students' emotional release and emotional expression

Teacheres sh ould making some special tasks to boys,don’t take the same way to boys and girls.take some methods to reduce the anxiety for boy ,a ctivation the interest of boys’ and let them know the achievement of learnning English ,training the initiative of them. Then teacheres should correct the wrong ideas of boys',let them remember more,and creat good

environment for them , for example ,forming some the boy English interesting group to help them.guiding them to know that learnning English should be step by step,and taking time to accumulation.At the same time, teacher should be more patient to boys, give more encourage to boys when they do something wrong ,do not always blame them , instead ,encourage them ,let them improve the interesting of learnning English step by step.

However,the student should try their best to follow the teacheres’ steps. the students should be ready to overcome the difficults. Follow the step of teachers.And do not be afraid of learning English.we need to believe that if we insist do a little everyday,finally we will be successed,the other impertant point is that we need to learn English regular,each day we should know our target,do not lax and lazy,as long as follow the plan ,we can do it well.

5. Conclusion

Gender difference is objective existence,When boys and girls learn English , so many factors exsits between boys and girls.like interesting,attitude,learning methods and so on ,boys often in learning English are falling behind status,However,nomatter teacheres or

students,both of them need to face the gender differences,and foster strengths and circumvent weaknesses, play to their strengths,what they need are down-to-earth effort,if they can do like this, they can promote the boy girl in English learning commom progress.

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