GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The paper focuses on influence of gender and academic abilities in learning of foreign languages. The effects of gender and scholastic ability on vocabulary retention and reading comprehension in a foreign language have been determined. Research on gender differences is a disputable issue. The substantial studies on the scientific problem have been analyzed. The authors investigate gender differences in the attitudes and performance of male and female students of various ability levels while dealing with a foreign language task. The article describes gender differences that are important and informative. Though, the issue of gender differences is not distinctive there is a marked differentiation between males and females of high ability adolescent learners. The reasons for the disparity can be the differences in socialization or in learning preferences and styles. The article outlines the factors that have been proposed to account for the imbalance between males and females academically talented learners. The differences in motivation among boys and girls of different ability levels and the differential effect of motivation on individuals who belong to the gender groups are important in deciding the types of activities that would most benefit all students.