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      Are women better than men at learning languages?
      Submitted by albertrayan on 24 November, 2009 - 09:05

      Dear teachers of English and other languages,

      I have been teaching English at the tertiary level since 1994.  For about 15 years I have taught General English and ESP courses in India and abroad. Currently, I teach Engineering English and Communication Skills at an engineering college in Chennai, India.

      I have always found that female students are better than male students at learning languages.  Almost every year my students debate the issue. Most students do not agree with my statement that women are better than men at learning languages.  They say that language is not specific to any one gender and language proficiency of a person depends on their interest and exposure to a particular language.  Yet, some students believe that women are good at languages.  Some of the reasons given by the students are:

      1. Women love chatting.
      2. Women read a lot.
      3. Women do the work (language homework) assigned to them.
      4. Women are result-oriented.
      5. Women are more imaginative than men

      I would like to know how teachers of English across the globe react to the statement "Women learn languages better than men"

      I look forward to reading your comments.

      Albert P'Rayan

       

       

       

      Average: 5 (2 votes)

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      ma_literature's picture
      ma_literature
      please guide me too!
      Submitted on 23 December, 2009 - 11:58

      Respected Sir,

      I read a number of your blogs and i must say i am really impressed by your earnestness in guiding people to build the right approach in teaching English language. I am also a scholar in English literature but my task is to teach English Language to the students in a business school. Can you suggest me some good books including your own to enhance my teaching skills.

      Thank you.

      SusanArgiri's picture
      SusanArgiri
      Women learn languages better than men
      Submitted on 5 June, 2010 - 16:30

      Now this is a touchy subject!  From personal experience girls are more likely to concentrate and do homework than boys, but a lot depends on the parents.  I believe the problem stems from there, and how diligent the parents are with the child.  Perhaps parents allow their sons to get away with more than they let the girls get away with!

      Once a boy reaches the age of highschool, and has a much clearer idea of who he wants to be, I believe the odds even out and there is no difference whatsoever.