Gender Differences in Language? An Investigation of Gender-Related Differences in Classroom Conversations

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2003 in the subject Gender Studies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, course: Sociolinguistics, language: English, abstract: Most empirically based studies of gender differences in language usage have suggested that women and men have different sets of norms for interaction. The aim of this investigation is to study some gender-related differences in both single-sex and mixed-sex classroom conversations. The assumption is that knowing the extent to which gender affects L2 learning and teaching may provide EFL teachers with insights that can help them make language learning more effective. Viewed from this perspective, it follows that gender differences may have implications for L2 teaching, learning, and assessment.

Dr. Manar Dahbi holds a Ph.D in Applied Linguistics from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdelah University, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Fez, Morocco. She teaches English for business, English for computer engineering, and translation at the National School of Applied Sciences. She has also an extensive teaching experience as an ESL teacher. Her main fields of interest include: action research, teacher education, professional development, EFL assessment, and gender studies.