GENDER DIFFERENCES EFFECTS ON THE EFL LEARNERS SPEAKING SKILLS

Abstract

Gender is a socially and a culturally acquired category affecting the individual’s behaviours as well as his way of thinking. The gender differences are clearly experienced, especially in the classroom setting, since male and female learners co exist in the same setting and share the same learning tasks and instructions. This differentiation may affect the input provided by the teacher and the output produced by the learners. The present research, then, attempts to investigate the effect of these gender disparities on learning. More particularly, it aims at studying the effects of gender on group work tasks in speaking sessions wherein the exploratory talk is followed. In other words, it explores if the existing gender differences are aligned with the principles of the exploratory talk, and thus, points out which group arrangement is more appropriate to enhance the Algerian students’ group interactional performances and outcomes in general as well as the frequency and the quality of their contributions in particular