Skip to main content

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the possible connections between learners’ gender,1 motivation — and motivation types — and attainment in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) lexical availability test. Among the variables affecting foreign language (FL) learning, gender and motivation have received extensive attention within this field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ágreda, M. (2006) Motivation in English as a Compulsory Subject at the End of Primary and Secondary School. Unpublished Master Thesis. University of La Rioja, Department of English Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustín, M. P. (2007) Los errores léxicos como indicadores de la competen- cia escrita y el nivel de vocabulario en la lengua extranjera. Doctoral Thesis. University of La Rioja, Department of English Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustín, M. P. (2009) Gender Differences in Vocabulary Acquisition in the Foreign Language in Primary Education: Evidence from Lexical Errors. Biblioteca de Investigation 54. Logroño: La Rioja University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustín, M. P. and Terrazas, M. (2008a) ‘Gender Differences in Receptive Vocabulary Size in EFL Primary School Learners: A Longitudinal Study’, XXXII AEDEAN Conference, University of Palma de Mallorca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustín, M. P. and Terrazas, M. (2008b) ‘The Receptive Vocabulary Knowledge of Young EFL Learners in Spain from a Longitudinal Perspective’, 41st. Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL), University of Wales.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreou, G., Vlachos, F. and Andreou E. (2005) ‘Affecting factors in Second Language learning’, Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 34, 5, 429–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernaus, M. and Gardner, R. (2008) ‘Teacher motivation strategies, student perceptions, student motivation, and English achievement’, The Modern Language Journal, 92, 3, 387–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowden, H. W., Sanz, C. and Stafford, C. A. (2005) ‘Individual Differences: Age, Sex, Working Memory, and Prior Knowledge’, in Sanz, C. (ed.) Mind and Context in Adult Second Language Acquisition: Methods, Theory, and Practice. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, J. P. (1987) ‘Sex differences in listening vocabulary’, Language Learning, 37, 2, 273–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez, M. (2001) Gender in the Language Classroom. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A. and Trafford, J. (1995) ‘Boys into modern languages: An investigation of the discrepancy in attitudes and performance between boys and girls in modern languages’, Gender and Education, 7, 3, 315–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clément, R., Dörnyei, Z. and Noels, K. (1994) ‘Motivation, self-confidence and group cohesion in the foreign language classroom’, Language Learning, 44, 417–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clément, R. and Kruidenier, B. G. (1983) ‘Orientations in second language acquisition: I. the effects of ethnicity, milieu, and target language on their emergence’, Language Learning, 33, 273–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crookes, G. and Schmidt, R. W. (1991) ‘Motivation reopening the research agenda’, Language Learning, 41, 4, 469–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csizér, K. and Dörnyei, Z. (2005) ‘The internal structure of language learning motivation and its relationship with language choice and learning effort’, Modern Language Journal, 89, 19–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalla, C. and Shors T. J. (2009) ‘Sex differences in learning processes of classical and operant conditioning’, Physiology & Behavior, doi: 10.1016/ j.physbeh.2009.02.035.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, B. (2004) ‘The gender gap in modern languages: A comparison of attitude and performance in year 7 and year 10’, Language Learning Journal, 29, 53–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L. and Ryan, R. M. (1985) Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. New York: Plenum Publishing Co.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Elley, W. (1989) ‘Vocabulary acquisition from listening to stories’, Reading Research Quarterly, 24, 174–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat, Newsrelease (2009) Proportion of Female Physicians, Tertiary Level Academic Staff and Managers Increasing, Release Date: 6 March 2009. Eurostat Press Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, M. W. and Eysenck, M. C. (1980) ‘memory scanning, introversion-extraversion and levels of processing’, Journal of Research into Personality, 13, 305–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franzoi, S. (2000) Social Psychology (2nd edn). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, R. C. (1985) Social Psychology and Second Language Learning. London: Edward Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, R. C., Lalonde, R. N. and Moorcroft, R. (1985) ‘The role of attitudes and motivation in second language learning: Correlational and experimental considerations’, Language Learning, 35, 2, 207–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, R. C. and Lambert, W. E. (1972) Attitudes and Motivation in Second Language Learning. Rowley, MA: Newbury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, R. C. and MacIntyre, P. D. (1991) ‘An instrumental motivation in language study: Who says it isn’t effective?’, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 13, 1, 57–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, R. C., Tremblay, P. F. and Masgoret, A.-M. (1997) ‘Towards a full model of second language learning’, The Modern Language Journal, 81, 3, 344–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, H. W. and Lee, P. A. (1986) ‘A relationship between gonadotropins and visuospatial function’, Neuropsychologia, 24, 563–576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guay, F., Ratelle, C. F. and Chanal, J. (2008) ‘Optimal learning in optimal contexts: The role of self-determination in education’, Canadian Psychology, 49, 233–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern, D. F. (2000) Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartshorne, J. K. and Ullman, M. T. (2006) ‘Why girls say “Holded” more than boys’, Developmental Science, 9, 1, 21–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hausmann, M., Schoofs, D., Rosenthal, H. E. S. and Jordan, K. (2009) ‘Interactive effects of sex hormones and gender stereotypes on cognitive sex differences–A psychobiosocial approach’, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34, 3, 389–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, A. and Apelgren, B. M. (2008) ‘Young learners and multilingualism: A study of learner attitudes before and after the introduction of a second foreign language to the curriculum’, System, 36, 4, 607–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herlitz, A., Airaksinen, E. and Nordstrom, E. (1999) ‘Sex differences in episodic memory: The impact of verbal and visuospatial ability’, Neuropsychology, 13, 590–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández, T. (2006) ‘Integrative motivation as a predictor of success in the intermediate foreign language classroom’, Foreign Language Annals, 39, 4, 605–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S. and Linn, M. C. (1988) ‘Gender differences in verbal abilities: A metaanalysis’, Psychological Bulletin, 104, 1, 53–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) (2008) Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad. Año 2008 http://www.ine.es/prensa/np529.pdf, date accessed 10 March 2007.

  • Jiménez, R. M. and Moreno, S. (2004) ‘L2 word associations and the variable sex: An outline according to an electronic tool’, Proceedings of the XXVII International AEDEAN Conference. Salamanca: Salamanca University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, R. M. and Ojeda, J. (2008) ‘The English vocabulary of girls and boys: Similarities or differences? Evidence from a corpus based study’, in Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Gender and Language Study. Litosseliti, L., Sauton, H., Harrington, K. and Sunderland, J. (eds) London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, R. M. and Ojeda, J. (2010) ‘Girls’ and Boys’ lexical availability in English as a foreign language’, ITL International Journal of Applied Linguistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, R. M. and Terrazas, M. (2005–2008) ‘The receptive vocabulary of English foreign language young learners: Data from Spanish Primary Schools’, Journal of English Studies, 5–6, 173–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. (2008) ‘The role of task-induced involvement and learner proficiency in L2 vocabulary acquisition’, Language Learning, 58, 2, 285–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, D. (1983) ‘Sex differences in cerebral organization for speed and praxic functions’, Canadian Journal of Psychology, 37, 19–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, D. (1999) Sex and Cognition. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss, C. and Nikolov, M. (2005) ‘Preparing, piloting and validating an instrument to measure young learners’ aptitude’, Language Learning, 55: 1, 99–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kissau, S. (2006) ‘Gender differences in motivation to learn French’, Canadian Modern Language Review, 62, 3, 401–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, B. and Whishaw, I. Q. (2001) An Introduction to Brain and Behavior. New York: Worth Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, M., Lovden, M. and Nilsson, L. G. (2003) ‘Sex differences in recollec- tive experience for olfactory and verbal information’, Acta Psychologica, 112, 89–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasagabaster, D. (2003) Trilinguismo en la Ensenanza: Actitudes hacia la Segunda Lengua Minoritaria, la Mayoritaria y la Extranjera. Lleida: Editorial Milenio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laufer, B. and Hulstijn, J. (2001) ‘Incidental vocabulary acquisition in a second language: The construct of task-induced involvement’, Applied Linguistics, 22, 1, 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lightbody P., Siann G., Stocks R. and Walsh D. (1996) ‘Motivation and attribution at secondary school: The role of ethnic group and gender’, Gender and Education, 8, 3, 261–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C. and Petersen, A. C. (1985) ‘Emergence and characterization of gender differences in spatial abilities: A meta-analysis’, Child Development, 56, 1479–1498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López Rúa, P. (2006) ‘The sex variable in foreign language learning: An integra- tive approach’, Porta Linguarum: Revista Internacional de Didáctica de las Lenguas Extranjeras, 6, 99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, J. (1983) ‘Attitudes and expectations: A profile of female and male students of college French, German and Spanish’, The Modern Language Journal, 67, 3, 216–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maitland, S. B., Herlitz, A., Nyberg, L., Backman, L. and Nilsson, L. G. (2004) ‘Selective sex differences in declarative memory’, Memory and Cognition, 32, 1160–1169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masgoret, A. M. and Gardner, R. C. (2003) ‘Attitudes, motivation, and second language learning: A meta-analysis of studies conducted by Gardner and associates’, Language Learning, 53, 1, 167–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mildner, V. (2008) The Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Communication. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, N., Pajares, F. and Heron, C. (2007) ‘Self-efficacy of college intermediate French students: Relation to achievement and motivation’, Language Learning, 57, 3, 417–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mori, S. and Gobel, P. (2006) ‘Motivation and gender in the Japanese EFL classroom’, System: An International Journal of Educational Technology and Applied Linguistics, 34, 2, 194–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noels, K. A. (2001) ‘Learning Spanish as a second language: Learners’ orientations and perceptions of their teachers’ communication style’, Language Learning, 5, 1, 107–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noels, K. A., Pelletier, L. G., Clément, R. and Vallerand, R. J. (2000) ‘Why are you learning a second language? motivational orientations and self-determination theory’, Language Learning, 50, 57–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norton, B. (2000) Identity and Language Learning: Gender, Ethnicity and Educational Change. London: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, B. and Pavlenko, A. (2004) ‘Addressing gender in the ESL/EFL classroom’, TESOL Quarterly, 38, 3, 504–513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda, J. and Jiménez, R. M. (2007) ‘The worlds children’s words build’, Didáctica (Lengua y Literatura), 1, 9, 155–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oller, J. W., Hudson, A. J. and Liu. P. F. (1977) ‘Attitudes and attained proficiency in ESL: A sociolinguistic study of native speakers of Chinese in the United States’, Language Learning, 27, 1–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phakiti, A. (2003) ‘A closer look at gender and strategy use in L2 reading’, Language Learning, 53, 4, 649–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M. and Deci, E. L. (2000) ‘Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being’, American Psychologist, 55, 68–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarcella, R. and Zimmerman, C. (1998) ‘Academic words and gender: ESL student performance on a test of academic lexicon’, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 20, 27–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmenk, B. (2004) ‘Language learning: A feminine domain? The role of stereotyping in constructing gendered learning identities’, TESOL Quarterly, 38, 3, 514–524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spolsky, B. (1989) Conditions for Second Language Learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stumpf, H. (1995) ‘Gender differences in performance on tests of cognitive abilities: Experimental design issues and empirical results’, Learning and Individual Differences, 7, 275–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunderland, J. (2000) ‘Issues of language and gender in second and foreign language education’, Language Teaching, 33, 4, 203–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, S. (2005) ‘Pragmalinguistic awareness: Is it related to motivation and proficiency?’, Applied Linguistics, 26, 1, 90–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, P. and Gardner, R.C. (1995) ‘Expanding the motivation construct in language learning’, Modern Language Journal, 79, 505–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, W. T. and Schmitt, N. (2008) ‘Toward a model of motivated vocabulary learning: A structural equation modelling approach’, Language Learning, 58, 2, 357–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M. T. (2001) ‘The neural basis of lexicon and grammar in first and second language: The declarative/procedural model’, Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 4, 1, 105–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M. T. (2004) ‘Contributions of neural memory circuits to language: The declarative/procedural model’, Cognition, 92, 1–2, 231–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M. T. (2005) ‘A cognitive neuroscience perspective on second language acquisition: The declarative/procedural model’, in Mind and Context in Adult Second Language Acquisition: Methods, Theory, and Practice. Sanz, C. (ed.) Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M. T., Estabrooke, I. V., Steinhauer, K., Brovetto, C., Pancheva, R., Ozawa, K., Mordecai, K. and Maki, P. (2002) ‘Sex differences in the neurocognition of language’, Brain and Language, 83, 141–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M. T., Miranda, R. A. and Travers, M. L. (2008) ‘Sex Differences in the Neurocognition of Language’, in Sex on the Brain: From Genes to Behaviour. Becker, J. B., Berkley, K. J., Geary, N. et al. (eds) New York: Oxford University Press, 291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandergrift, L. (2005) ‘Relationships among motivation orientations, metacog- nitive awareness and proficiency in L2 listening’, Applied Linguistics, 26, 1, 70–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallentin, M. (2009) ‘Putative sex differences in verbal abilities and language cortex: A critical review’, Brain and Language, 108, 3, 175–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, E. M., Kemmler, G., Deisenhammer, E. A., Fleischhacker, W. W. and Delazer, M. (2003) ‘Sex differences in cognitive functions’, Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 4, 863–875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, X. (1997) ‘Motivation and language learning with students of Chinese’, Foreign Language Annals, 30, 2, 235–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wikeley, F. and Stables, A. (1999) ‘Changes in school students’ approaches to subject option choices: A study of pupils in the West of England in 1984 and 1996’, Educational Research, 4, 1, 287–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, B. and Watkins, D. A. (2008) ‘Motivational and cultural correlates of second language acquisition: An investigation of international students in the universities of the people’s republic of china’, Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 31, 2, 17.1–17.22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2010 Almudena Fernández Fontecha

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fontecha, A.F. (2010). Gender and Motivation in EFL Vocabulary Production. In: Catalán, R.M.J. (eds) Gender Perspectives on Vocabulary in Foreign and Second Languages. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230274938_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics