A Study Of The Relation Of Gender Differences To English Autonomous Learning With Special Reference To Students Of Sports And Arts & Its Implications For English Teaching Management

Based on a review of the studies of foreign language autonomous learning and of gender differences related to foreign language learning from home and abroad, this research hypothesizes that gender differences should be exhibited in the English autonomous learning of non-English students. Therefore, this research may bring about some theoretical and practical implications for teachers who shall offer their students a hand to improve the efficiency in English autonomous learning, and for students of either gender who need learn from each other. Based on the previous studies in this field, this research investigates the status quo of English autonomous learning of the first-year students of sports and arts from Nanchang Normal School by means of questionnaire and interview, the results of which have been analysed both qualitatively and quantatitively with the statistical tool of SPSS 11.0. The results show that the gender differences have been reflected in the autonomous learning of non-English students in the following aspects: learning goal, learning plan, in-class state, note taking, participation of in-class discussion, search for learning materials, seeking for learning aids, self-monitoring and self-assessment. Furthermore, this thesis, with reference to the analyses of the statistical data on basis of psychology, pedagogy and feminine studies, proposes the following strategies for English teaching management: a) Educators should bear the importance of gender differences of students in mind and manage their classes with view to gender differences when necessary so as to create a harmonious English autonomous learning environment for students of either gender; b) From the perspective of social genders, Educators should have a right view of the socializing process of students' gender roles and avoid stereotyping the roles so that they should get a clear picture of the autonomous learning abilities of students of either gender and that the students should make progress in the English autonomous learning.The possible weaknesses and further studies of this research are found in the last chapter of this thesis.