The Gender Advantage In The Vocabulary Memory Of Lexical Chunk Learning Of Foreign Language

Vocabulary is an important part of language, which is one of the three elements of language. Memorizing a large size of vocabulary is an essential part of the whole process of language learning. Previous studies have shown that lexical chunking learning and teaching enjoy a great advantage of memory integration. Chunking teaching has gradually become a hot topic in L2 learning and teaching, and has become a trend of practice of classroom English teaching in China. According to the relevant studies there is a gender difference in L2 learning efficiency, typically in vocabulary memorization, with females much better than that of males.. As it is proved that most important mechanism for the advantage of lexical chunk learning and teaching is its facilitation of learners' memory efficiency. Then it would be reasonable to assume that lexical chunk will be more favorable for the individuals who have less ability of memory. In another word, in terms of gender male students may benefit more in the teaching of lexical chunk. The present study tried to probe into the question whether male students achieved more than female students in middle schools in different dimensions of memory (short-term and long-term memory). The result partially prove our hypothesis showing that in the prompt test (that reflects short-term memory) had no gender different, and in the delay test (that reflects long-term memory) did have gender difference but female students were significantly better than male students. The result indicated that chunk effect may have facilitated the vocabulary memory of the male students with in a limit of time. But.it benefits female students more in a long run.