Even international language expert, teacher, and writer Peter Viney (himself a male of the species) confirmed men’s inferiority when it comes to learning languages. He said in his Gender and language teaching article:
“Anyone who’s taught languages to mixed groups will agree that … well, how can you put this … women are better language learners? It’s easier to teach languages to women? Women are less resistant to the ego shock of finding themselves in a beginner situation? There are fewer discipline problems?”
International Men’s Day on 19th November is designed to champion and uplift mankind. But we thought it would be fun to take a light-hearted look at why men might not be as naturally gifted at learning languages as women.
Chaps, don’t take it personally. It’s all in good fun!
Different Strokes for Different Genders
Men and women take totally different routes when it comes to learning languages.
Women are integrative, throwing themselves headfirst into the culture, the people, and the vibe of it all, besides the language itself.
Conversely, men tend to be more focused on practical, get-to-the-point methods. For example, they’ll learn just enough Spanish to order a cerveza.
The Chatter Factor
It’s no secret women often excel in verbal skills. Well, guess what? That’s the basis of learning languages right there! Females rule when it comes to expressing themselves. And they thrive by getting to grips with vocab, grammar, pronunciation – often all at once.
But the guys? Men stick to just the bare necessities, enough to get by, not necessarily enough to flourish.
Blame It On The Brain (Sort Of)
This is where it gets interesting. Both men and women have the same brain structure. But women use both hemispheres of the brain when talking, while men often just use one.
As a result of engaging both sides, learning languages is a more creative and immersive experience for women, while men’s brains tend to stick with visual and auditory cues.
At la Academia, we’re celebrating all those qualities that make men who they are – kindness, strength, and yes, the effort they put into mastering that tricky French r sound! Get in touch to explore our classes and 1:1 tuition options today!