GENDER AND AFFECTIVE FILTER: A STUDY OF SLA PROFICIENCY AMONG MALES AND FEMALES

Abstract

Gender plays a crucial role in Second Language learning. Men and Women acquire their second language differently. Other factors like motivation, willingness, emotions, etc. also affect SLA learning. The present study tries to investigate how Affective filters (positive or negative emotions) affect SLA proficiency and how men and women acquire the second language, and whether or not the level of proficiency is the same between both genders. To conduct this study, the researcher used a mixed-method approach. The researcher constructed a questionnaire and an Oral Proficiency Test (OPT) to find a relationship between performance and emotions in men and women. For data collection, the researcher selected 20 participants of which 10 were males and the other 10 were females. After conducting their surveys and tests, the researcher applied Krashen’s (1982) Affective filter hypotheses on males and females respectively. The researcher tried to analyze the data in four sections: motivation, anxiety, confidence, and attitude. The researcher found that affective filters affected the oral proficiency of males and females in SLA differently. Affective filters caused more hindrance in females' proficiency as compared to males. Through this study, the researcher can conclude that gender and Affective filters are deeply connected. Men are more proficient in a second language and have better performance as compared to women.