Vive la Différence? Reflections on Sex Differences in Use of Language Learning Strategies

ABSTRACT Sex has been omitted as a variable in most research on language learning strategies. This is a serious omission, given that sex is typically a significant predictor in other educational, psychological, and linguistic research. This article reports on the few studies which have explored sex differences in the use of language learning strategies. The authors of this article speculate why females appear to use afar wider range of language learning strategies than do males, and why social strategies — which contribute strongly to the development of communicative competence — seem to be more popular among women than men. Research implications of the few available findings on sex differences in strategy use are presented.