Here are a few points about the male brain’s processing of languages.

  • In general, boys don’t process language across both hemispheres of the brain, as do girls. This means that boys have fewer ways of making sense of language.
  • There is often a significant developmental delay for boys and language. Usually, girls will use language before boys.
  • Boys have better spatial processing capacity. They understand the positions of objects in space better than girls. For this reason, boys often respond to language activities using puzzles and codes (for example, substituting numbers for letters in translation).
  • Testosterone is a neural blocker. When boys are going through the hormonal rollercoaster of puberty, they take longer to learn new skills, particularly language and verbal skills.
  • Boys love realia and trivia. Contests, games and memory activities using realia will appeal to boys.
  • Boys find it hard to multitask. Give boys clear, short instructions, and don’t require them to memorise more than two tasks at a time.
  • Boys are especially poor at listening activities in LOTE. Try to keep listening tasks short. Natural speed may be too much for boys: be prepared for this.
  • Boys respond to diagrams and flow charts. They can easily see patterns in grammar when presented as a table or a reference chart.
  • Boys find it difficult to read your emotions from your facial expressions. A raised eyebrow may not be enough to tell a boy that his behaviour is inappropriate. You will get better results if you speak clearly and firmly in a low, non-threatening voice. Move close to him to give the instruction.
  • Keep instructions simple and routine. Use the same sentence pattern for instructions. For example, use a direct infinitive form for instructions (“Fill in the chart”, “Move your chairs into a circle”, and not “If you move your chairs into a circle, we can do a numbers activity”. This gives too much information and the instruction is not clear.)
  • After lunch, teenagers’ brain patterns are disrupted. They feel the need to rest and sleep, not carry out complex tasks. If you have a lesson directly after lunch, it’s a good idea to dim the lights or draw the curtains if you can, and plan tasks that are quiet and reflective. A novelty light, like an animated fish tank or a lava lamp, will only cost you about twenty dollars. The boys, especially, will probably be lulled into a hypnotic trance, staring at the moving lights. Sometimes, this can be useful when you want them to be calm and quiet.