Students' Perceptions of Class Activities: An Investigation into the Role of Gender and Grade Level

Abstract

This study examined whether differences existed in perceptions of class activities for students of different proficiency level and gender. Pre-intermediate and intermediate students of English on one hand, and upper-intermediate and advanced students of English on the other. To this end, the frequency of students perceived opportunities for interest, challenge, choice, and enjoyment in their classrooms was assessed using the affective instrument which was originally constructed by Gentry and Gable (2001). Results revealed that significant main effects existed for proficiency level of the students and their gender, with no significant interaction of the two variables under investigation. In general, upper-intermediate and advanced learners of English found their classroom activities less interesting and enjoyable and with fewer opportunities for choice, than did pre-intermediate and intermediate students. Moreover, female learners showed that their class activities were more interesting and enjoyable.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s1p19