Gender Difference in Medical College Students’ English Competence

This study looks into gender difference in medical college students’ English competence by comparing their English grades and the TOEIC scores. A total of 90 subjects, 46 sophomore medical (M2) students of English Reading & Writing and 44 first-year students (M1) of Practical English and Advanced Conversation English in 2008 at E University were examined. The students who did excellent presentation, class performance, and coherent writing were praised with English awards. The questionnaires were administered to learn if the awards helped them participate actively and receive better grades. It was further to see if there was gender difference in the number of award winners. The results showed that female students’ English grades were higher than those of male students (fM1=88.25 and 88.75, fM2=87.12; mM1=81.56 and 81.72, mM2=81.89). However, the TOEIC scores revealed different results with male sophomore students’ highest mean score (fM1 TOEIC=724.55, fM2 TOEIC=793.33; mM1 TOEIC=679.00, mM2 TOEIC=827.86). Over twice as many female students were awarded (fM1=58%, fM2=59%) as males (mM1=25%, mM2=24%) in English classes. Female medical students at this particular institution showed better competence in English classes although it did not hold true with the results of the TOEIC showing sophomore females’ lower scores than those of males. Both M1 and M2 female students were better motivated and performed well because of the awards in English classes.