The use of gender-neutral pronouncing English during teaching of international students

Key words: gender-neutral pronouns, English language, teachers, equality, international students.

Анотація

Питання використання гендерно-нейтральних займенників в англійській мові під час навчання іноземних студентів

Людмила Макєєва,

асистент

Тетяна Громоковська,

кандидат медичних наук,

асистент

Олена Попазова,

асистент

Олена Мурзіна,

кандидат педагогічних наук,

доцент

Олена Алієва,

кандидат біологічних наук,

доцент

Олена Потоцька,

кандидат біологічних наук,

доцент

Запорізький державний медичний університет,

Важливе значення в педагогіці має використання мови, а особливо звертань учителів до студентів, адже вони працюють з великою кількістю людей та від них залежить, яке відношення один до одного буде в подальшому, вони подають приклад та створюють сприятливу атмосферу в групі. У подальшому студенти відтворюють це також у повсякденному житті та в міжособистісних стосунках. Тож у 21 сторіччі почали більше звертати на це увагу та бути толерантними, взаємно ввічливими, цінувати особистий простір та вибір сексуальної орієнтації й статі. Дослідження проводилося шляхом анонімного анкетування 300 іноземних студентів (в основному з Індії, Нігерії, Марокко та Замбії) 1 та 2 курсу Запорізького державного медичного університету, які навчаються англійською мовою, та 15 викладачів того ж університету (з різних кафедр), які викладають англійською мовою. За результатами дослідження виявилось, що викладачі мають низький рівень обізнаності про гендерно-нейтральні знаменники в англійській мові. Причиною може бути те, що англійська мова для них не рідна і не є їх основним предметом та об'єктом підвищеного інтересу. Також викладачі мають сталі чоловічі чи жіночі ролі, будучи психологічно та соціально зрілими. Більшість студентів навпаки не тільки обізнані про гендерно-нейтральні займенники, а й вже готові їх використовувати на заняттях та в повсякденному житті. Також більшість студентів згодні з твердженням, що викладачі відіграють важливу роль у розповсюдженні гендерно-нейтральної мови. Як висновки, запропоновано організовувати курси для викладачів та розробити методичні рекомендації, переглянути матеріали до занять задля використання гендерно-недетермінованої мови. Крім того, слід заохочувати вчителів не лише використовувати гендерно-нейтральну мову, а й надихати на це учнів, наприклад, починати вступне заняття на курсі зі знайомства з вказанням займенника, який відображає їх гендерний статус та запитувати студентів про їх імена та займенники, за якими вони б хотіли щоб до них звертались.

Ключові слова: гендерно-нейтральні займенники, англійська мова, викладачі, рівність, іноземні студенти.

Main part

Introduction. Language is a powerful tool in today's reality. In fact, words can solve a wide range of problems if people are able to speak correctly, express their thoughts, point of view and position. But this is a twoway process: while one expresses his/her/zir/zirs thoughts, the other must listen, pay attention, hear what the interlocutor says. Many problems in the world could be avoided if all these conditions were met in practice. When a child is born, it is brought up, told and explained, it becomes a person. But first there is the effect of copying: it concerns habits, pronunciation, words, style. All parents become educators and teachers for their children. Improper behavior can be harmful in the future: improper treatment, oppression or vice versa, such as dislike, focus on things, human characteristics. Everyday language can be both a product and a driver of societal changes. Personal pronouns and honorifics are the words that most directly allow us to define who we are and how we wish to be regarded in the world [4].

Teachers are leaders of personal characteristics, knowledge, skills, abilities, etc. They skillfully juggle the process; they are addressed in a difficult moment. Most often, students leave their homes, parents and families when they come to the university, so if they need help, they turn to their mentors, whom they see every day. This person comes to the institution not yet formed and the elders help in this. It is generally accepted that the senior - and therefore wiser, but in practice not always, but still more experienced, have already experienced many similar moments and may already have mistaken to learn from.

It is especially important for teachers to use it correctly in regard to students, because they work with a large number of people and it depends on them what attitude they will have in the future, they set an example and create a favorable atmosphere in the group. Later, students reproduce this in everyday life and in interpersonal relationships [2]. So, in the 21st century, they began to pay more attention to this and be tolerant, mutually compliant with each other, appreciate personal space and choice. Students from all over the world come to Zaporizhzhia State Medical University. However, most students come from India, Nigeria, Morocco, and Zambia where English is not their mother tongue, which sometimes worsens comprehension. International students spend most of their time at the university, because their family is far away and everything is unfamiliar, they came to study, so they attend classes or go to the library to prepare for couples or there are various interest groups that have been introduced, and all this time. students copy and reproduce the language of the locals. In practical classes, most of the classes is taught by the teacher, who explains the material and is the conductor of student interaction, discussions, etc. Teachers help to adapt to the culture, climate and peculiarities of the new country. This is observed in the first years of education.

At the age of 17-18 the first relationships, love, personality formation take place. At this time, the first relationship appears, and the question arises - is the choice of a partner of sympathy. At first, he may be frightened that he likes the same sex, then there is acceptance of himself, and then an attempt to convey it to others. First, parents will be responsible for this, then the school and friends. The key role in this issue is given to the teacher, he can help in relations with parents, in conversation and explanation, the formation of a person in group relations. But society is already beginning to treat people better who choose the same sex that they are, but this has not always been the case, decades ago it was treated negatively. This was shown through the attitude of the people, the prohibition of relations and total oppression, rejection of the situation as a whole. In fact, the fact that a person likes the same sex or different ages, other features, there is nothing wrong with that, as long as a person knows how to express emotions, be human, not to be abusive to others, not to express toxicity. Share the good and the whole world will answer you as well.

In addition, it is impossible not to take into account the peculiarities of their culture, it is generally believed that one sex is superior to another, and among themselves, they may degrade the other sex. They have different religious and mental habits, where often the opinion of some is not taken into account at all, women can be educated only to be a more desirable wife, but not to become a better professional and the like, there are cases where after graduation a student never will work in the specialty. This has been the case for a long time until today, but now people have become more experienced to change something and do a better «tomorrow» for our future. Our country is freer in its visions and habits, clothing and other expressions of themselves as individuals. Therefore, it is very helpful to address in a gender-equal language, there is no special attitude or infringement of the rights of the teacher [3]. But later, other participants began to behave differently with others. It helps everyone to feel comfortable and create a favorable atmosphere in the audience. Therefore students began to prepare even better for these classes. In the classroom, they reproduced the habits and manners of the teacher's language and were tolerant of each other, listening and complementing. And later they did all this without a teacher.

Another equally important reason is which pronoun a person considers himself and how he/she/ze feels [5]. Pronouns are defined as a word that, when used by itself, refer either to a participant within a conversation, or to someone mentioned elsewhere in a conversation. A person's pronouns may, or may not, align with their gender presentation [8]. In many countries, it is forbidden to even think about something that starts to break personality, he can not understand which pronoun and with the help of all legal prohibitions loses his identity. Recently, in Western countries, children have been treated in an average way, until she identifies herself as an individual.

In the Ukrainian language there is a polite address in the plural, which can help, because it is neutral and does not identify gender, but distinguishes different relationships in society, such as how close the relationship, in English one address «you», which does not distinguish the degree of communication. between people. It is considered impolite to talk to a stranger or in a business relationship somehow not on «you» (Ви). «You» as «ти» is used only for family and friends. When translating or initially in the language, students do not know this feature. But then, it can help build a student-teacher-student relationship. However, other words are more focused on gender. This causes inconvenience in still undeveloped individuals, the age of students is usually 17-18 years, when the end of adolescence, the formation of sexual characteristics, which will be unusual at first, there are changes in appearance, human development in society and eventually human development, I am like a person. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention, help in the formation of a person, not to separate gender and to treat all people with respect. Every wrong word used at a young age can impress and change further perceptions, harm or help in the future, but in any case, all our actions are reflected in the future. It is better to reflect good deeds.

Pronouns in English (unlike in many European languages, as well as Urkainian) differentiate gender only in the third-person singular, «he» and «she» and their attendant cases: him, his, her, and hers. However English language, as one of the most dynamically developing languages, undergoes significant changes, which are influenced by cultural and social changes. Therefore, in many western societies, the phenomena of gender fair language have been drawing more and more attention. The question of singular they is widely used as an epicene pronoun in present-day English to refer to a gender-neutral third-person generic entity, such as everyone, someone, a child, a student, or every teacher. Consequently, they have been officially accepted as an epicene pronoun in the manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Modern Language Association (MLA) handbook, and the Chicago Manual of Style. This is due to the fact that it can accommodate all people and writers can use it without worrying about the gender of the referent entity. As far as gender-neutral language is concerned in English, a problem arises with respect to the pronoun that refers to a non-gendered third - person entity that is singular in form but generic in meaning. A number of novel forms of gender neutral personal pronouns have been proposed. Each has problems, which have deterred widespread use. They seem hard to learn, hard to pronounce consistently, feel awkward, violate grammar rules (e.g., use of they as a singular pronoun), and do not resemble standard pronouns sufficiently; none have been accepted by any influential group or have been used consistently [6]. The following table presents the list of neopronouns widely used.

Table 1. Widespread English gender-neutral pronouns

There English gender-neutral pronouns are third person singular pronouns to refer to either males or females, or to both males and females, and more recently, to refer to transgender or gender nonconforming persons as well.

People say, «treat others as you would like to be treated». This applies to all human actions and relationships. So, let's set an example for each other, not judge others' choices, and be polite. The boomerang effect is sure to return. So, let's share the right words, listening to each other, so that all good things come back to you.

Materials and methods. The research was performed by offering an anonymous questionnaire to 300 students of 1^st and 2^nd course of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University who study in English (students come mainly from India, Nigeria, Morocco, Zambia). 58% of respondents were males, and 42% - females. Another questionnaire was offered to 15 teachers who teach in English at the same university (from department of Histology, Cytology, Embryology, department of Medical Biology, Parasitology and Genetics, and department of Medical Physics, Biophysics and Further Mathematics). A survey questionnaire was used where the respondents were asked to rate pointed statements from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The first question was designed to evaluate acknowledgment of pronouns which were introduced by the LGBT community and are already used in English language. Further statements of the questionnaire sought to gain insights of the respondents' attitudes towards the use of new pronouns. Data was analyzed using mean% of responses from the questionnaires. It should be noted that questionnaire was first offered to teachers and they attended a mini lecture on gender equality after responding. Only after that, all teachers introduced themselves with pronouns and offered a questionnaire to students.

Table 2. Results of student's responses