Get documents about "Cognates & False Cognates
Document Sample
Cognates & False Cognates
An emphasis on academic vocabulary
specific to Social Studies
Magda Martinez
Social Studies Secondary Instruction
English Language Learners
How much do I know?
With a partner or small group:
1. take out the T chart from your baggy
2. categorize the words into cognates or
false cognates
3. glue them onto the T chart
4. share (randomly)
Let Us Check Ourselves!
False Cognates Cognates
Suffrage Independence
Compromise Leader
Casualty Representative
Consent Agriculture
Subjects Congress
Projected % Growth 2007-2040
% of Growth Due to Each Ethnicity in Texas,
1980-1990, 1990-2000, 2000-2007, and 2000-
2040
Source: Census Bureau 2007 Population Estimates;
Texas State Data Center 2008 Population Projections, 0.5 Scenario
Social vs. Academic Language
What is the difference?
Simpler vocabulary Technical-content
Face to Face specific vocabulary
conversations Difficult to read and
Uses gestures understand
Informal Require background
Takes 2 years to knowledge
acquire Takes 5 to 7 years
to acquire
Mr. Right? and Ms. Confused
Mr. Romeo: Ms. Nava, I’d like to see
you in my office. It is not my intention to
embarrass you, but would you like to
see me socially?
Ms. Nava: WHAT? I am a decent
woman and I don’t want you to molest
me!
What are cognates?
English words that look alike and have
the same meaning in Spanish.
40% of all English words have similar
cognates in Spanish.
If English Language Learners learn to
recognize these cognates, bridging the
gap will be more attainable.
Example
The computer is a modern invention.
La computadora es una invencion
moderna.
Examples of Cognates
Family Familia
Center Centro
Gorilla Gorila
Alarm Alarma
Artist Artista
Circle Circulo
What are false cognates?
These are words that look alike but do not
have the same meaning in English and
Spanish.
ELLs directly translate while they are reading
and often misinterpret the true meaning of
what they are reading.
If English Language Learners learn to
recognize these false cognates, bridging the
gap will be more attainable.
Examples of False
Cognates
Suffrage Sufrir
Compromise Compromiso
Fabric Fabrica
Union Union
Carpet Carpeta
Stamp Estampa
How Can We Help?
STATE ASSESSMENTS
Spring/
2006
10th Graders:
State Level
A. 4
B. 4
C. 73
D. 20
LBJ H.S.
A. 8%
B. 7%
C. 48 %
D. 37 %
11th Graders
State Level
F. 66
G. 3
H. 13
I. 19
F. 35 %
G. 4 % LBJ
H.S.
H. 21 %
I. 41 %
10th Graders
State
F. 7
G. 60
H. 11
J. 22
LBJ H.S.
F. 11
G. 52
H. 13
J. 24
Remember:
INSPIRATION SOFTWARE
(Graphic Organizer)
El fiscal es un
relating to hombre muy
financial matters ocupado.
What it means!
False fiscal
Lo que Fis cal Cognate
realmente
significa!
materias El fiscal tiene
financieras mucho poder.
Examples
The fiscal policies of
Public education
the government are
will have a problem
very important.
during this fiscal
This fiscal year the
government will
spend more money.
(armario)
El armario de la
Body of official
cocina esta bonito.
advisors.
What it means! False gabinete
Lo que Cabinet Cognate
realmente
significa!
Grupo de El gabinete es de
consejeros madera.
oficiales.
Examples
The U.S. government
The cabinet supported
has fourteen cabinet
the president.
members.
The president chose
his cabinet
members.
Teaching Tips!
Use pre-reading strategies before you begin to read.
Explain cognates and false cognates to students and
have them identify them while they read.
This can be an oral overview with a pictorial
powerpoint.
Students should hi-lite topics and subtopics
By looking at the pictures, students predict what the
section will be about.
More Tips!
When assigning vocabulary, don’t use the
conventional method of: copy the words and define
them; memorize them for a matching quiz…
INSTEAD: Assign five to ten words; Use the Frayer
Model for each word by assigning students to groups
and allowing students to discuss, use their textbook
or other resources to fill in the Frayer Model.
Place words in a box or jar. Student selects a word
and (acts it out/charade, draws a picture on the board
or mimes it) Class has to guess the word!
Resources
http://www.colorincolorado.org/
NTC’s Dictionary of Spanish False Cognates
(Marcial Prado)
NTC’s Dictionary of Spanish Cognates:
Thematically Organized (Rose Nash)
Census Bureau 2007 Population Estimates;
Texas State Data Center 2008 Population
Projections
We can’t leave them
behind!
