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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
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Cognates & False Cognates An emphasis on academic vocabulary specific to Social Studies Magda Martinez Social Studies Secondary Instruction
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 Independence Leader Representative Agriculture Congress • Suffrage • Compromise • Casualty • Consent • Subjects
% 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
Simpler vocabulary Face to Face conversations Uses gestures Informal Takes 2 years to acquire Technical-content specific vocabulary Difficult to read and understand Require background knowledge Takes 5 to 7 years to acquire Social vs. Academic LanguageWhat is the difference?
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 • 4 • 4 • 73 • D. 20 LBJ H.S. • 8 % • 7 % • 48 % • D. 37 %
11th Graders State Level F. 66 G. 3 H. 13 I. 19 • 35 % • 4 % • 21 % • I. 41 % LBJ H.S.
10th Graders • State • 7 • 60 • 11 • J. 22 LBJ H.S. • 11 • 52 • 13 • J. 24
INSPIRATION SOFTWARE (Graphic Organizer)
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