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

SuffrageCompromiseCasualtyConsentSubjects

Cognates

IndependenceLeaderRepresentativeAgricultureCongress

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 LanguageWhat is the difference?

Simpler vocabularyFace to Face conversationsUses gesturesInformalTakes 2 years to acquire

Technical-content specific vocabularyDifficult to read and understandRequire background knowledgeTakes 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 FamiliaCenter CentroGorilla GorilaAlarm AlarmaArtist ArtistaCircle 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 SufrirCompromise CompromisoFabric FabricaUnion UnionCarpet CarpetaStamp Estampa

STATE ASSESSMENTS

How Can We Help?

A. 8 %B. 7 %C. 48 %D. 37 %

10th Graders: State LevelA.4B.4C.73D. 20

Spring/2006

LBJ H.S.

F. 35 %G. 4 %H. 21 %I. 41 %

11th GradersState Level

F. 66 G. 3H. 13I. 19

LBJH.S.

10th GradersStateF.7

G.60H.11 J. 22

F. 11G. 52H. 13J. 24

LBJ H.S.

Remember:

INSPIRATION SOFTWARE(Graphic Organizer)

CompromiseFalse

CognateCompromiso

Examples

Great Compromise

3/5 Compromise

Compromise of 1850

What it means!Lo que

realmente significa!

settlement of

differences

un arregloun acuerdo

Why it is a false cognate:1. A compromise avoids war.2. El compromiso evita guerra.

commitment(cita)

obligation(obligacion)

FiscalFalse

Cognatefiscal

Examples

The fiscal policies of the government are

very important.

This fiscal year the government will

spend more money.

Public education will have a problem

during this fiscal

What it means!Lo que

realmente significa!

relating to financial matters

materias financieras

El fiscal tiene mucho poder.

El fiscal es un hombre muy

ocupado.

Cabinet FalseCognate

gabinete

Examples

The U.S. government has fourteen cabinet

members.

The president chose his cabinet members.

The cabinet supported the president.

What it means!Lo que

realmente significa!

Body of official advisors.

Grupo de consejeros oficiales.

El gabinete es de madera.

(armario)El armario de la

cocina esta bonito.

SuffrageFalse

Cognatesufrir

Examples

Women's suffrage

Black suffrage

Suffrage Movement

What it means!Lo que

realmente significa!

the right to vote

la derecha de votar

Why it is a false cognate:1. Suffrage gives people more rights.2. Sufrir les da mas derechos.

to bear(soportar)

suffer(padecer)

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 subtopicsBy 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!