Language Language ComparisonComparison

English vs. SpanishEnglish vs. SpanishBy: Elizabeth MooreBy: Elizabeth Moore

Demographic/Demographic/Background Background Information: Information:

Student’s Name: Student’s Name: Jane Jane (name changed for confidentially)(name changed for confidentially)

Native Language: Native Language: SpanishSpanish

Previous Country: Previous Country: Puerto Puerto RicoRico

Arrival Date to USA: Arrival Date to USA: April April 20112011

WIDA Score: WIDA Score: Beginner levelBeginner level

Other Info: Other Info: Has an IEPHas an IEP

Comments & Comments & Difficulties in English: Difficulties in English:

Jane was 3 when she learned Jane was 3 when she learned English. English.

Jane Learned English from Jane Learned English from watching TV shows like watching TV shows like Sponge Bob, Fairy God Sponge Bob, Fairy God

Parents and Drake & Josh.Parents and Drake & Josh.

Jane’s parents only speak a Jane’s parents only speak a little bit of English. Jane is little bit of English. Jane is

teaching them.teaching them.

Jane said, “I understand it Jane said, “I understand it (English) but the problem is (English) but the problem is

reading and writing it.”reading and writing it.”

““My language….the words My language….the words are different…I don’t know are different…I don’t know

how to describe English, Jane how to describe English, Jane stated.stated.

21 most common 21 most common mistakesmistakes from a L2 from a L2

Spanish SpeakerSpanish Speaker1.1. Improper words order in Improper words order in

main clausemain clause

2.2. Improper pronounImproper pronoun

3.3. Adjective used as nounsAdjective used as nouns

4.4. S ending on an adjectiveS ending on an adjective

5.5. Improper agreementImproper agreement

6.6. Omitted s for possessive Omitted s for possessive form of nounform of noun

7.7. Improper word order with Improper word order with adverb modifying verbsadverb modifying verbs

8. Improper formations of irregular 8. Improper formations of irregular possessive pronoun (you for your)possessive pronoun (you for your)

9. No auxiliary with negative and 9. No auxiliary with negative and interrogationinterrogation

10. Use of present and past10. Use of present and past

11. Use of present for present 11. Use of present for present perfect.perfect.

12. Use of past for present12. Use of past for present

13. Improper formation of past 13. Improper formation of past participleparticiple

14. Contractions not fully developed 14. Contractions not fully developed (don for don’t)(don for don’t)

21 most common 21 most common mistakesmistakes from a L2 from a L2 Spanish Speaker Cont.Spanish Speaker Cont.

15. Improper present participle15. Improper present participle

16. Improper subject/verb 16. Improper subject/verb concord of numberconcord of number

17. Subject/verb word order 17. Subject/verb word order reversedreversed

18. Third person subject not 18. Third person subject not statedstated

19. Double Subject19. Double Subject

20. Omitted coordinate 20. Omitted coordinate conjunctionconjunction

21. Omitted preposition21. Omitted preposition

Erro

rs

Erro

rs

mad

em

ad

eB

y Ja

ne:

By Ja

ne:

Spelling Errors Spelling Errors (we did a writing interview(we did a writing interview)) Omission of the wordsOmission of the words

Starts sentences off with conjunctionsStarts sentences off with conjunctions

Placed e in front of st blends Placed e in front of st blends

Verb usage Verb usage

Pronoun errorsPronoun errors

Word orderWord order

Sentence of short and choppySentence of short and choppy

Lack of adjective usagesLack of adjective usages

Actual Errors from Actual Errors from JaneJane

(Prompt: What did you do over the (Prompt: What did you do over the weekend? )weekend? )

What Student did:

What is correct: Error:

Weel what I do is that I go tu the pul whe is hut, Or I go to the besh tu play whit my brother in the warer.

Well, what I do is I go to the pool when it is hot, or I go to the beach to play with my brother in the water.

*Spelling*Insertion of word that*Comma usage

Or a gow tu the par. Also, I go to the park. *Spelling*Article error

Or I play whit my frenths in the neyverjud.

Another thing I do is I play with my friends in neighborhood.

*Spelling*j instead of h*Sentence beginning

Or I estay in my hause and seen TV or see yuotube washin fani videos.

I stay in my house and watch TV, youtube, or family videos.

*Spelling*e in front of st blend*verb usage*comma usage

that is the staf I du in Puerto Rico

That is the stuff I do in Puerto Rico

*Spelling*Capitalization

When in Unada Esteit I don’t now watt u du bikause I em neuw and I don’t have eni Frends in the neverjud.

I don’t know what you do in the United States because I am new and don’t have many friends in the neighborhood.

*Spelling*e in front of the st blend*Word order*Capitalization

Actual Errors from Actual Errors from JaneJane

(Prompt: What are your plans for the (Prompt: What are your plans for the Summer? )Summer? )

What Student did:

What is correct: Error:

I guna du is that my and may frend Caser wi are gona du a slomber party.

I am going to have a slumber party with my friend Caser.

*Spelling*word order*verb usage

And I guna guw tu visit mey and TiTi Luli.

I will go to visit my TiTi Luli (Aunt).

*Spelling*Conjunction usage*Word order

And I gunna go to the muvis.

I am going to go to the movies too.

*Spelling*Conjunction usage

And I guna go to a pul if whe fair wan.

If we find a pool, I am going to go to the pool also.

*Spelling*comma usage*Word order

And I gunna go to this ni werld for my first tam.

Finally, I am going to go to the new world for my first time.

*Spelling*Sentence at the end of the paragraph would make more sense at the beginning of the paragraph

Language Language ComparisonComparison

English vs. SpanishEnglish vs. Spanish

Language Language ComparisonComparison

SpanishSpanish*Nouns – two gender system*Nouns – two gender system

*Verbs conjugated*Verbs conjugated

*Pronouns can be inflected for person, *Pronouns can be inflected for person, number, gender, and casenumber, gender, and case

*Adjectives after the noun*Adjectives after the noun

*Prepositions are used differently*Prepositions are used differently

*All words are almost perfectly *All words are almost perfectly phonemicphonemic

*Letter b and v are indistinguishable*Letter b and v are indistinguishable

*Letter H is silent*Letter H is silent

*Change in speaker is indicated by a -*Change in speaker is indicated by a -

*Letter j does not exist*Letter j does not exist

EnglishEnglish*Nouns –Do not have two gender *Nouns –Do not have two gender

systemsystem

*Verbs not conjugated*Verbs not conjugated

*Pronouns are not inflected*Pronouns are not inflected

*Most adjectives come before the noun*Most adjectives come before the noun

*Prepositions are not as exact*Prepositions are not as exact

*Words are not usually phonemic*Words are not usually phonemic

*Letter b and v are pronounced so you *Letter b and v are pronounced so you can tell them apartcan tell them apart

*Letter H is pronounced*Letter H is pronounced

*Change is speaker not indicated by a *Change is speaker not indicated by a ––

*Letter j does exist (soft and hard) *Letter j does exist (soft and hard)

The Future…Where we The Future…Where we are headed:are headed:

~Introducing the vowel ~Introducing the vowel combination like au, ee, combination like au, ee,

ae, ai, etcae, ai, etc

~Schwa e (especially that ~Schwa e (especially that it does not have to go at it does not have to go at the front of the word.)the front of the word.)

~Word order & Verb usage~Word order & Verb usage

~Sentence structure ~Sentence structure (capitalization & (capitalization &

punctuation)punctuation)

~Voiceless and Voiced ~Voiceless and Voiced sounds of thsounds of th

~Also teach them about ~Also teach them about the b, v, and J letters in the b, v, and J letters in the English language.the English language.

References:References:Phonological Influences. (n.d.). In ELL Assessment for Linguistic Differences Phonological Influences. (n.d.). In ELL Assessment for Linguistic Differences vs. Learning Disabilities. Retrieved July 8, 2011, from Google.vs. Learning Disabilities. Retrieved July 8, 2011, from Google.

Spanish Grammar Rules. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from Google.Spanish Grammar Rules. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from Google.

Spanish Language Characteristics. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2011, from Google.Spanish Language Characteristics. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2011, from Google.