Post on 30-Apr-2015
description
Using Cognates to Increase History Vocabulary and Comprehension
Dr. Margarita Jimenez-Silva Arizona State UniversityRuth Luevanos Pacoima Middle School
California Council for Social Studies
Conference 2012
What are cognates? Words in two languages that share meaning,
spelling, and pronunciation. Power of using cognates to transfer vocabulary
from the primary language to English Cognates promote comprehension for students
whose native language has a Latin base, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian
Up to 40% of English words have a related Spanish word
Helps identify patterns: suffix –mente/English -ly Beware false cognates
The Jimenez Family
No recipe, but…
Concordia University U.C. Irvine George Washington
University Occidental College Harvard University U.C. Berkeley
5 kids…
NO EXCUSES!
It was tough in school…
Era of Busing and Desegregati
on
2 cultures, 2 worlds
Low expectations
Falling through the cracksJust
wanting to fit in
Identifying Cognates List of essential concepts and values in
U.S. Democracy taken from Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle Grades
Which of these words do you believe may be cognates?
Identifying Cognates 35 cognates or partial cognates of a
total of 48 terms or concepts
This translates to a total of 73%
1 False Cognate: Compromise
Note: Check with fluent native speakers!
Classroom Application For example: justification/ justificación. Underline the Latin/Spanish root word, then
brainstorm other related words like just, justify, justice
Create a visual that helps them remember this word and use it in a sentence or essay to reinforce it
Other cognates I have used in the classroom: rectificación, relación, consternación, implicación, clima, civilización, consul, plaza, villa, caúsa, conclusion, mutilación, anticipación, conquistador, geografía, movimiento, región.
Raising ELL Test Scores Many experts agree that
one of the keys and hurdles to raising test scores is lack of vocabulary.
11 of the 15 most common words used in social studies standardized test questions are cognates
Beware false cognates like discuss and summarize.
Some cognates have evolved, like location.
Key Test Vocabulary
Spanish Cognate
Analyze analizar
Compare comparar
Contrast constrastar
Define definir
Evaluate evaluar
Identify identificar
Illustrate ilustrar
Interpret interpretar
Justify justificar
sequence sequencia
synthesize sintetizar
Extension of Cognates Lesson Have students
create visuals of cognates to help them with the transition between Spanish and English.
Have them include examples.
Have parents create visuals of cognates to help reinforce their meaning.
Have parents come up with examples of the use of cognates so that they can reinforce these concepts at home.
On-line Resources http://www.latinamericalinks.com/spanis
h_cognates.htm
http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/learn-spanish-cognates.html
http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/vocabulary/falsosamigos.html
http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/a-test-takers-vocabulary-for-social-studies
In conclusion….You can use cognates with ELL’s and parents of ELL’s to help increase vocabulary and comprehension.
Margarita.Jimenez-Silva@asu.edu
raluevanos@sbcglobal.net
Thank you!