Lesson Plan | Traditional Methodology | Cognates and False Friends

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to provide students with a clear understanding of what cognates and 'false friends' are, highlighting the importance of recognizing these words in learning English. This will help avoid misunderstandings and improve students' proficiency in reading and understanding the language.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the concept of cognates and 'false friends' in English.

2. Identify common examples of cognates and 'false friends' that may cause confusion.

3. Distinguish between true cognates and 'false friends' based on their meaning in context.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to provide students with a clear understanding of what cognates and 'false friends' are, highlighting the importance of recognizing these words in learning English. This will help avoid misunderstandings and improve students' proficiency in reading and understanding the language.

Context

Start the class by explaining that when learning a new language, we often encounter words that seem familiar and can help us better understand what is being said. These words are called cognates. However, there are also words that may look familiar but actually have different meanings. These words are known as 'false friends'. Tell students that today's lesson goal is to learn how to identify these words to avoid confusion and improve their understanding of English.

Curiosities

Did you know that some words in English and Portuguese are so similar that they seem like sisters? One example is the word 'intelligent' in English, which means the same as 'inteligente' in Portuguese. But be careful! There are traps, like the word 'pretend', which in English means 'to fake' and not 'to intend'. These differences can lead to funny situations and even misunderstandings in everyday life!

Development

Duration: (40 - 50 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to deepen students' understanding of cognates and 'false friends' by providing practical examples and strategies to identify and use these words correctly. This aims to avoid misunderstandings and improve accuracy in English communication.

Covered Topics

1. Definition of Cognates: Explain that cognates are words that share the same etymological origin and have similar spelling and meaning in two languages. For example, 'family' in English and 'família' in Portuguese. Show that these words can facilitate learning English. 2. Examples of Cognates: Common examples of true cognates include: 'animal' (animal), 'music' (música), 'intelligent' (inteligente), 'color' (cor). Explain that although there are slight differences in spelling, the meaning is the same. 3. Definition of False Friends: Explain that 'false friends' are words that, despite appearing similar in two languages, have different meanings. This can cause confusion in understanding and using the language. 4. Examples of False Friends: Common examples of 'false friends' include: 'actually' (in fact, not currently), 'pretend' (to fake, not to intend), 'fabric' (fabric, not factory), 'push' (to push, not to pull). Detail the wrong meanings students could attribute due to similarity with Portuguese. 5. Strategies to Identify False Friends: Provide tips for students to identify and avoid 'false friends', such as: always check the context of the word, use bilingual dictionaries, and study lists of common 'false friends'.

Classroom Questions

1. List five true cognates that you know and explain the meaning of each. 2. Explain the difference in meaning between the word 'pretend' in English and 'pretender' in Portuguese. 3. Give three examples of 'false friends' and explain how they can cause misunderstandings.

Questions Discussion

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to review and consolidate students' learning about cognates and 'false friends', providing an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the concepts presented. This reinforces students' understanding and ability to identify and use these words correctly, preventing misunderstandings in English communication.

Discussion

• Discussion of Questions Presented in the Development Stage:

• 1. List five true cognates that you know and explain the meaning of each.
• • Family (família): The word in English and Portuguese has the same origin and meaning, referring to the group of people with family ties.
• • Intelligent (inteligente): Both words have Latin origin and mean the ability to understand and learn.
• • Color (cor): Despite the difference in spelling, both words refer to the visual characteristics resulting from how light is reflected or emitted by objects.
• • Animal (animal): In both languages, the word refers to a living being that is not a plant.
• • Music (música): The words share the same origin and refer to the art of combining sounds harmoniously.
• 2. Explain the difference in meaning between the word 'pretend' in English and 'pretender' in Portuguese.
• • 'Pretend' in English means 'to fake', while 'pretender' in Portuguese means 'to intend to do something'. The incorrect use of these words can cause significant misunderstandings.
• 3. Give three examples of 'false friends' and explain how they can cause misunderstandings.
• • Actually (in fact): Can be confused with 'atualmente', but actually means 'in fact'.
• • Fabric (fabric): Can be confused with 'fábrica', but refers to textile material.
• • Push (to push): Can be confused with 'puxar', which is actually 'pull' in English.

Student Engagement

1. Student Engagement: 2. 1. Can you identify more true cognates beyond those we discussed? 3. 2. How do you think 'false friends' can affect communication in a real conversation? 4. 3. Which strategies do you find most helpful to avoid confusing 'false friends'? 5. 4. Has anyone ever gone through a funny or embarrassing situation because of a 'false friend'? Would you like to share with the class? 6. 5. Why is it important to understand the difference between cognates and 'false friends' to improve our understanding and use of English?

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to review and summarize the main points covered in the lesson, reinforcing students' understanding of cognates and 'false friends'. This ensures that students have a clear and consolidated view of the content, facilitating the practical application of what they have learned.

Summary

• Cognates are words that share the same etymological origin and have similar spelling and meaning in two languages.
• Examples of cognates include: 'family' (família), 'intelligent' (inteligente), 'color' (cor), 'animal' (animal), 'music' (música).
• 'False friends' are words that, despite appearing similar in two languages, have different meanings.
• Examples of 'false friends' include: 'actually' (in fact), 'pretend' (to fake), 'fabric' (fabric), 'push' (to push).
• Strategies to identify 'false friends': check the context of the word, use bilingual dictionaries, and study lists of common 'false friends'.

The lesson connected theory to practice by presenting clear definitions and examples of cognates and 'false friends', followed by exercises for students to identify and differentiate these words. This allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical English communication situations.

Understanding cognates and 'false friends' is crucial to avoid misunderstandings in English communication. For example, knowing that 'actually' does not mean 'atualmente' can prevent confusion in conversations or readings. Furthermore, knowing these words facilitates learning and fluency in the language, making the process more efficient and less frustrating.