1. Using Cognates
to Increase History
Vocabulary and
Comprehension
California Council for
Social Studies
Conference 2012 Dr. Margarita Jimenez-Silva
Arizona State University
Ruth Luevanos
Pacoima Middle School
2. 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
4. No recipe, but…
Concordia University
U.C. Irvine
George Washington
University
Occidental College
Harvard University
U.C. Berkeley
5. It was tough in school…
Era of Busing 2 cultures, Low
and 2 worlds expectations
Desegregation
Falling
through
the cracks
Just
wanting
to fit in
6. Identifying Cognates
Listof 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?
7. Essential Concepts and Values in U.S. Democracy
Amendment Decision making International Pluralism
decisión internacional pluralismo
Authority Democracy Justice/fairness Politician
autoridad democracia justicia político
Bill of Rights Diversity Law making Power
diversidad poder
Changing laws Due process Law/rule Privacy
proceso regla privacia
Citizenship Equality Leadership Representative
ciudadanía igualdad liderazgo democracy
Democracia
representativa
Civil servant Freedom Loyalty Respect for the
Sirviente civil Lealtad individual
Respeto por el
individuo
Civil society Government Majority Rule of law
Sociedad civil govierno mayoría
Compromise Honesty Minority Security
(compromiso) honestidad minoría seguridad
False cognate
Conflict Human dignity Nation Self-discipline
conflicto Dignidad humana nación diciplina
Conflict resolution Human rights Open-mindedness Social responsibility
Resolución de Humanos Resposabilidad social
conflicto
Consensus Influence Order Tolerance
influencia orden tolerancia
Constitution Interdependence Participation viewpoint
constitución interdependencia participación
8. 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!
9. 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.
10. Key Test Spanish
Vocabulary Cognate
Raising ELL Test Analyze analizar
Scores Compare comparar
Many experts agree that
Contrast constrastar
one of the keys and hurdles Define definir
to raising test scores is lack
of vocabulary. Evaluate evaluar
11 of the 15 most common
words used in social studies Identify identificar
standardized test questions
are cognates
Illustrate ilustrar
Beware false cognates like Interpret interpretar
discuss and summarize.
Some cognates have Justify justificar
evolved, like location.
sequence sequencia
synthesize sintetizar
11. 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.
13. 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!
