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“Did you know that about 30%-40% of all English words have a related Spanish word (such as benefit and beneficiar)? Words in two languages that have similar pronunciation, meaning, and spelling are called cognates.”
-Goldenberg, Claude. “How Can Cognates ‘Beneficiar’ English Language Learners (ELLs)?” Center for the Collaborative Classroom, 16 May 2019, www.collaborativeclassroom.org/blog/how-can-cognates-beneficiar-english-language-learners-ells/. |
“Cognates are pairs of words that sound alike and have the same meaning in two different languages. They are useful first steps in learning a new language…. Cognates make it possible for language learners at any age to use their new words right away.”
-Nemeth, Karen. “Using Cognates to Support Second Language and Literacy Learning.” English Language Learners / Dual Language Learners / Multicultural Education Support - Language Lizard Blog, 17 Apr. 2017, blog.languagelizard.com/2017/04/11/using-cognates-to-support-second-language-and-literacy-learning/. |
When progress is slow…isn’t it time to check your ABC ‘tools’?
Do they fit kindergarteners from Spanish-speaking homes?
| B is for barco/BOAT |
E is for elefante/ELEPHANT |
P is for pera/PEAR |
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When progress is slow…isn’t it time to check your ABC ‘tools’?
Do they fit kindergarteners from Spanish-speaking homes?
Currently, Latino kindergartners from Spanish-speaking homes are caught a language mix-up between ESL and the ABCs. English ABC examples, B is for BEAR/oso, have an inherent delay factor. Teachers justify their use because, “They’ve got to learn English. They have to grow into it”. Whereas with Cognates, B is for BICYCLE/Bicicleta, there is no time delay factor hampering effectiveness. Cognates work immediately.
There exists an actual non-fit between kindergartners from Spanish-speaking homes and English-only picture clues. For it will take a while for kindergartners to consistently identify English images and their beginning sounds.
Latino names do reflect many English letter sounds: Maria, Ramon, etc. Make no mistake, HISPANIC kindergarteners already have one foot in the ABC process. |
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