Context

Introduction

The study of cognates and 'false friends' is essential for learning a new language. Cognates are words that have a common etymological origin, meaning they have emerged from the same root, thus having both orthographic and semantic similarities. On the other hand, 'false friends' are words that have a similar spelling between two languages but completely different meanings.

For example, English is a language that has many cognates with the Portuguese language, thanks to the influence of Latin on both. This greatly facilitates the learning process but can also lead to confusion, as the similarity is not always perfect, and some words may seem like cognates but are actually 'false friends'.

Understanding these differences between cognates and 'false friends' is crucial to ensure precise communication and avoid misunderstandings. Often, our brain automatically corrects the meaning of a cognate word within a context, even if we do not have the exact translation in mind.

Context

Cognates and 'false friends' are important topics for effective communication in English. The ability to identify cognates helps increase the student's active vocabulary, giving them more confidence to speak and write in English. Additionally, knowledge of 'false friends' is extremely useful to avoid misunderstandings and comprehension errors that may occur due to the superficial similarity between words from different languages.

In today's globalized world, being able to communicate effectively in English is an essential skill. Even those who do not plan to use English professionally will certainly benefit from being able to understand and be understood when traveling, using the internet, or interacting in other ways with English speakers.

Material to Get Ahead

Here are some reliable sources that can help you start understanding the topic:

1. BBC Languages: False friends

2. Cambridge Dictionaries Online: False friends

3. Oxford English Dictionary: Cognates

4. British Council: Understanding False Friends

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Hunt for Cognates and Confront False Friends'

Project Objective

This project aims to provide students with a fun, interactive, and collaborative way to learn about cognates and 'false friends' between English and Portuguese. Students will learn to identify cognates and 'false friends', thereby increasing their active vocabulary and avoiding potential confusion in the future.

Additionally, through this project, students will also acquire teamwork skills, time management, presentation, and reporting skills.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants. Each group will be tasked with researching and creating a 'Word Game Board' using cognates and 'false friends'. The idea is for students to challenge each other by playing this game while gaining a deeper understanding of the subject.

Required Materials

• Cardboard or cardstock
• Colored markers
• English-Portuguese dictionaries
• Computer or tablet with internet access for research

Step-by-Step

1. Research (1 hour): Each group should research and list at least 25 cognates and 25 'false friends' using dictionaries or online resources.

2. Board Creation (1 hour): Using markers and cardboard, groups must create a 'Word Game Board'. The words should be written on separate cards and mixed on the board.

3. Game Rules (30 minutes): Each group should develop rules for the game. It is suggested that the rules include identifying whether a word is a cognate or 'false friend', providing the correct translation, and creating a sentence in English using the word correctly.

4. Play the Game (1 hour): Groups should play the game, challenging each other to correctly identify cognates and 'false friends'.

5. Report (1 hour): Each group should write a report on the project, including an introduction, discussion of the process, conclusions, and bibliography.

Project Delivery

Each group will present their 'Word Game Board' to the class, explaining the game rules and demonstrating how to play. Students should be prepared to answer questions about the chosen words and why they are cognates or 'false friends'.

Along with the presentation, each group must submit a written report on the project. The report should include:

• Introduction: Description of the project's objective, the relevance of cognates and 'false friends' in learning the English language, and how this project helped better understand these concepts.

• Development: A detailed discussion on how the game was created, the established rules, and how the words were chosen. Students should explain the methodology used to identify cognates and 'false friends'.

• Conclusions: Reflection on the lessons learned during the project, the challenges encountered, and how they were overcome.

• Bibliography: List of sources used for researching cognates and 'false friends'.

The project will last for one week, with enough time for the group to research, prepare the game, and write the report. Equal importance is given to the game presentation, the game itself, and the written report.