Contextualization
In this project, we will explore the concept of 'False Friends', a term coined by linguists to indicate those words that, although they may seem similar in different languages, have different meanings, often leading to misunderstandings and communication errors. In the context of learning English, it is essential to understand and recognize 'False Friends', as English and Portuguese share a significant number of these words due to the Latin influence in both languages.
Why are 'False Friends' important?
'False Friends' are one of the many obstacles faced by students learning a second language. They can lead to confusion and misunderstandings in everyday situations, academic and professional contexts. Understanding and correctly identifying 'False Friends' can help students improve their English comprehension and text production skills, an essential skill in an increasingly connected and globalized world.
Practical Activity:
Title: 'False Friends and True Stories'
Project Objective:
Raise awareness among students about 'False Friends' in English, recognizing them in texts and dialogues, thus avoiding misunderstandings due to the incorrect use of these words.
Detailed Project Description:
In this project, students, divided into groups of 3 to 5 people, will create a story or dialogue in English, using a list of 'false friends' previously provided by the teacher. The story or dialogue created should have a minimum of 600 words and, to make it more challenging and fun, each 'false friend' should be used correctly at least twice: once with its English meaning and once in a situation that could lead to a misunderstanding if interpreted with the Portuguese meaning.
Example of a 'false friend':
- Actual (English): means 'real' or 'effective', not 'current' (Portuguese).
Necessary Materials:
- List of 'False Friends' in English and Portuguese provided by the teacher.
- Computer or paper to write the story or dialogue.
Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:
- Divide into groups of 3 to 5 people.
- Choose a narrator for the story or represent a character in the dialogue.
- Each group member should choose at least five 'False Friends' from the list to use in the story or dialogue.
- Write a story or dialogue in English, correctly using each selected 'False Friend' at least twice, once with the English meaning and once in a situation that could cause a misunderstanding if interpreted with the Portuguese meaning.
- Gather all group members to review and edit the story or dialogue, ensuring that all 'False Friends' were used correctly.
- Present the story or dialogue to the class, or record a dramatization.
Project Deliverables:
- Written document with the story or dialogue created.
- Report with:
- Introduction: Contextualization about the importance of the theme 'False Friends', the relevance and application of this concept in the real world, and the project's objective.
- Development: Detailed explanation of the activity performed, discussing the theory behind 'False Friends', the methodology used, and the results obtained.
- Conclusion: Recap of the main points, lessons learned, and conclusions drawn from the project.
- Bibliography: List of sources used to work on the project.
The report should be in harmony with the practical activity carried out and relevant to the activity. This is the moment where students can process and reflect on what they did and put these reflections in a structured way.
