How falling pray to false cognates is the mark of someone who hasn't yet mastered the English language!

When first starting out learning English, or any new language for that matter, it is with high hopes that the new learner tries to find some word patterns that may help them quickly acquire new vocabulary so that they may start coming up with some basic sentences. Naturally, as times progresses, the new learner is expected to keep on learning new words, even when such words do not have any similarities whatsoever to their native language. 

 

After years of learning and practicing the new language, there comes a time when the learner feels like they are at the peak of their language-proficiency mastery. At this point, they might have even taken some language-proficiency exams such as the ITEP or TOEFL and, thus, feel like there is nothing else for them to learn. Yet when they open their mouths to communicate in the proverbial language, those around them have no choice but to cringe as they quite literally butcher the English language and spout unintelligible sentences due to the fact that they are not aware of what a "false cognate" is. And this, my friends, is what truly separates a mediocre English learner from a truly committed one. 

 

Just the other day, one of my classmates was giving a presentation in front of all the whole class and, quite sadly, decided to open with the following words: "Today, I will expose about the topic of...". As expected, as soon as the words hit my ears, I felt sorry for them and turned to my peers expecting to see some sort of reaction, as this was clearly a mistake that most C1/C2 speakers and learners would be expected to pick up on quite readily. To my surprise, only a couple showed any realization whatsoever as to the inappropriate use of such false cognate, which told me that this might be a more pervasive problem than I anticipated. And make no mistake, I am not claiming to be perfect as an English speaker, yet I feel like years of practicing, noticing patterns and reading tons of novels have steered me clear of the "false cognate" trap.

 

As a former teacher at bilingual schools, I can relate to the frustrations that English teachers here at the UPY experience on a daily basis whenever they are trying to correct their students, only to be rebuked. Oftentimes, my peers will pretend not to have made those mistakes and simply brush them off. Unfortunately, doing so is a recipe for disaster as making and acknowledging mistakes is the only way to move forward.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Artemis? Everything you need to know about NASA's new moon mission

  NASA has embarked on a yearslong mission called   Artemis  that involves a multistage plan to send astronauts to the moon and beyond. The Artemis mission will culminate with landing the first woman and person of color on the moon. This mission will prepare humanity for the long journey to Mars, and it will help us establish a sustainable lunar economy. NASA is working with international and commercial partners to carry out the mission. What's the most recent Artemis update? Why is it called Artemis? On Dec. 11,  NASA completed the first Artemis mission . Orion, the Artemis I spacecraft, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a successful 25.5-day mission around the moon. The  Artemis I mission launched  on Nov. 16 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following several aborted launches due to technical issues and storms. NASA sent the unmanned Orion spacecraft into orbit around the moon to  test NASA's deep space exploration systems . At its farthest, Orion was a
Read more

Engineering Project to Help Third World Countries Benefit from Globalization

Project Idea: A low-cost, open-source digital platform that provides third world countries with access to engineering knowledge, resources, and tools. The platform would include a variety of features, such as: A library of engineering textbooks, articles, and videos A directory of engineering experts and organizations A marketplace for engineering tools and equipment A forum for engineers to ask questions and share ideas Money Needed: The initial cost of developing and launching the platform would be approximately $1 million. This would cover the cost of hiring software developers, designers, and content creators. Ongoing costs would be significantly lower, primarily covering the cost of hosting and maintaining the platform. Funding Sources: The platform could be funded by a variety of sources, including: Governments and international development organizations Foundations and philanthropists Private investors Description of the Idea: The platform would be designed to b
Read more

Skateboarding is Now a Olympic Sport!

Image
  Skateboarding is now OLYMPIC! Skateboarding has made its long-awaited debut as an Olympic sport, in a decision that has sent shockwaves throughout the sports world. Skateboarding was once considered a marginal subculture, but its inclusion in the Olympics marks a watershed event in the history of both the sport and the Games. A new chapter in athletic history is being written as the wheels hit the pavement on the Olympic stage. From the Streets to the World Stage Skateboarding's route to the Olympics, long limited to urban streets and underground skateparks, has been one of perseverance and devotion. What was formerly considered a subversive pastime is now accepted by the world's most famous sporting event. Skateboarding's presence in the Olympics not only gives skateboarders a platform to demonstrate their extraordinary skills, but it also reflects the ever-changing environment of sports and the growing meaning of athleticism. Accepting Difference and Creativity The cele
Read more