Abstract

MUGFORD, Gerrard. Keeping a Critical Eye on "Lexical Friends": Cognates as Critical Pedagogy in Pre-Service Teacher Education. profile [online]. 2008, n.9, pp.129-142. ISSN 1657-0790.

This research project investigates more productive, critical and reflective ways of teaching cognates and loan words. The main objective of the research is aimed at making teacher trainees aware of different ways of presenting and practising cognates and loan words in the second-language classroom. The participants in the investigation were studying in a BA programme in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in a Mexican public university. This study argues that cognates are a productive resource for second-language users at all stages and levels of language learning and are not just a tool for the random recognition of words. Furthermore, I describe activities that offer ways for language learners to take control of language learning and not just rely on given knowledge from teachers and textbooks.

Keywords : Vocabulary; cognates; loan words; critical pedagogy.

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