Question 16

The reading teacher is focusing on language cognates.

By helping the student make connections between English and Spanish words, the reading teacher is utilizing cognates—words that share a similar meaning and form in both languages. This strategy is effective in enhancing vocabulary acquisition for English learners.

A) Focusing on language cognates

This option is correct as it accurately describes the instructional strategy employed by the reading teacher. Cognates, such as "abundant/abundante" and "information/informacion," have similar spellings and meanings in both languages, making them a powerful tool for vocabulary development in multilingual learners.

B) Teaching vocabulary thematically

This option is incorrect because thematic vocabulary instruction typically involves grouping words by a common theme or subject rather than focusing on the similarities between languages. The example provided does not indicate that the words are grouped thematically.

C) Emphasizing content-specific words

This option is also incorrect. Emphasizing content-specific words refers to teaching vocabulary that is particular to a subject area or content domain. The words listed do not pertain to a specific content area but are general cognates between English and Spanish.

D) Breaking words into roots and affixes

This option is incorrect as it involves analyzing the structure of words to understand their meanings rather than connecting different language forms. The teacher's approach focuses on cognates rather than morphological analysis.

Conclusion

The correct answer, focusing on language cognates, is the most effective strategy for helping Spanish-speaking English learners develop their vocabulary through recognizable word pairs. Other options do not align with the method of leveraging similarities between English and Spanish, making them less suitable for the context presented.