Chapter 9: Semantics

CH 9 1 Learning Log for CHAPTER 9: SEMANTICS Insert your name in the header above (double-click to access the header area, then double-click again in this part of the page when finished). Provide your responses below in the boxes as indicated. When you start typing, the response area will automatically expand as needed. A. CHAPTER QUESTIONS 1. What do you teach when you teach semantics? Vocabulary: the meaning of a word 2. What areconnotations of words? An idea or feeling that a word invokes. Why are they important to know? All words can have different meanings based on the context in which it is said. 3. Define the following terms using words that make sense to you. Then provide an example for each term that is relevant to your area of specialty and make a note of why this feature might cause difficulties for ELs or other struggling learners. Only work with the terms you can locate in the chapter—we will complete others at a later date. Antonyms Definition Words that are opposite in meaning Example Open and Close Difficulty ELLs can get confused about the relation the words have to each other when they are learning vocabulary. CH 9 2 Synonyms Homophones Homographs (heteronyms) Homonyms Idiomatic Expressions Definition Different words bearing the same meaning. Example Sofa and Couch Difficulty ELLs may think of the words as completely different because their spelled and said differently. Definition Words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings. Example Rose (Flower or past tense of rise) Difficulty There can be confusion in spelling and meaning of the words. Definition Words that are spelled the same but are different in terms of meaning. Example Letter (mail or alphabet) Difficulty Without hearing the oral pronunciation Els may have a rough time finding the exact meaning of a word. Definition Are common in terms of pronunciation, and sometimes spelling but have different meaning. Example Coach (person vs carriage) Difficulty Without understanding of context, Els may not understand the differences in meaning. Definition An expression where the meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words. Example Beat around the bush. Difficulty ELLs can misunderstand a phrase and take the words literally. Definition A word or expression that has a similar form to one in the EL’s L1 but a different meaning. Example Magazine (French: Magasin (shop)) “False Friends” CH 9 3 Difficulty ELLs will try to transfer meaning and misunderstand the meaning of the word. 4. What aresome teaching strategies to enhance vocabulary learning, keeping in mind the issues mentioned above. a. Highlight and explain cultural meanings behind words and idiomatic expressions used by English speakers. b. Teach Els how to make inferences about word meaning base on the words around it. c. Refrain from using unfamiliar and/or uncommon idiomatic expressions. d. Use graphic organizers to help ELLs create associations between words and concepts. B. TRANSFER QUESTIONS Answer 2 questions. 1. What makesidioms/idiomatic expressions particularly difficult for ELs to understand/learn? Els do not understand how context and sarcasm change the meaning of words. What do those difficulties mean for you if you hope to teach an EL how to use an idiomatic expression? This means that I need to help them first understand how context changes the meaning of words and what common phrases mean. 2. What kinds of difficulties might the distinctions between formal and informal speech in some languages cause for the EL in your classroom? for the EL The EL will try to transfer their L1 language structures to their use of english sentences and get confused by how they did not work. for you as teacher As a teacher I will need to teach them the English language structures through CH 9 4 visuals and kinesthetic learning to help them learn how to build sentences correctly in English.