Translator's False Friends

Translator's false friends (also called “false cognates”) are words that sound or are spelled similarly in two given languages but actually have different meanings. Here are the most common English-Ukrainian/Russian false friends.

Pronunciation Accuracy

Once I was delivering a presentation at the regional conference and mentioned G Suite for Education. I was instantly corrected by a very self-confident colleague. She was sure "suite" rhymes with "cute". I didn't give her a lecture on the correct pronunciation of this word - she was elder and more experienced than me and I had no intention of embarrassing her. Poor pronunciation is a sensitive issue for many people. Though embarrassment is not the only downside of it. If pronunciation is lacking, listening effectively will also be troublesome. It is also a limit for vocabulary expansion and usage as people avoid words that they find difficult to pronounce.

Here's my advice how to minimize the number of pronunciation mistakes you make if you don't live in English-speaking environment.

1. Don't be too self-confident. Look the word up online if you are not 100% sure about the pronunciation. Use audio dictionary apps. Always check and double-check. 

2. Watch English learning YouTube channels such as the BBC Learning English channel which goes in depth on pronunciation in a variety of short helpful clips.

3. Add listening to audiobooks to your learning routine. It may seem difficult at first. Listening is a skill so it needs developing. Start with something familiar and easy, even fairytales for children will do. You are sure to find a book to your taste and level in the series Macmillan Readers where each book has an audio CD.

4. Follow English learning accounts on Instagram which focus on pronunciation.

I highly recommend @learnbritishaccent

 

5. It's great if your teacher or tutor is careful enough to correct your every single pronunciation mistake even if you make it again and again. For instance, I'm never tired of correcting "museum", "hotel" and "theatre". Yes, I'm a real bore 😄

6. Don't get embarassed when you are corrected at the lesson. This is the way we learn - by making mistakes. It's completely natural. The fact that a student mispronounces a word while speaking means they learnt it while reading - and that is the evidence that you are a well-read person 😉 When corrected, repeat after your teacher, say the word several times and make a mental note of it. #ifIsayrepeatrepeat

Clothes Vocabulary (2 grade)

Here are the interactive worksheets made up by future primary school teachers, the students of our college. The tasks are for the textbook English, 2 grade by T.Budna.

by Natalia Belova

Clothes, an interactive worksheet by nataliabielova
liveworksheets.com