Wisc-Online
Wisc Online: English Words of French Origin
In this learning activity, students read and listen to English words from the French language.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English Ii Reading)
This lesson focuses on cognates, or words from other languages that have similar spellings, pronunciations, and meanings. This means that if you know, or are studying, another language, you may recognize an English word simply because...
Other
English Words of Arabic Origin
A list of English words originating in Arabic, followed by a series of exercises for the advanced English student.
Rice University
Rice University: Loan Words
An exhaustive and comprehensive resource on the definition, process, and uses of "loan words" in English. Includes several examples of words grouped by subject and language of origin. Excellent site.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Origins and Meanings of Foreign Words and Phrases
Become acquainted with the origins and meanings of foreign words and phrases frequently used in English texts.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English Iii Reading)
In this lesson you'll learn about different types of cognates, words that sound or look alike from one language to the next. You'll learn how leveraging cognate knowledge helps you figure out unfamiliar words in English. When you combine...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A Brief History of Plural Word S
All it takes is a simple S to make most English words plural. But it hasn't always worked that way (and there are, of course, exceptions). John McWhorter looks back to the good old days when English was newly split from German -- and...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English I Reading)
Use your knowledge of cognates from other languages to help you understand unfamiliar words.
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum: Feathered Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Root Words [Pdf]
Go to page 7 of this teacher's guide to find dinosaur root words. These can be used to make flashcards. Many of these roots are found in English words. Choose some of these root words and identify at least one corresponding English word.
Other
Kryss Tal: The English Language: Words Borrowed
An incredible comprehensive list of "borrowed words" in the English language, grouped by the languages from which the words are borrowed. Provides and describes dozens of languages and literally thousands of loan words. Highly recommended.
Other
World Wide Words/exploring the English Language
"World Wide Words is devoted to the English language - its history, quirks, curiosities and evolution. The Words site is organized into sections, each with its own index to help you find your way about."
University of Manchester
Children's University of Manchester: Word Literacy: Borrowing Game
This collection offers three games through which students match English words to the language from which they were borrowed.
Other
The Origin and History of the English Language
How many native English speakers are there in the world today? Learn important facts and statistics about the English-speaking world as well as a history of the language from its Germanic beginnings to the present.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Bewilder
The history of the word bewilder is more straightforward than you might think. Roots can be traced back to the Old English words wilde (undomesticated) and deor (untamed animals), eventually combined into the word wilderness. Jessica...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Lady
Why do we call women ladies? Well, etymologically-speaking, the word comes from the Old English words for hlaf (bread) and daege (maid), which, combined, mean the female head of the household and eventually indicated high social...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Origins & Meanings of Foreign Words & Phrases: English Ii Reading
In this lesson, you will be introduced to selective lists of words. These words can help enrich your language, deepen your understanding of what you read, and broaden your sense of the world.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Origins and Meanings of Foreign Words (English I Reading)
Become acquainted with the origins and meanings of foreign words and phrases frequently used in English texts.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Origins and Meanings of Foreign Words and Phrases
Become acquainted with the origins and meanings of foreign words and phrases frequently used in English texts.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English Ii Reading)
In this lesson, you will focus on English and Spanish cognates. You will learn tips for identifying cognates, (words from other languages that have similar spellings, pronunciations, and meanings) and for using cognates to improve your...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Where Do Languages Come From?
A most interesting site! Explore why the French speak French in France and the English speak English in England and lots of other information on the history of words and languages.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Applying Word Study Strategies (English I Reading)
Apply previous lessons, (1) Linguistic Roots and Affixes, (2) Denotation and Connotation, (3) Origins and Meanings of Foreign Words, (4) Cognates, and (5) Reference Materials, to improve fluency and comprehension.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Applying Word Strategies: Multiple Choice Review: Practice 1
Lessons on roots and affixes, denotation and connotation, context clues, origins and meanings of foreign words, cognates, and reference materials help determine word meanings. These lessons told you HOW to use these word discovery tools....
Other
English to Go: "Chocolate"
Discover the origin and history of chocolate while practicing reading. Expanding word recognition and usage with a word puzzle to finish off provides a great instant instructional activity. This is a sample instructional activity from a...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Where Did English Come From?
Claire Bowern traces English from the present day back to its ancient roots, showing how the language has evolved through generations of speakers. [4:54]