What benefit did Mr. Ray provide to Roberto by encouraging the use of cognates?

Encouraging the use of cognates is particularly beneficial for enhancing comprehension skills, especially for language learners like Roberto. Cognates are words in two languages that share a similar meaning and often a similar spelling, which can provide learners with familiar linguistic connections in their new language. By recognizing and utilizing cognates, students can make educated guesses about the meanings of new words, which aids in understanding vocabulary and overall content.

This strategy allows learners to bridge the gap between their native language and the target language, leading to improved comprehension of spoken and written texts. By using cognates as a tool, Mr. Ray is helping Roberto to grasp complex concepts more effectively and increasing his ability to engage with the language in a meaningful way.