Importance Of Dictionaries In Foreign Language Learning

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1. INTRODUCTION

For a long period of time, the teaching of dictionary skills has not been included in textbooks as apparently that they did not play an important role in foreign language learning. As a consequence, the use of dictionaries was discouraged in the English classroom setting.

A similar situation happened with the use of translation in EFL classes when communicative approaches started being established. However, nowadays the situation has changed and both, dictionaries and translation, are starting to be recognised again as useful skills in language teaching and learning.

2. USE OF DICTIONARIES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

From my point of view, dictionaries are valuable learning tools as they offer students the opportunity …show more content…

This is the reason why language instructors should teach students how to use dictionaries adequately, making them aware of the information they contain (pronunciation, definition, type of word) and their usefulness. This will provide students with the opportunity of becoming autonomous language learners and practitioners. For instance, dictionaries offer a fast way to know the meaning of an unknown word when reading a text as well as they are an essential tool when writing assignments in order to check the spelling of uncertain words. Nevertheless, dictionaries do not only help students in their language process but also in their educational …show more content…

2. USE OF TRANSLATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

The inclusion or exclusion of students’ native language in English language classrooms has been a controversial issue for a long time (Brown, 2000). The use of translation in EFL lessons has been questioned for many years. However, recently, the use of the mother tongue has been further acknowledged that its use can have a positive impact in foreign language teaching and learning.

As Shiyab and Abdullateef (2001) stated, translation is extremely important for foreign language teaching because it allows conscious learning and control of the foreign language. Furthermore, it reduces native language interference.

Although foreign language teachers should use the target language as much as possible making the effort of adopting an appropriate speech style easily understandable for students, it is a real fact that not everything can be explained and that students will not always comprehend what teachers are explaining. In these situations the use of translation would be a valuable solution. Additionally, some experts consider that “translation should yield useful information as it brings up the similarities and differences between one language and another. It is in this particular way that translation facilitates and

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