A Study of Dictionary Use by English Major Students at

Naresuan University 

Presented by Theerarak Rodsin

Naresuan University, Thailand

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Introduction Conceptual framework Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion

Outline

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A dictionary is an important tool for learning the English language.

It helps to clarify word meaning and enriches English knowledge for users.

Introduction

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To investigate how English major students at Naresuan University usually use dictionary.

Purpose of the Study

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Definitions of Dictionary

Types of Dictionaries

Forms of Dictionaries

Roles of Dictionaries in Language

Learning

An Overview of Research Studies

Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

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Definitions of DictionaryA dictionary is a reference giving

equivalent words in two or more languages, and consists of an alphabetical

list of words with: -meanings-parts of speech

-pronunciation-etymologies and other lexical

itemsThe Collins English Dictionary (2003)

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Types of DictionariesNation (2001) puts dictionaries

into three types: 1. Monolingual dictionaries (Eng-Eng) 2. Bilingual dictionaries (Eng-Thai,

Thai-Eng)3. Bilingualised dictionaries.

(Eng-Eng-Thai)

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Nesi (1998) classifies dictionaries by modes of presentation:

1. Paper- based dictionaries 2. Computer-based

dictionaries Hand-held electronic ex. Talking

dict, Cyber dict CD-Rom Online

Forms of Dictionaries

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Scholfield (1982a, 1997 as cited in Nation, (2001) points out dictionaries can be used for

Roles of Dictionaries in Language Learning

1. Productive skills speaking writing

2. Comprehensive skills

listening

reading

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An Overview of Research StudiesConducted on the Use of Dictionaries

 

A number of recent studies, Alhaysony (2011), Ali (2012), Boonmoh (2010) and Ryu (2006) reported that many EFL learners prefer a bilingual dictionary to a monolingual dictionary.

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An Overview of Research Studies Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

Alhaysony (2011) conducted a questionnaire survey and interviews to investigate the dictionary look-up behavior of Saudi female EFL students.

-132 fourth-year university students majoring in English

The results: - the bilingual dictionary English-Arabic

- hand held electronic dictionaries

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Ryu (2006) surveyed the needs and habits of 181 freshmen Korean EFL college students in using English dictionaries.

The result also confirmed Alhaysony’s findings:

-bilingual dictionaries

An Overview of Research Studies Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

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In terms of form, Boonmoh and Nesi (2007) reveal that pocket electronic dictionaries become popular among Asian learners of English in the past decade.

An Overview of Research Studies Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

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Taylor and Chan (1994) surveyed 494 students in Hong Kong.

The result: -the informants preferred pocket

electronic dictionaries to dictionaries in book form

An Overview of Research Studies Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

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An Overview of Research Studies Conducted on the Use of Dictionaries

The main objective of dictionary use is to find out the meaning of words (Chan, 2011 and Ryu, 2006), information such as pronunciation, usage, and examples were also important.

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Participants110 first to third year English

major students at the Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, Thailand

 

Methodology

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Data Collection

The questionnaire was distributed to all participants during a regular class period.

The researcher explained the research objectives and responded to questions concerning the questionnaire.

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Data Analysis

Checking the completeness and accuracy of the received information

A frequency analysis was usedto analyze the data

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Results

The types of dictionaries use The forms of dictionaries use The purposes of dictionaries using

The use of dictionaries for different sort of activities

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Types of dictionaries used by participants

Monolingual (Eng-Eng) Bilingual (Eng-Thai) Bilingual (Thai-Eng) Others0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

4.5

91

4.50

Chart Title

Forms of dictionaries

Perc

enta

ge

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Forms of dictionaries used by participants

Pape

r dictio

narie

s

Pock

et e

lect

roni

c dict

iona

ries

CD-Rom

or i

nsta

lled

on th

e co

mpu

ter

Onlin

e di

ctio

narie

s0

10

20

30

40

50

60

11

51

4.5

37

Chart Title

Types of dictionaries

Perc

enta

ge

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The purposes of dictionaries using

Meani

ng

Spel

ling

Pron

uncia

tion

Idio

ms

Wor

d us

ages

Parts

of s

peec

h

Collo

catio

ns

Syno

nym

s & a

nton

yms

Etym

olog

ies

Other

s0

20

40

60

80

100

120

98

5565

23

44

72

30

52

133

Chart Title

Types of information

Perc

enta

ge

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The use of dictionaries for different sort of activities

 

Listening Speaking Reading Writing0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

11

3

44 43

Chart Title

Activities

Perc

enta

ge

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The majority of informants favoured bilingual dictionaries (English-Thai).

These types of dictionaries explain meanings in the learner’s mother tongue thereby making it easier to understand.

Discussion

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Discussion 

The informants preferred electronic dictionaries: pocket electronic dictionaries and online dictionaries.

For their convenience, speed and various functions including verbal pronunciation

  

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Discussion 

Finding the word meanings and parts of speech of words were the main purpose of consulting dictionaries.

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Discussion

The results are congruent with Ryu (2006) and Chan (2011) who also showed that participants usually look at meaning while they consulted the reference book.

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Discussion

Learning a foreign language, knowing the meaning of an unknown word is important in understanding the new language.

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Discussion

In listening and speaking, dictionaries were used less frequently because of the need for instantaneous translation.

Presumably, dictionary users do not have time to consult dictionaries during these activities.

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Discussion

Reading and writing were activities in which participants always consulted dictionary.

These two activities, learners have time to look up word meanings to understand their reading and to choose appropriate words for writing tasks.

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The majority of English major students at Naresuan University preferred:

-Bilingual dictionaries (English-Thai) -Electronic dictionaries: pocket electronic

and online dictionaries. -Looking for word meanings was the main purpose of consulting dictionaries-Reading and writing were the activities in which learners usually used

dictionaries

Conclusion

Questions & Answers