Lesson 5: Using Online Dictionaries & Apps
Your Digital Learning Tools
In the past, students carried heavy paper dictionaries. Today, we have a much more powerful tool in our pockets: online dictionaries1 and learning apps2! These digital tools3 can help you learn faster and more effectively. This lesson will show you how to choose and use them to improve your English.
Why Use Online Dictionaries & Apps?
- Instant Information: You can find the meaning of a new word in seconds.
- Audio Pronunciation4: Most have a button so you can hear the correct pronunciation immediately.
- Example Sentences: Good apps and websites give you many examples, showing you the word in different contexts.
- They are Portable: Your phone is always with you, so your dictionary is always with you.
- Many are Free: There are many excellent, free dictionaries and apps available.
What to Look for in a "Learner's Dictionary"
Not all dictionaries are the same. A "Learner's Dictionary" is best for you. Look for these features:
- Simple Definitions5: It uses easy English words to explain the meaning, not difficult ones.
- Audio Pronunciation: A speaker icon you can click to hear the word.
- Example Sentences: It shows you how to use the word in a real sentence.
- Word Forms: It might show you other forms of the word (e.g., for the verb 'study', it shows 'studies', 'studying', 'studied').
Recommended Free Dictionaries for Learners: You can find these by searching their names online.
- Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
- Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
In Conversation
Bora finds a new word in a book and asks Srey for help.
Bora: Srey, I found a new word: 'enormous'. I don't have my paper dictionary. What does it mean?
Srey: Let's use an online dictionary on my phone. It's fast. (She types 'enormous' into a dictionary app).
Bora: What does it say?
Srey: The definition is 'extremely large'. It means very, very big.
Bora: Ah, okay. Can you play the pronunciation?
Srey: Sure. (She clicks the audio icon).
Phone Audio: "e-nor-mous"
Bora: Wow, that's clear! Does it have an example sentence?
Srey: Yes: "An elephant is an enormous animal." See? It's a very helpful tool.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. What is a big advantage of online dictionaries over paper dictionaries?
- a) They are heavy.
- b) They have audio pronunciation.
- c) They do not have example sentences.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) They have audio pronunciation.
2. A dictionary that uses simple English to explain words is called a ______.
- a) Learner's Dictionary
- b) Difficult Dictionary
- c) Picture Dictionary
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) Learner's Dictionary
3. When you look up a new word online, what is the most important thing to also look for?
- a) The color of the website.
- b) An example sentence showing how the word is used.
- c) How many people searched for the word.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) An example sentence showing how the word is used.
edit Your Mission
- Explore: On your phone or a computer, search for one of the recommended dictionaries (e.g., "Cambridge Learner's Dictionary"). Find the website.
- Look Up a Word: Think of an English word you are not sure about. Type it into the online dictionary. Listen to the pronunciation and read one example sentence.
- App Mission: Your special mission! If you have a smartphone, go to the App Store or Play Store and search for "English Learner's Dictionary". Find a free app and download it. Now you have a powerful tool with you always!
book Lesson Glossary
- Online Dictionary (noun phrase) - Khmer: វចនានុក្រមអនឡាញ - A dictionary that you access on the internet. ↩
- App (Application) (noun) - Khmer: កម្មវិធី - A program you can download onto a smartphone. ↩
- Digital Tool (noun phrase) - Khmer: ឧបករណ៍ឌីជីថល - A program or website on a computer or phone that helps you do something. ↩
- Pronunciation (noun) - Khmer: ការបញ្ចេញសំឡេង - The way in which a word is spoken. ↩
- Definition (noun) - Khmer: និយមន័យ - The meaning of a word. ↩