Vocabulary: Strategies for Vocabulary Learning & Retention (B1) - Lesson 1: Using a Learner's Dictionary (Monolingual)

   

   

       

           

Lesson 1: Using a Learner's Dictionary

           

Thinking in English, Not Just Translating

           

Welcome to our B1 series on learning strategies! As a beginner, you probably used a bilingual¹ dictionary to translate words from English to Khmer. This is a good first step. But to reach the next level, you need to start thinking in English. The best tool for this is a monolingual learner's dictionary².

           

Why Use a Monolingual Dictionary?

           

               
• It forces you to think in English. You are not constantly switching your brain between two languages.
               
• You learn more vocabulary. While reading the definition of one word, you will see other related words.
               
• You understand the nuance. It provides example sentences that show how the word is really used in a natural context³.
               
• It improves your reading skills. You get more practice reading and understanding full English sentences.
           

           

What to Look for in a Dictionary Entry

           

A good learner's dictionary entry⁴ gives you a lot of information. Look for these key parts:

           

               
1. Part of Speech: Is it a noun (n.), verb (v.), adjective (adj.), etc.? This tells you its grammar.
               
2. Simple Definition⁵: A clear explanation in easy English.
               
3. Example Sentences: This is the MOST important part! It shows you how to use the word.
               
4. Audio Pronunciation (🔊): A speaker icon you can click to hear the word.
               
5. Word Forms & Collocations: It might show you other forms of the word (e.g., *study, studies, studied*) and its common word partners.
           

             

Recommended Free Online Learner's Dictionaries:

           

               
• Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
               
• Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
               
• Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
           

                        

In Conversation

           

Bora finds a new word in a book and asks Srey for help.

           

Bora: Srey, I'm reading a news article and I don't know this word: 'commute'.

           

Srey: Hmm, I'm not sure either. Let's use the Oxford Learner's Dictionary online instead of just translating it.

           

Bora: Okay. What does it say?

           

Srey: (Reading from her phone) Okay, it says here it's a verb. The definition is 'to travel regularly between your home and your place of work'.

           

Bora: Ah, I see! Like how I travel to my job every day.

           

Srey: Exactly. And the example sentence is "She commutes from the countryside to the city every day." That makes it very clear.

           

Bora: Does it have the pronunciation?

           

Srey: Yes. (She clicks the 🔊 icon). Using this dictionary gives us so much more information!

       

           

quiz Check Your Understanding

           

               

1. What is a monolingual dictionary?

               

                   
• a) A dictionary that translates English to Khmer.
                   
• b) A dictionary that explains English words using only English.
                   
• c) A dictionary with only pictures.
               

               

                   

Click to see the answer

                   

Answer: b) A dictionary that explains English words using only English.

               

               

2. What is a major benefit of using a learner's dictionary?

               

                   
• a) It helps you stop translating and start thinking in English.
              _BOS_      
• b) It is very difficult to understand.
                   
• c) It has no example sentences.
               

               

                   

Click to see the answer

                   

Answer: a) It helps you stop translating and start thinking in English.

               

               

3. When you look up a word, what is the most important part of the entry to read to understand its use?

               

                   
• a) The pronunciation guide.
                   
• b) The part of speech.
                   
• c) The example sentences.
               

               

                   

Click to see the answer

                   

Answer: c) The example sentences.

               

           

       

       

           

edit Your Mission

           

               

                   
1. Explore a Dictionary: Choose one of the recommended online learner's dictionaries. Look up a word you already know, like 'happy' or 'school'. Explore the entry and find all the different parts.
                   
2. Learn a New Word: Find one new, unknown word from an English song, movie, or news article. Look it up in the learner's dictionary. Write down the word and one example sentence in your vocabulary notebook.
                   
3. Speak: Your mission is to teach the new word you learned to a friend. Explain its meaning and use it in the example sentence you found.
               

           

       

   

       

book Lesson Glossary

       

           
1.                 Bilingual (adjective) - Khmer: ទ្វេភាសា - Using or involving two languages.                 ↩            
           
2.                 Monolingual Learner's Dictionary (noun phrase) - Khmer: វចនានុក្រម​ឯកភាសា​សម្រាប់​អ្នក​សិក្សា - A dictionary that explains words in only one language, using simple definitions for learners.                 ↩            
           
3.                 Context (noun) - Khmer: បរិបទ - The situation or words around a word that help show its meaning.                 ↩            
           
4.                 Entry (noun) - Khmer: បញ្ចូល - One item written in a list or dictionary.                 ↩            
             
5.                 Definition (noun) - Khmer: និយមន័យ - The meaning of a word.                 ↩