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Using an Online Dictionary
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Activity Description
This lesson will have students learn how to use an online dictionary.
Preparation
- Make sure that the Web site is not blocked at your school before using it with students.
- Set volume of computer at an adequate volume for using the audio component.
Teacher Tips
- Have students find other online dictionaries and highlight their use.
- Have students create their own vocabulary lists from talking to native speakers. Then let them look up those words too.
More Ways
Other features of the site include the following:
- A thesaurus
- Spanish-English translator
- A medical dictionary
- An encyclopedia
- Numerous quizzes and games (vocabulary, name that thing, commonly misspelled words, crosswords and many more that would be fun warm-ups and fillers)
- Word of the Day (which you can subscribe to and a new word will be sent to your e-mail daily) would be a great daily vocabulary teaching/learning opportunity for advanced ESL students, and the video section contains explanations of grammar and spelling rules, slang, commonly confused words and more that would be appropriate for viewing as warm-ups and fillers in an advanced ESL class
- English teachers, linguists, and word-lovers will especially enjoy the Top Ten Lists (for example, Favorite Words from Foreign Languages, Unusual Phobias, Words for Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Funny-Sounding and Interesting Words, and many more), Trend Watch, and Seen & Heard
- There are a number of apps available , which include voice search
Program Areas
- ESL: English as a Second Language
Levels
- Intermediate Low
- Intermediate High
- Advanced
- Beginning High
Lesson Plan
Think-Pair-Share:
Ask students:
What is the difference between a dictionary and Googlel Translate, Chat GPT translate etc.
“With a partner, come up with 2-3 ideas on why an English/English dictionary is useful and share with a partner.
Brief class discussion follows.
Today we are going to practice using an English/English dictionary to find the meaning of words.
Objective: Introduce students to basic parts of an online dictionary entry.
On the projector or smartboard, go to https://www.merriam-webster.com.
Search for a simple vocabulary word that you have studied in class.
Guide students through the entry:
Word pronunciation (click sound icon 🔊)
Part of speech
Definition
Example sentence
Synonyms (if available)
Handout the vocabulary notebook page as either a PDF or Word Doc.
Show students how to write the information on the notebook vocabulary for the word you searched.
Objective: Students search for words using their own devices in pairs.
Interactive Pair Activity: “Word Hunt”
1. Students brainstorm 5 new vocabulary words that they recently studied in class.
2. In pairs, students look up the words
- Writing its meaning, part of speech, and a sentence on the vocabulary notebook.
- Saying the word aloud (using the speaker icon)
Have students pair up with another student and swtich papers. Each student will quiz the other student on the words written in the vocabulary note book.
Teacher should wander around the room to see how students do and to take note of those having difficulty.
Have students listen to stories from https://lingua.com/english/reading/
You can choose based on their language level:
A1/A2 Beginning
B1/B2 Intermediate
C1/C2 Advanced.
Have them add at least 5 words to their vocabulary notebook.
Documents
- Vocabulary Notebook.docx - Word Vocabulary Notebook
- Vocabulary Notebook.pdf - PDF Vocabulary Notebook
Standards
- Reading Foundational Skills
- RF.2 - Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). (Phonological Awareness)
- RF.3 - Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. (Phonics and Word Recognition)
- RF.4 - Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. (Fluency)
- Reading
- CCR Anchor 4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
- CCR Anchor 7 - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- Language
- CCR Anchor 5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
- CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.