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Learn English with this information English lesson

Date: Jun 03 2013

Themes: Time

Intro

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Dictionaries used to be in every home or office. If a person wanted to check the spelling or definition of a word, they turned to a dictionary. It was once essential to own a good reference book or two.

Today a person can get the same information from a phone or computer in seconds. Some people probably think dictionaries are obsolete.

Has the dictionary run its course?

Vocab

run its course expr.

Definition

Example The doctor said her flu would run its course within a week.

essential adj.

Definition

Example Eggs are essential to this cake recipe. If we don't have eggs, we can't make the cake.

reference book n.

Definition

Example My library is not complete without a reference book or two.

burden n.

Definition

Example It's not a burden for me to take care of my grandmother. I love her!

Example The bags are heavy, but they're not a burden to me.

obsolete adj.

Definition

Example Traditional telephones are obsolete. Everyone has a cell phone now.

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Quiz

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Discussion

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Do you still have a dictionary, or do you prefer looking up information online? Are dictionaries necessary in our modern world?

Comments

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shaerwan

shaerwan

Syrian Arab Republic

i prefer using the enternet

07:21 PM Jun 07 2013 |

Son of English

Hong Kong

I have Spanish and Portuguese dictionaries in my bag everyday.

03:00 PM Jun 04 2013 |

Kresnyk

Kresnyk

Spain

At home, we always had dictionaries and encyclopedias. When I was a child I used it for doing my homework, but nowadays….I can get more information and faster on internet. For example, yesterday, I had to do an exercisie which I need to know the difference among glare/glance/stare/peer/peep and gaze. I searched the information on internet and I fond the  solution in the first post I had seen. If I had used a disctionary, I would have spent more time.
I prefer read in a book or in a encyclopedia, not on the computer, but the advantages of internet…doing it incomparable.

10:34 AM Jun 04 2013 |

1 person likes this

haitham4vip

Egypt

i supposed to write it

12:03 AM Jun 04 2013 |

thiagokami

thiagokami

Brazil

I do have a dictionary and use it every now and again. I prefer to use it rather than looking up information online. I like to open my dictionary and go through each page. Dictionaies are necessary in our modern world.

11:26 PM Jun 03 2013 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

I’m using Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English now. I like it mainly as you can hear the pronunciation of the word and its collacations and there’re many more great stuff in there. To my belief, mastering any language is to master its rythm and the correct pronunciation. I used to use Webster dictionary as well. It’s unique in its way. It has got approximately 30-40 patterns of the English language sentence structures and some of them are indicated in the new word usage you’re looking for. So, it’s still with me and not in a second hand store. Probably I’ll dig it out from the closet and brush up on those structures.


The bottom line is, in this time of computer high tech savvies when the time is money and everyone electronic and digital knowledgeable burdening him/herself with multitasking, the electronic choice is the one that takes place. But here, there’s another warning sign. You go to the computer to look up for a word or just translate an article and here, all of a sudden, you get involved in a interesting discussion or smth else and all your dictionary work get down the drain. Time has stayed the same, it didn’t expand unfortunately. If it were with the hard copy dictionary, you’d just finish your work going through the numerous pages super fast, concentrating only on one task.


So the choice is made, but can we oppose to all those distractions :)

10:56 PM Jun 03 2013 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

I have a Merriam Webster and Thesaurus dictionary ,usually I keep in at hand  while  I am writing in english to my foreign friends , but to tell the truth  ,most of the time  I prefer to rifle through  online dictionaries . Mr. Webster is feeling kind of neglected by me, but what can i do ?  He should by now have noticed that  his  glory days  are gone and replaced by  the digital technology. 

09:03 PM Jun 03 2013 |

TranceSoul

TranceSoul

Poland

Yes, I have a dictionary. Of course, I use it online one more often than traditional because it’s easier and first of all faster. However travelling I prefer traditional dictionary because it is more comfortable and faster for me than using a phone or kind of.


Actually I have to admit that I don’t care about modern things. Smartphone, iPad, iPhone-I don’t need it and I don’t even like it. I’m not going to read e-books ever. I wouldn’t learn english here if I had more time and different job. So, dictionaries are still good because these make us move our asses to do something more than sitting by computers :P

06:47 PM Jun 03 2013 |

Stephieee

Stephieee

Poland

I have many dictionaries and encyclopedias from the time of my education. I use it sometimes, when i have enough time, but when i need information immediately, i check it in the internet. It’s easier way. but if u dont access to the internet or handy encyclopedia for now, it remains one option: ask someone wise :) i admire people who are like a walking encyclopedia. 

06:47 PM Jun 03 2013 |

Inspirational_Girl

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Dictionaries Play An Imporatant Role In Learning English . 


A Dictionary is Always With Me … Because I’m English Literature University 


Student & It’s Necessary To Carry & Use It Personally .


Online Dictionaries Are So Useful For Checking Words Online In A Fast Way .


Learning Dictionary Of Literary Terms Is So Hard & Has Lots Of Complex


Vocabulary , I Should Read It Because Of My Field .


The Oldest Dictionary That I Have Is !0 Years Old ! :D I Used it Since I Was


9 ! In An English Institute :)


I Have Lots Of Memories With Dictionaries :D Being Active In Learning New


Vocab Of It , Is So So So Great :D If We Put Away That Sense Of Laziness !


Now We Have Dictionaries In Our Cell Phone , An Easy Way For Carrying &


Using It ! So they Are Necessary In Every Modern World ! :)) 

05:32 PM Jun 03 2013 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

I use both, online and dictionary.


Well, Einstein said ”“I don’t need to know everything, I just need to know where to find it, when I need it”.”I like these saying, it’s true, I have to add a big BUT…  Our brain will be empty soon, if we only say …. “well I don’t know, I will google it” ;-)


Of course it’s faster to find a word in a dictionary, but in my case, I remember better to the word, I found in a dictionary.

05:16 PM Jun 03 2013 |

DAMAVAND

DAMAVAND

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Dear Nijar, I agree with you too!! The value of reading book is undeniable, but in this case, I’d rather use online/offline dictionaries than look the word up manually, especially when I need to know the pronunciation swiftly, it’s much easier to listen the voice instead of reminding phonetic symbols ;) by the way, I like your statement, “dealt the disease with disease-vaccine” it’s a good expression :) 

03:13 PM Jun 03 2013 |

2 people like this

park216

South Korea

Dictionaries? I used to use it, but not any more now, for insteading of using smartphone recently, in which there’re a lot of something interesting as like games.

01:46 PM Jun 03 2013 |

1 person likes this

Nijar

Nijar

Egypt

Dear DAMAVAND I do really agree with you, nevertheless till now I’d prefer to look up at dictionaries and find the word myself. I have my own library which for sure includes reference books which are very essential specially for  searches . The online dictionaries are  no doubt useful specially if you are in rush or outdoor, whatever the reference has the word with its different meanings, pronunciations, part of speech, AmE-BrE, formal-informal(as you know one word can have all of these), all these info in one tome. It’s not easy and takes more time sometimes , but learning and knowledge  need much patience if we want .English-English dictionaries are commendable for me, cause every time navigate I gain mocha vocab , dealt the disease with the disease-vaccine:) Amanda and Greta, I’ll screw up ,if I give the cold shoulder to the importance of reading a book and be only satisfied with internet stuffs, furthermore the dictionary which I have is mostly up to date and has the word E-mail:-). Have a book, turn on calm music, stretch your body on a sofa or a couch … and definitely you won’t forget your glasses:) HEEE!!   

01:38 PM Jun 03 2013 |

Levi3262

Levi3262

Brazil

I can not remember the last time I’ve used a dictionary to search something, but at internet, I use this every day :)

11:24 AM Jun 03 2013 |

1 person likes this

izac

izac

South Korea

I still have a dictionary at home. But I never use this since I was a university


student. In fact, I am still learning English even though I am an old guy.


I almost use my electronic dictionary. It is easy to find some words quickly.


 All of dictionaries are both big and heavy. It is uncomfortable.


I can not see studnets who brought dictionaries at the library. Thnigs have


changed. But sometimes I miss using a dictionary.

07:12 AM Jun 03 2013 |

naira71

naira71

Azerbaijan

I seems strange that I use big and small dictionaries and dont think that they become obsolete.A person learning foreign languages  needs dictionaries near.

06:40 AM Jun 03 2013 |

NuriaRuiz

NuriaRuizSuper Member!

Spain

I have a lot of dictionaries english-spanish because every teacher I have had wants one specific dictionary.I don’t know why.

06:16 AM Jun 03 2013 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

I do like this subject. dictionaries are out dated by the internet.

04:41 AM Jun 03 2013 |

DAMAVAND

DAMAVAND

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Normally, searching a word with the help of auto-correction is much easier and faster than turning over and manual looking up, smartphone applications do it well, you can also get rid of carrying several heavy books by using various dictionaries in your cellphone, just considering the convenient access to the internet ;) I’ve had an encyclopedic dictionary for a long time, however, I rarely use it in these days, I still like it, it’s one of my nostalgic books :)

02:47 AM Jun 03 2013 |

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