Why do some teachers prefer their students not to use dictionary too much?

[Greeny]

Using a dictionary will not help you much, but it will distract you from learning. If you are reading an article, and you have to check for the dictionary for every few words; you'll never finish reading and you'll finally give up. Also depending on dictionaries does not make you feel learning is fun; thus you're not gonna want to learn.

To denith,

Mala De Nila? Isn't it sixth sense about seeing ghost?

Well, having sixth sense doesn't mean that you can see ghost. It's the special ability that allow you to feel or to know something by sense. You can't tell why you know it, you just do. 

[Pros_DingDong]

I personally do not agree with those who have said that lessening dictionary up-looking is better for English learners.
First of all, this idea is absurd.
As a long time English student myself, I understand partly what go through in the mind of fellow students. We tend to take for granted that just reading the definition of a word once or twice from a dictionary is sufficient for us to be able to use the word. That's not true.
In order to correctly and appropriately use a word, we have to know what it means (from dictionary or someone telling us) and it is used through the examples given in the dictionary or any texts we come across.

The basic thing to do to improve word usage is to use that word a lot either in speaking (to someone or to oneself) or writing.
Our memory works through REPETITION. Repetitive perception of a single or similar event reconsolidates our long term memory of the event(usage of a word in this case.)
We can REPETE it in a form of writing (very efficient way) or talking to a native English speaker (you should make sure he or she knows you are not that good at English in case your usage of the word is wrong and becomes offensive or insulting to him or her.)

Too bad, CAmbodian people don't speak English everywhere or we all can speak English or hear people speaking English all the time.
HEARING is also important. Do you know why immigrants to English speaking country pick up the language really fast? The answer is: They hear it everyday. They force themselves to speak it, to listen to it, to say after whatever they hear (part of learning process.)
Simply put, they are EXPOSED to the language everyday.

Although it's hard to simulate this kind of atmosphere for students to learn English, what we can do is to listen a lot to English news, radio shows (FM97.5), TV shows,... It will help in terms of speaking and accent.
Reading English newspapers like Cambodia daily is also a way to get better in English. Reading helps us learn usage of words and styles of writing.

So checking dictionary a lot is not the problem. Actually, it is the first thing to do to embark on a new word. You cannot just use a word without knowing what it means or you're not sure of.

All described above are the classical approaches to learning a language.


Here's what I think to be quite efficient:
It's good not to check dictionary the first time you see a new word. Wait until you see it a few more times at different occasions. By doing that, you increasely develop your curiosity in that particular word. Then you should look it up in a dictionary. Doing so gives you tons of enthusiam when you're reading the definition of the word. Your brain will release tons of chemicals to boost your short term into long term memory. 

Hope it helps....

Pros_DingDong
 

[___Tola___]

Not always, it's depend!

[denith]

I personally do not agree with those who have said that lessening dictionary up-looking is better for English learners.
First of all, this idea is absurd.
As a long time English student myself, I understand partly what go through in the mind of fellow students. We tend to take for granted that just reading the definition of a word once or twice from a dictionary is sufficient for us to be able to use the word. That's not true.
In order to correctly and appropriately use a word, we have to know what it means (from dictionary or someone telling us) and it is used through the examples given in the dictionary or any texts we come across.

The basic thing to do to improve word usage is to use that word a lot either in speaking (to someone or to oneself) or writing.
Our memory works through REPETITION. Repetitive perception of a single or similar event reconsolidates our long term memory of the event(usage of a word in this case.)
We can REPETE it in a form of writing (very efficient way) or talking to a native English speaker (you should make sure he or she knows you are not that good at English in case your usage of the word is wrong and becomes offensive or insulting to him or her.)

Too bad, CAmbodian people don't speak English everywhere or we all can speak English or hear people speaking English all the time.
HEARING is also important. Do you know why immigrants to English speaking country pick up the language really fast? The answer is: They hear it everyday. They force themselves to speak it, to listen to it, to say after whatever they hear (part of learning process.)
Simply put, they are EXPOSED to the language everyday.

Although it's hard to simulate this kind of atmosphere for students to learn English, what we can do is to listen a lot to English news, radio shows (FM97.5), TV shows,... It will help in terms of speaking and accent.
Reading English newspapers like Cambodia daily is also a way to get better in English. Reading helps us learn usage of words and styles of writing.

So checking dictionary a lot is not the problem. Actually, it is the first thing to do to embark on a new word. You cannot just use a word without knowing what it means or you're not sure of.

All described above are the classical approaches to learning a language.


Here's what I think to be quite efficient:
It's good not to check dictionary the first time you see a new word. Wait until you see it a few more times at different occasions. By doing that, you increasely develop your curiosity in that particular word. Then you should look it up in a dictionary. Doing so gives you tons of enthusiam when you're reading the definition of the word. Your brain will release tons of chemicals to boost your short term into long term memory. 

Hope it helps....

Pros_DingDong
 

Hey bro... I appreciate your enthusiasm.

But I wanna ask you that, do you want "students" to ALWAYS depend on dictionary?

Don't you know that eventually, they will be EXAMed? it is a period WHEN they are exposed to new words, without helps from the dictionary. If the teacher don't simulate the situation... then they won't be able to surpass the problems.

All you have mentioned above, for me, is correct and I see all your points. But I want you to also consider this.

Cheers

[Pros_DingDong]

Hi Denith and Tola,

Thanks for your input on my post.
I didn't say "dictionary" alone can solve the vocabulary problem. To know the meaning and the usage of a word, it needs time and good observation. However dictionary helps us understand a more or less the meaning and usage of a word (that also depends on how good your dictionary is.)

It's likely that you won't know what the means the second time you see it somewhere else. Then you gotta check dictionary again.
To make it useful, try to use that word during your speaking or writing. You might make mistake but it will  help you learn.
You cannot depend on the teachers all the times. Some teachers do suck pretty badly..lolz

So, conclusively speaking, you don't need to depend on a dictionary to learn a language if you have other tools. But dictionary is very essential. It's hard to learn a foreign language without it. I don't advocate to use dictionary all the time. Check once or twice, the next time you see it again, try to guess what it means, the next time you want to use it in either writing or speaking, just use it. Practice and Practice.
[And of course dictionary is not allowed during the test because the teachers expect you to learn your stuff before the exam.]


Hope this clarifies a little bit.

Pros_DingDong

[denith]

All i wanna say is that you discourage people who wish not to use dictionary on certain circumstances.

It's likely that you won't know what the means the second time you see it somewhere else. Then you gotta check dictionary again.

Are you sure? What is the theory behind this? What kind of memorizing method do you think people use in order to learn one word or something. Do you need 1 month to learn that "1+1 = 2"?

You cannot depend on the teachers all the times. Some teachers do suck pretty badly..lolz

Yes, actually, in modern education, teachers are just guidance or instructor not someone who tell student what to do. But without teacher, will you ever know that "1+1 = 2"?

To make it useful, try to use that word during your speaking or writing. You might make mistake but it will  help you learn.

You speak as if you lacks responsibility and courage to face your mistake.

I didn't say "dictionary" alone can solve the vocabulary problem. To know the meaning and the usage of a word, it needs time and good observation.

As a long time English student myself, I understand partly what go through in the mind of fellow students. We tend to take for granted that just reading the definition of a word once or twice from a dictionary is sufficient for us to be able to use the word. That's not true.

Explain me!

[Pros_DingDong]

I think i was trying to elaborate too much.

Ok, let's keep it short and simple.
WHen English teachers told their students not to use dictionary too much, they wanted students to try making mental effort to guess the meaning of the word within the context of the paragraph or sentence. But students ought to check dictionary to make sure they get the right definition of the word.

Some students tend to check dictionary whenever they encounter the words they don't know. And teachers don't like to see that. They want their students to make "mental effort" first. Mental effort brings up enthusiasm and curiosity, which help students to learn more effectively.

Denith,
I don't understand why you dreaded so much on my each sentence. They were just examples of how to approach the kind of studying i had refered to. People have different kinds of learning style. Whatever effective and useful for you is what you want to do.
There is no doubt learning is a process that goes along with making mistakes. Sometimes you learn more when you make mistakes.
The shiness from making mistakes is a great obstacle for learning a new language. I don't think an English teacher would trade a class in which students talk alot but make mistakes for a class in which students are quiet (therefore no mistakes made.)
You have to know learning a language is not like building cars. You can't make any mistake when you build a car for safety purpose. But you are expected to make tons of mistakes when you learn a new language.

Cooool?

[denith]

Hey don't get me wrong. By quoting your comments, I can make clear interrogation to your claims. And you have done good to respond.

I admit that everyone has different way of learning, by being-motivated or self-motivated, both leads to a result.

I don't think an English teacher would trade a class in which students talk alot but make mistakes for a class in which students are quiet (therefore no mistakes made.)

You have to know learning a language is not like building cars. You can't make any mistake when you build a car for safety purpose. But you are expected to make tons of mistakes when you learn a new language.

But letting them speak is encouraging real-life practicing... another essential element of effective learning. Eventhought they would be speaking incorrectly, then it is the teacher's duty to correct. I believe that disallowance will depressed the students who seek practicing. Anyway, this is what school are all about "to learn: from lesson, teacher and your original-self". To be honest, I think you fear of making mistakes. Most of your comments is point directly to the range between mistake-ful and un-mistake-ful actions.

Ok, let's keep it short and simple.
WHen English teachers told their students not to use dictionary too much, they wanted students to try making mental effort to guess the meaning of the word within the context of the paragraph or sentence. But students ought to check dictionary to make sure they get the right definition of the word.

I do agree with this part though, there should be two steps of learning new words: guessing and checking.

 

[___Tola___]

During the class, students may have many chances to ask their teacher ,esp the meaning of the words with some good examples that the dictionary can't. Furthermore, the meaning of the word sometimes maybe differ from what you've read. So I seriously concentrate to what kind of dictionary we have to use. Some part maybe include technical word devided into various section the article refer to. So how a general dictionary describes? But the problem is that teacher can't completly understand any technical word. In this case, we have to use dictionay to get a parallel meaning, but not always it's contains in dictionary.

[Pros_DingDong]

Denith,

Thanks for your reply. You were right; to be able to learn effectively, we have to be motivated.
There are differences between students who are smart and those who are mediocre or less.
The differences, i think, don't rely on the different levels of intelligence they have, but instead it's more of who want to succeed more, and who are more motivated.

[People tend to have low self-esteem after a couple times of failure. From my experience, Cambodians are very vulnerable to that kind of downfall.]

The best students and the worst students don't differ very much in cleverness but in sense of purpose.
The worst students go to school just for the name of going to school, like people always say, "walk the walk, talk the talk."
Now that English is very popular  among the youths in Cambodia. I've seen some people taking English courses for almost ten years. And their English in year ten is not much better than in year seven or five. Why?
They are the kind of people who walk the walk, talk the talk, and don't have much sense of purpose everytime they go to English classes.

As for the smart students, they are always alerted in classes. Once they hear or see a new word, they will want to know what, why, how about the word. They also want to know the difference and similarity between the new word and the ones they already know and how to incorporate the new one into everyday use.


Tola,

A thick dictionary is better than the thin and small ones because it has more examples in each definition.
Sometimes teachers can't find a way explain a word very well, especially the native English speaking ones because they don't learn every English word using dictionary like we do.

[denith]

Motivation is the least thing teacher should remembers in order to bring the best of their students. But self-motivation is much more important because it is from the original-self.