Dictionary Search Preferences by Engineering Students: A Small-Scale Survey

Authors

  • Dr C Vijayakumar Assistant Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66121/jwhg6847

Keywords:

Dictionary use, search preference, vocabulary knowledge, learning dictionaries

Abstract

Understanding a student’s dictionary search preferences is crucial for us to determine learner language needs. We can restructure our instructional materials and strategies for our learners. This paper reports a small-scale dictionary use survey conducted at BITS Pilani, Pilani campus. 91 engineering students from different disciplinary backgrounds have responded to a questionnaire which included items on aspects the students tend to look up in a dictionary and the purposes that determine their look up practices. The findings clearly indicate that many students rely on online dictionaries, and their search preferences are mostly determined by their need to comprehend information rather than produce it.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Chen, P., & Zhao, C. (2022). The Treatment of Academic Lexical Bundles in Online English Monolingual Learners’ Dictionaries. International Journal of Lexicography, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab032

Chen, Y. (2012). Dictionary use and vocabulary learning in the context of reading. International Journal of Lexicography, 25(2), 216–247. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecr031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecr031

Coxhead, A. (2000). A New Academic Word List. TESOL Quarterly, 34(2), 213–238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3587951

Dziemianko, A. (2010). Paper or electronic? The role of dictionary form in language reception, production and the retention of meaning and collocations. International Journal of Lexicography, 23(3), 257–273. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecp040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecp040

Farina, D. M. T. C., Vrbinc, M., & Vrbinc, A. (2019). Problems in Online Dictionary Use for Advanced Slovenian Learners of English. International Journal of Lexicography, 32(4), 458–479. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecz017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecz017

Fellbaum, C. (2014). Large-scale lexicography in the digital age. International Journal Of, 27(4), 378–395. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ ecu018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecu018

Kim, S. (2018). EFL Learners’ Dictionary Consultation Behaviour during the Revision Process to Correct Collocation Errors. International Journal of Lexicography, 31(3), 312–326. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecx009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecx009

Laufer, B. (2011). The contribution of dictionary use to the production and retention of collocations in a second language. International Journal of Lexicography, 24(1), 29–49. https:/ /doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecq039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecq039

Nural, S., Nesi, H., & Cakar, T. (2022). Warning Notes in a Learner’s Dictionary: A Study of the Effectiveness of Different Formats. International Journal of Lexicography, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab033

Vijayakumar, C. (2016). Synchronous corpusmediated learner’s dictionary exploration: A technique to vocabulary learning. In ELT Spectrum (A EFL University Publication).

Downloads

Published

01-07-2022

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

C Vijayakumar. (2022). Dictionary Search Preferences by Engineering Students: A Small-Scale Survey. Journal of English Language Teaching, 64(4), 20-26. https://doi.org/10.66121/jwhg6847

Similar Articles

1-10 of 255

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.