|
|
|
A USEFUL HELP |
|
To achieve the First Certificate level with success,
one of the most important steps is the use of dictionary with no Spanish
translation.
Our first help is to offer you the WordWeb dictionary. one of the best tools we use at OM Personal.
At present, you can
download here this useful dictionary (6.03MB) for free.
Although it does not offer pronunciation, this is a great English-English
dictionary for intermediate to advanced students. Basically because the
layout is very clear, the definitions are easy to understand and they are
often offered by way of examples. And that is exactly what you need!! |
|
|
|
10 RULES FOR USING YOUR DICTIONARY WISELY |
|
1.
|
Try and work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word
from its context before you look it up in a dictionary. |
|
2. |
A dictionary can help you improve your
spelling, but you may have to look in several places before
you find the word you want. For example, if you want to
check the word "ceiling", you may look at "sealing", before
you find the right word. |
|
3. |
Get to know the range of information that is available
in your dictionary (e.g. pronunciation, different uses of
the word, etc.), and the phonetic alphabet and the codes that your dictionary uses. |
|
4. |
Always check all the meanings given for a word,
because the same word may have a different
meaning in a different context. |
|
5. |
A dictionary can give you a lot of help
with grammar. For example, it can tell you whether a word is
followed by a particular preposition, whether a noun is
countable or uncountable, what the parts of irregular verbs
are, or whether a verb is followed by the infinitive or the
-ing form of another verb. |
|
6. |
When you check the meaning of a phrasal verb,
remember to look up the complete verb, for example
'work out', not just 'work'. |
|
7. |
If you want to check the meaning of an idiom, look for
information under a key word. For example, if you
have trouble understanding 'It's taken for granted
today that children should study a foreign language at
school', look for help under 'grant[ed]'. |
|
8. |
It's very important to study the examples
of a word in use. As well as helping you understand meaning,
the examples will show how the word is used and in what
contexts. |
|
9. |
Use a dictionary to help you with your private study, for example:
a) To make sure of the meaning of important new words you have met in class (or
heard in an English language film, or come across in something you have read for
pleasure, etc.);
b) To distinguish between words with similar meanings (for example, in a
vocabulary exercise);
c) To prepare a piece of writing or an oral presentation. |
|
10. |
Remember that consulting
a dictionary can be very helpful, but often (for example, during a conversation)
you should use other methods (for example, asking for an explanation, expressing
your meaning in different words) if you don't understand something or you can't
find exactly the word you want. |
|
|
