Advantage of e-Dictionary: An ESL Users’ Study

Tamishra SwainEnglish Instructor

Banasthali University

Rajasthan – 304022

tamishraswain@yahoo.com

Introduction

This is a users’ survey of Cambridge Advance Learners Dictionary(CALD),3rd ed, 2008

The survey was conducted on 7th graders of Banasthali University School.

The total sample surveyed were 75 (100%) of the population .

The study was conducted in last week of September and continued whole week to survey each and every respondent.

Review was based on certain key questions Prior to this the students were given enough

training to handle the e-dictionary.

Conducting the Study

e-Dictionary

e-dictionary is a dictionary in an electronic form may be available in an electronic medium , CD or sometimes online.

CALD is also an e-dictionary built on certain software functions with important key features of printed dictionary

CALD

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary CD-ROM

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary CD-ROM has a fresh new design, and is now even easier to use. You can listen to every word in British and American English and even record your own pronunciation and play it back. You can now add your own notes to any entry in the dictionary too.

Interactive exercises including exam practice and real past papers for IELTS, FCE, CAE, CPE and BEC.

Extra collocation information and thousands of example sentences.

UNIQUE! Cambridge SMART thesaurus turns the dictionary into a thesaurus at the click of a button.

Problem Statement

E-dictionary use can be used to fill the gap in using the printed dictionary

Use of e-dictionary would be very helpful if the Indian ESL students can handle it successfully

There are certain problems come up in using this dictionary.

What measures can be taken up for its proper use.

ESL learners and Dictionary Use

Dictionary is an important tool in vocabulary building for Indian ESL learners.

With advantages in using the print dictionaries certain disadvantages hinders in popularizing dictionary use e.g., pronunciation, synonyms and antonyms .

E-dictionary is helpful in using and making vocabulary building

Objectives

To know the use pattern of e-dictionary (CALD) To know how comfort they feel in using the e-

dictionary To know the motivation behind the use To examine which aspects of e-dictionary

attracts most To study what features of e-dictionary are used

most

Survey method was used to collect the pertinent data

Individual respondent (student) was surveyed and asked to use the features of e-dictionary.

These data were recorded on questionnaire form for further analysis.

Methodology

Data Analyses

The data were analysed with the help of statistical techniques

The data further presented in tabular and graphical form

Grammar Use

How helpful e-dictionary

Best to use

e-Dictionary vs. Print Dictionary

Use and let others use e-dictionary

Use and let others use e-dictionary

Thanking You