The dictionary is the most effective assistant for every student on the journey of learning English. Therefore, finding a long-term dictionary companion is the most important first step when starting to learn English in general and starting to review for exams: IELTS, SAT, ACT, etc. in particular. To save time searching, 2G Education will introduce you to Big3 must-use dictionaries and at the same time ensure 3 criteria “economical – useful – complete”.
I. Why use English-English dictionary?
1. Understand context and word usage in English
Each language has its own unique usage, depending on the context and usage of the word.
For example, in Vietnamese, ‘change’ has only one meaning, used in many cases, but in English, there are many words that mean ‘change’ such as: revise, reform, modify, adjust, amend, refine,…. Each word is used for a different meaning.
The word ‘amend’ means a change in a document, a document, a law, while the word ‘reform’ means a change in a system, a system, an organization.
2. Build your mindset and way of thinking in English
When using an English-English dictionary, instead of trying to translate the meaning into Vietnamese, reading and understanding the meaning of English words, combined with reading related examples, is necessary to distinguish the usage, context and deepen the meaning of vocabulary.
From this, students will gradually build a way of thinking and reasoning in English, thereby avoiding common mistakes when learning English later such as expressing writing in spoken Vietnamese, and reflexively speaking slowly because of the need to translate from Vietnamese to English.
II. What is Collocation?
Collocation is simply understood as the way to combine words and the ability to use words that can go together.
Collocation has the effect of diversifying the ability to apply and coordinate language as well as making the ability to communicate in English more natural.
For example:
In the sentence ‘Students should pay attention to their studies’, ‘pay attention to’ is a Collocation phrase.
III. Introducing Ozdic dictionary – Ozdic Collocation Dictionary.
Ozdic dictionary is one of the most popular websites used for the purpose of looking up Collocation of words.
The 3 most accurate words to describe Ozdic dictionary are ‘delicious-nutritious-cheap’ because the position of Ozdic dictionary is affirmed through the number of words, quality of lookup and above all, free.
Access Ozdic dictionary here
IV. Features and how to use Ozdic dictionary.
1. Visit the Ozdic dictionary page
When entering the website, the first interface will be displayed as follows.
The blank space is used to fill in the word to look up.
2. After filling in the word to look up, the interface will display as below
Word classification (Noun | Verb | Adjective | Adverb) : Used to classify the types of words that will go with the word you are looking for.
Accompanying words (In bold black): Words that will go with the word you are looking for.
Example (Italicized text below): Examples of how to combine those words.
Example: When looking for the word painful as above,
in the verb section , there will be the words be, look, seem, become,.. that can go with painful.
Eg: He looks painful after doing exercises. (Looking at him as a sore after doing exercises)
In the adjective section , there will be the words acutely, extremely, intensely, unbearably,.. that can go with painful.
Eg: She suffers from an unbearably painful injury and was hospitalized afterwards. (She suffered from an unbearably painful injury and was hospitalized afterwards)
Above are basic instructions from AZ on how to use, introduce cool features and how to take advantage of all the features of the Ozdic online dictionary.
Hope the help and advice from 2G Education will develop and perfect your English learning process!
