This is why you should use a monolingual dictionary to boost your language skills
A bilingual dictionary (explanations are in your mother tongue) is great for beginner learners. You most likely passed that level because right now, you are reading this website. Now, it’s time for you to boost things up by using a dictionary in which you get the explanations in your target language (monolingual dictionary). By following this advice, you will more likely start to think in your target language sooner. Moreover, it will help you to stop translating phrases in your head.
Here are the good things about this method:
Positive effects
- You get used to your target language because you automatically get more exposure. Moreover, you are not longer dependent on your mother tongue (immersion)
- You learn ways how to describe something without needing to know THAT one word (paraphrasing)
- Not every word can be translated into a complete one-word equivalent
- You learn how to define and explain words in your target language
- You get to know more examples of how the word is used in context (use in practice)
Bonus Tip: By using a monolingual learner’s dictionary, you will get massive exposure to the most high-frequency words. This is because in a learners’s dictionary the definitions are written with simpler words (2000-3000 most used words).
Where to find a monolingual dictionary
- Cambridge Dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/monolingual
- Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Forcing yourself to use a monolingual basis for your language learning may be great. On the other hand it also may be torture for you. Who knows? Having said that, it’s important to experiment. In any case, be patient and take some time to figure out if it suits your learning style.
In short, multilingual dictionaries are like cheat codes. They don’t tell you why you achieved what you wanted to. They just hand to you a clumsy tool that one day won’t stand up to the test. Monolingual dictionaries are an excellent resource but should be used with translation for those who can’t yet understand.
Eli whitehouse, 2014, https://www.quora.com/What-do-people-think-of-monolingual-versus-multilingual-dictionaries-in-language-learning/answer/Eli-Whitehouse?ch=10&share=bf0dba57&srid=hmrnZ
Conclusion
That’s why you should become friends with a monolingual dictionary. Nevertheless: It is alway good to have more than one friend. So, I personally have a bilingual dictionary at hand as well. Sometimes, you just need a quick translation, for instance.
What do you prefer? Monolingual or bilingual dictionary to learn a language? Share in the comments.
Whatever your preference, bilingual and monolingual dictionaries are both language learning tools. Go with what works for you. Some people prefer Windows while others prefer Mac. Android vs IOS, etc. There is no right or wrong, only whatever works best for you. That said, for more abstract or complicated definitions, I typically find the monolingual dictionary to be much more concise and clear with its explanation.
lin, March 20, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Nevertheless, not everyone shares our opinion of using a monolingual dictionary to learn English. For example, you may give Steve Kaufmann, who knows 20 languages, a chance. So, have a listen or read what he has to say. For that, follow the link below:
https://blog.thelinguist.com/2018/03/20/monolingual-or-bilingual-dictionaries-for-lan/
I do not see why learners “should” switch to monolingual dictionaries, nor do I see any need to explain words in the target language, if the goal is to maximize exposure to the target language through meaningful content.
Steve Kaufmann, January 3, 2011 at 9:05 pm @thelinguist.com
More Resources related to monolingual or bilingual dictionaries
For Vladimir Skenderovs from Virtually Native the most effective and only method is immersion in the language
Youtube teachers praise different English learning methods such as shadowing and imitation techniques, flashcards or spaced repetition. Other methods are for example speed learning, sleep learning and memory palaces. They give you tricks and language hacks, breakthrough tricks and so on and give you tips on how to be fluent in 3 months and whatsoever.
Finally, for Vladimir only the method of immersion will help you master the English language. Above all, with the help of monolingual dictionaries.
If you liked this Blog Post, take a look at my fluent podcast, for instance episode 65 How do I speak clearly? Finally, don’t forget so subscribe to the podcast on Spotyfy, Itunes etc.