Which is the best dictionary to get?
To begin with, of course you will probably use an English-to-your-language (or ‘bi-lingual’) dictionary, but it’s better, as soon as you can, to get onto an English-English dictionary. Unless you are very advanced, it is much better to get a ‘Learner’ dictionary. This just means that the normal kind of dictionary is adapted so as to give more of the kind of information a learner of English will need, and not so much of the strange information a native speaker often wants.
The other thing you should look for is the name of the publisher. Most learner dictionaries are produced by well-known publishers, and all of them have a lot of good points and a few less good points. But it’s a good idea to check that you know the publisher’s name.
After this it’s a question of price and convenience. Ideally you should get a big dictionary for use at home (there should be some at your language school, of course) and a pocket dictionary to carry around with you. For the big one, don’t forget about quantity – if you have two to compare, of a similar price just check how many pages each one has, and how many words on the page, and get the one with most.
Click on a question to go straight to the answer:
1. Why learn English?
2. What is the best way to learn English?
3. So how do I find the best way of learning English for me?
4. How can I describe my level of English now?
5. Does my native ( = first) language make any difference?
6. How long will it take me to learn English?
7. Is it necessary to go to an English-speaking country?
8. Which English-speaking country is the best to learn in?
9. What kind of place is it best to study in – city or countryside?
10. What kind of accommodation is best?
11. Which is better – a big school or a small one?
12. Do small classes matter?
13. How can I compare one English language school with another?
14. Do I need to study grammar?
15. How do I learn enough words?
16. Which is the best dictionary to get?
17. How important is pronunciation?
18. What about exams?
19. If I need to use English for my work, should I study Business English?
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