Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noguri]

I am going to be teaching Elementary English Composition and Intermediate Conversation classes this coming semester. It's my first time to teach in Korea.

I think I should require students to have a dictionary with them in class, how else can they improve their vocabulary and comprehension? However, I'm not certain which dictionary I should tell them to get.

Should I make them get an English-only dictionary? Or, would a Korean-English dictionary work just as well?

[Novernae]

In my opinion they should have both, but should rely on the English only one whenever possible. Any word they translate from a Korean-English dictionary should then be looked up in the English only one to ensure it is a good translation for the context. It also helps to be sure the word is usd correctly (ie transitive vs. intransitive, count vs. non-count). For classwork, the dictionary makes a wonderful base. You can do a couple of classes on how to use it properly and effectively, which they will then apply to all of their writing. This of course is in an ideal world...
The best English dictionary I've come across for language learners is the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. They give slightly simpler definitions than your standard English only dictionary, and they have a lot of language tips throughout the book to help correct usage errors specific to ESL learners. They also do comparisons between British and American English.

[HapKi]

As a warning, most dictionaries used in the classroom nowadays are electric. Functions include Korean/English, English/Korean, history of words looked up, voice pronunciation thingy, and many others.
I think the positives of electronic outweigh the negatives, if there are any negatives at all...

[RobinH]

I always suggested that my students have an English-English dictionary at home, but it's too much to expect them to bring it to class. The just won't do it. Have several dictionaries available in the classroom for them to use as needed.

[ttompatz]

[dogshed]

[rothkowitz]

One with phonetics in brackets and have a class on that for self-study/correction.

[SuperHero]

I would recommend internet dictionaries. If they have a laptop or pda with internet then they can use yahoo dictionary for translation and www.m-w.com for english-english confirmation.

[rothkowitz]

Students will fart about all through class if they bring one.I think you really have to limit the time spent with them.