Dictionaries and Translators

Dictionaries are useful tools in learning a language. I still frequently refer to a dictionary to help me learn my native language of English better. For example, I just learned the difference between setup and set up. Now dictionaries dont only come as books, but also as electronic gadgets, software, online resources, and even as apps to be loaded on your cell phone. Do a Google search for WordWeb. Download and install the free version of the program on your computer.
(*A back-up instillation copy of Wordweb can be found in the 302 Assignments folder. But its probably better for you to gain the experience of learning how to find and download software.)

Using WordWeb, look up these common words up. Car Definition: A motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an

internal combustion engine o 10 Parts: automobile engine, anti-sway bar, bumper, fin, gas, grille, gun, low gear, high gear, and luggage compartment. o 10 Types: baggage car, cabin car, Cadillac, compact, coupe, estate, freight car, hardtop, HEV, and hybrid car
Shirt

Definition: A garment worn on the upper half of the body o 10 Parts: dickey, dickie, dicky, shirt button, shirtfront, shirting, shirtsleeve, and shirttail o 10 Types: camise, daishiki, dress shirt, evening shirt, hair shirt, polo shirt, sports shirt, tee shirt, work-shirt, and T-shirt Definition: Having undesirable or negative qualities o 10 Similarities: atrocious, awful, corky, crummy, dreadful, evil, fearful, hard, imitative, and invalid o Differences: Noun and Verb

Bad

setup or set up

List several online dictionaries and give an example entry of a word you looked up.

Dictionary
Ex. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/ technology noun

1. the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science. 2. the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature. 3. a technological process, invention, method, or the like. 4. the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization. Ex. Snappy Words Visual Dictionary http://www.snappywords.com/

Dictionary 1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Definition of KOREA

1 peninsula 600 miles (966 kilometers) long & 135 miles (217kilometers) wide E Asia between Yellow Sea & East Sea (Sea of Japan) 2 or Japanese Chosen country coextensive with the peninsula; once a kingdom & (191045) a Japanese dependency Seoul; divided 1948 at 38th parallel into republics of North Korea ( Pyongyang area 46,609 sq miles or 120,717 sq kilometers, pop 24,051,200) & South Korea (Seoul area 38,022 sq miles or 98,477 sq kilometers, pop50,200,000)

Dictionary 2 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
Korea (k -r
, k-, k -) A peninsula and former country of eastern Asia between the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. Site of an ancient civilization dating to the 12th century B.C., the peninsula was united as a kingdom in the 7th century A.D. and despite a Mongol invasion (13th century) remained unified until the Japanese occupation of 1910 to 1945. After World War II the Soviet- and U.S.-occupied territories formed separate republics, and a North Korean invasion of the south led to the Korean War (1950-1953). The peninsula is now divided between North Korea and South Korea.

Dictionary 3 www.oxforddictionaries.com

Korea
Syllabification: (Korea) Pronunciation: /kr/
Translate Korea | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

a region in eastern Asia that forms a peninsula between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea, now divided into

the countries of North Korea and South Korea. The first Korean state was established in the 1st century AD, and Korea was unified under the Silla dynasty in the 7th century. The country was ruled by the Joseon dynasty from the 14th century until its annexation by Japan in 1910. Following the Japanese surrender at the end of the Second World War, Korea was partitioned along the 38th parallel in 1948

Note: Search for Online Collocation Dictionary if time.

Translators (Bilingual Dictionaries) In the old days, one had to use a bilingual dictionary when doing translation work. Now there are several online resources that can translate not only words, but whole phrases or sentences. Even Microsoft Word has a translate function.

Use an electronic translator to translate these following sentences into English. Spanish: Mis alumnos son los mejores estudiantes en todo el mundo.

English Translation: My students are the best students worldwide.

French: Mon chien mang mes devoirs.

English Translation: My dog ate my homework.

Hebrew: ?

English Translation: Where can I buy this book?

Russian: .

English Translation: Brother Christensen is my favorite teacher.

Chinese (Taiwan):

English Translation: The red sports car drove down the road very fast.
Chinese (PRC):

English Translation: When I was young I fell in love with the girl next door.
Japanese: Brother Wyman makes very hard tests. (Sorry, too hard for the translator programs. Can you find one that works?)

Japanese Translation:
Korean: .

English Translation: I want to go to school in Hawaii.

Tai: hot

English Translation: I need to drink water because this food is spicy hot.
Tongan: Oku ou fia kai ia.

English Translation: Im hungry.

Do you think translator programs have a place in the L2 classroom? Explain.

Answer:
Although translating programs have become more accurate, they just translate the literal meanings into the language that user wants to translate. Therefore, it is not quite appropriate to use translating programs in language classrooms because the language classroom has to teach both meaning and rules of the language.

Finishing Touches
Blog after every class about what you are learning. Add a background color to this document, but make sure it is still easy to read. [Check out the answers to the translations below. Cool? huh!] Name this document Dictionaries and save it as a PDF or Word Document in your portfolio folder. Link the file to your Home Page.

Answers: Spanish: My students are the best students in the whole world. French: My dog ate my homework.