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Effects of Printed, Pocket Electronic, and Online Dictionaries on High School Students’ English Vocabulary Retention

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Abstract

This study obtained empirical evidence regarding the effects of using printed dictionaries (PD), pocket electronic dictionaries (PED), and online type-in dictionaries (OTID) on English vocabulary retention at a junior high school. A mixed-methods research methodology was adopted in this study. Thirty-three seventh graders were asked to use all three types of dictionaries to finish reading tasks, and then were tested not only immediately after the reading tasks, but also two and four weeks later. Questionnaires and interviews were used to examine the participants’ attitudes and reflections after using the three types of dictionaries. Results indicate that although electronic dictionaries (OTID and PED) temporarily attract junior high school students’ attention, PD helps them retain target words more effectively. Spending more time working with a PD apparently helped participants retain target words better. In contrast, the fast retrieval speed of an electronic dictionary might not impress the word forms and meanings onto junior high school students to such a significant degree. Electronic dictionaries could thus be used as a gateway to arouse students’ interest to use dictionaries, while printed dictionaries could be used to help students retain the word forms and meanings.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the students who participated in the study. They also appreciate the two anonymous reviewers and the Handling Editor, Professor Su Luan Wong, for their constructive comments. This study was partially supported by the National Science Council in Taiwan (NSC 100-2511-S-006-001-MY2, NSC 98-2511-S-006-003-MY2 and NSC 100-2631-S-011-003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foreign Languages and Literature Department, Foreign Language Center, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Road, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan

    Li-Ling Chiu & Gi-Zen Liu

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  1. Li-Ling Chiu
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  2. Gi-Zen Liu
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Correspondence to Gi-Zen Liu.

Appendix

Appendix

Follow-up Vocabulary Tests

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Chiu, LL., Liu, GZ. Effects of Printed, Pocket Electronic, and Online Dictionaries on High School Students’ English Vocabulary Retention. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 22, 619–634 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-013-0065-1

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