Lexicographic perspectives and L2 Spanish vocabulary

Abstract

Dictionary use facilitates autonomous language learning. Dictionaries have traditionally been considered a consultation tool rather than a strategic component in language teaching. Hence, dictionary use has not been included in most foreign language teaching and learning methodologies. Within this context, the goal of this chapter to help teachers to implement dictionary use with students of Spanish as Foreign Language/Spanish as a Second Language (SFL/SSL) students within the Meaning-Oriented Instruction (MOI) methodology. First, a state-of-art review on how dictionaries have been used in SFL/SSL courses is given; second, some suggestions on how to make the most of the dictionary in a SFL/SSL course are offered as well as some solutions to the lack of a genuine online dictionary for SFL/SSL learners. Finally, some ideas and sample activities related with different types of dictionaries and other products (e.g., online translators) that could be integrated into MOI are described. Using these products may improve vocabulary learning if teachers and learners increase their dictionary skills, if the dictionary is used as a strategic component in language teaching, and if different types of dictionaries are used simultaneously.