A case study on the use of dictionary as a strategy for learning english vocabulary

This case study attempts to examine how students actually use the English dictionary, as well as their perceptions concerning dictionary use for learning vocabulary, factors that motivate them to learn vocabular y through the dictionary, and problems that students encounter in using the print dictionary. Data from respondents was collected using questionnaires as the main instrument . A semi - structured interview was also conducted for the purpose of eliciting more information from respondents. The samples used in this study were 201 Form Four students of a secondary school in Kuching who were selected out of 14 classes by cluster random sampling method. Analysis of the data allows us to see how students actually use their dictionary, how they perceive the use of dictionary for vocabulary learning, factors that motivate them to learn vocabulary through the dictionary, and the problems students encounter in using the dictionary. Based on the finding, it shows that stud ents are not too dependent on the dictionary for new word meanings but only do so after trying to deduce the meaning of the word from context. It also indicates that students are positive towards the use of dictionary for learning vocabulary. The most prom inent factor that seems to influence students’ preference of using the dictionary for learning the vocabulary is from parents. The finding also reveals that a great majority of respondents acknowledge the fact that some word used in the dictionary to defin e a new word are found to be more difficult than the word itself