Bilingual vs Monolingual Dictionaries | Which is better?

[@25CART]

OMG, I finally found a teacher with the same way of thinking than me. I thought I was wrong all this time and I've just discovered I've been right all my life. Thanks, Max. I really appreciate your video. I could've sounded as if I were exaggerating but I meant it. People always recommended that I should use a monolingual dictionary and I always refused because, now, that I'm reading an English book, I wouldn't be fast enough if I used a monolingual dictionary. That would be stressful. I'm free now!

[@EnglishwithMax]

Hi Carlos! Thanks for your comment! I can completely understand, because I had one or two teachers in the past who said that too, and it just made me feel guilty for using bilingual dictionaries. I know there are some things that are hard to translate, but the meanings of words are often clearer to me if I see a translation. And if you have a good bilingual dictionary, to me it definitely makes sense to use it if you're reading a book. Well done for reading an English book, by the way! Lots of people find that too intimidating or just too much work. :D

[@Ulghart]

I use both honestly. Most of the times, bilingual, and if the translation is not quite correct (sometimes there isn't an exact translation) I go for the monolingual. I agree with you, use whatever you feel more comfortable with. The important thing is to keep progressing !! About WordReference, yes, it has some flaws but in general terms is spot-on, and the pronunciation part, with different accents, is really good. I have checked a lot of words in Spanish, it usually has three different accents, and it is always correct. I assume that the English accents must be right as well. Cheers!!

[@EnglishwithMax]

Yes, I agree! And whenever I checked, the English audio was correct on WordReference. Again, thanks for watching!

[@SalaamKikhwa]

As an Arabic speaker I find Oxford Wordpower the best approach because it is an En-En-Ar dictionary which mean it's basically a monolingual because it uses English definitions but at the same time it gives meaning in Arabic. Bilingual dictionaries are very good when someone starts learning a language and usually they are good for those simple words which do not have several meanings or they give you the common meaning of the word. When you advance in language you definitely need a monolingual because really some words cannot simply be translated literally without a definition. I wish if all English dic. were like Oxford Wordpower.

[@maxheadrom3088]

That's how the Password IEn-Portugues) and Señas (Spanish-Portuguese). I believe they are called semi-bilingual dictionaries. I think the route is bilingual, semi-bilingual then monolingual. I started using monolingual (English) early on together with a bilingual one and it really helped me kind of "think in English".

[@peternakitch4167]

You're right you didn't say what I expected. I am not a teacher, but I work with many of them in a vocational and higher education environment, including several who teach English as a second language and they have different recommendations. Loved the sound effect at the start. You keep making 'em I'll keep watching, although I don't need your language instruction unless I wish to learn French (which I do as I am planning to travel to France and Europe next year).

[@EnglishwithMax]

I admit I'm flattered that a native speaker finds my videos interesting :D. I hope you have a great trip! Yes, I think the French often appreciate it if you've learnt at least a bit of French. :)

[@tomaszbeszterda7405]

I use billingual and monolingual dictionaries. A good option is also to use a thesaurus. Quick synonym in the same language is quite useful in my opinion. Nice & useful video. Thx so much!

[@adrianazuaje2892]

Hi Max! I normally use both, monolingual and bilingual.

[@EnglishwithMax]

👍

[@gabrielleconti]

Thank you Max!! I use word reference quite a lot when I have a doubt about a specific word. Thanks for the video, have a nice weekend!!

[@EnglishwithMax]

My pleasure! Have a nice week!

[@riccirocco4085]

Hi, i completely agree with you here. I think it wuold make no sense using a monolingual vocabulary to look up words for concrete things such as: animals , objects, jobs exc wich are easily translatable in one' s own language; moreover sometimes in the definition of a word there is just a list of synonyms ( ehich a non-native speaker is not meant to know). I myself use different online vocabularies complemetarly,because one can sometimes display an hasty/sloppy definition/translation whereas others don' t. Besides; for slang expessions, idioms and the like i use specific dictionaries. So, in conclusion, i think that the best thing is always to make a smart use of the resources at one' s disposal. Anyway, great video; i like the way you approach this kind of topics : without pulling easy solutions ( wich never exist ) out of the hat and pretending to be a guru, but with sincerity and humility.

[@k.padhikari9917]

Thank you very much for good suggestion

[@Abimael095]

Yes

[@notsaint8798]

Te encontre

[@gadielsupremo3214]

@@notsaint8798 yes

[@tonysroomchat4827]

I DO use bilingual keyboard and also a monolingual dictionary in english. I think this is good to improve any target language you chose learning, and of course Google translate for any doubt about the meaning.. and also Cambridge is my favorite dictionary ..Lol.. Thank You!!

[@EnglishwithMax]

It's good that you've found your method! :)

[@KnightOfEternity13]

This is a very interesting discussion. Some people try to fully immerse in the studied language and they feel that bilingual dictionaries distract them too much by using two languages. They also believe that using monolingual dictionary by itself increases amount of practice . I personally prefer to be learning from media I'm reading. I like to spend time with dictionaries as little as possible. They are just a quick tool for me. So I use a concise bilingual dictionary to get a "hint" and figure other from the context of media itself. I'm not trying to understand a word completely at once, I'm OK with understanding how it's used in a context I met it. And if I meet it again, I'll learn even more about it. Another problem with monolingual dictionaries is that they are often targeted at natives and not learners. They could use long definitions with obscure words, but have too few meaningful examples. For me it's easier to learn from examples than from long definitions. This example of looking for some bird's definition also pinpoints a frequent problem with monolingual dictionaries. However, it could be argued that by reading monolingual dictionary you actually learned more about this bird, even by not figuring its name in the native language. Now, if you already knew well about this bird, than bilingual could won again, because you wouldn't wasted your time trying to guess the bird from a long description.

[@EnglishwithMax]

Thank you for your comment :). Yes, I agree - I think example sentences are often more useful than long definitions.

[@JkVersus]

I think Google translate more faster. If I want to know the meaning of words or sentences, I just need to select and click right mouse button for "To Google Translate" option. :) I also use the Oxford Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary. Excellent books! I like it. Thanks Max! Have a great weekend!

[@JkVersus]

P.S. : Max, I wanna show you a funny video... :) Multilingual bet kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2STc3lqeNRjqpI

[@EnglishwithMax]

Whatever works. :D And thanks for the link! It's a funny experiment. :)

[@alexsopko701]

Hi, Max it's a pleasure to watch your videos they're very helpful. I learn a lot from them. Thanks a lot my dear teacher and have a lovely day.

[@EnglishwithMax]

Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you find them useful! :)

[@aparecidoferreiravais321]

Hi Max I prefer bilingual English Portuguese Have a great weekend my beautiful teacher 😉🇧🇷

[@EnglishwithMax]

Thank you! Have a great week!

[@moussabalqaissy7110]

I'm using both of them. It depends on the context that particular word come in.

[@EnglishwithMax]

👍

[@ismailhossain9266]

Thank you

[@albaflores5744]

Mam would you please make the video about model verbs that is"ought to,should,must,have to,suppossed to" .I have had a confusion for last 1 year.pls upload some video about that

[@EnglishwithMax]

I can't make any promises, but I can add that to my list :).

[@safwanaliroy7996]

my amazing teacher on Instagram and KZbin 😊😍❤

[@EnglishwithMax]

❤️❤️

[@Abu-Aley]

I love those how r flexible and think out of the square. I'm C1 English learner, yet I'd rather use bilingual dictionary, but I always do the opposite to u, I start with monolingual; if I didn't get the meaning, I jump to a bilingual one. Thanks Max, Regards, Ahmad,

[@EnglishwithMax]

Thanks for your comment! It's good you've found a method that works for you! Sometimes it takes a little bit of trial and error, but normally it's worth it. :)

[@olegjagga9577]

Max, it's not something new, teachers used to advise using monolingual dictionaries even 25 years ago.

[@EnglishwithMax]

You're right. "Trendy" is probably not the best way to describe it. I remember one or two French teachers saying it to my class more than ten years ago. I guess I should just say that it's a popular thing to say. ;)

[@ДмитрийМаксимов-в8й]

Какая же ты всё-таки милаха! "Blah-Blah-Blah" - it sound so funny in Russian. Like an curse))

[@EnglishwithMax]

Haha :)

[@longnguyen9638]

Thanks Max!

[@EnglishwithMax]

Thanks for watching, Long!

[@kashifalikhan5124]

Great

[@mubarakshabir9290]

Thanks mem

[@m-gluk]

Honestly, I only use Google translator when I need to write a comment. 😎

[@EnglishwithMax]

Haha :). I often use it for that too!

[@marvinantoniorugamalopez7893]

I think it depends on the level that you have.

[@EnglishwithMax]

👍Yes, it often does.

[@motazrajab5574]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@AyazKhan-ck9bo]

haaahaaa i m like your mistake when show end of video .. any way i m Pakistani and i like to learn English .but one problem i facing i watch a lot English lecture but i m not lean the main reason is that here is not any environment of English and that why i m not learn English . how to possible to learn English .Properly give me any suggestion to lean English

[@EnglishwithMax]

Haha :). The main things I can recommend are listening and reading in English as much as possible (and not just English lessons). You can perhaps watch other types of KZbin videos on topics that interest you, or listen to podcasts. I also recommend keeping a notebook where you write and revise new things you've learnt. I also make some recommendations in these videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpuQlomOibd1ftk kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqauqXRsiqiVoqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKGcd5WnaNiBbbc I hope that helps!

[@v_svlog541]

number

[@smootherzzz]

I don't use dictionaries "0-0