Learn a New Word Every Day!
There are excellent resources on the internet for learning a new word every day! I recommend the following resources for people learning English:
1. Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary
Merriam-Webster is an American dictionary, but it lists both American and British pronunciation. If you are studying American English, this is best dictionary to use.
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
Every day there is a new ‘word of the day’:
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/lwod.php
This dictionary is great for many reasons:
a. Each definition is clear and simple to understand. There are also many example sentences to help you understand the word & how to use it.
b. You can HEAR someone say the word so you can learn the correct pronunciation. Next to each word there is a red speaker icon. If you click on that icon, you can hear someone say the verb.
c. This dictionary will also tell you how to spell the plural form of a noun, plus the spelling of the different verb forms (for example: looks, looked, looking).
d. The word of the day is tweeted: http://twitter.com/MWforLearners
e. You can like this dictionary on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/learnersdictionary
BONUS:
*The ‘Ask the Editor’ blog is a great resource for English learners! Once or twice week, one of the editors of the dictionary answers a question from an English learner. There is a form where you can send in your own question!
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/blog.php
2. Cambridge Dictionary
The Cambridge Dictionary is a British dictionary, but it lists both the British and American pronunciation and spelling. There are 6 different dictionaries at this website! Click on ‘Learner’s.’
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Every day there is a new ‘word of the day’:
http://www.dictionary.cambridge.org/wordoftheday.asp
Each ‘word of the day’ is followed by the word used in a sentence.
This dictionary is great for many reasons:
a. The definitions are clear and simple, and there are many example sentences to help you understand the words.
b. There is a speaker icon next to the word so you can HEAR the word & practice the pronunciation of the word.
c. To the left of the definition, you will see a box. In the box, you can find different forms of the word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) plus any phrasal verbs & idioms that might use this word. Try typing ‘look’ in the search box, and try to find the definition of ‘look up.’
d. This dictionary has a visual thesaurus below each definition. The visual thesaurus will tell you different synonyms for the word.
e. You can like this dictionary on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambridge-Dictionaries-Online/118775618133878
Comments
hi,I would like tell to you a small things for learning English every day i’m lisitening english mini story that’s vrey great idea for study english and also can understand gramar but I would like fell improvment much faster i like studt english by audio only I hat text books. i’m study english five years in the scool but i can’t speak fluntly now only 3 monthes I fell better but i need help me to improvement vocabulary from where can get them . i’m very very thank’s see you lather
Hi, Raafat!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Learning English takes a lot of time, patience & effort! It’s not easy, but you are doing the right thing!
Keep up the good work,
Melanie
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Hi Melanie,
Thank you very much to share these helpful website. But somehow I could not access in the Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary. I’ve wondered if it no longer exists?
Hi, Troy!
Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary is alive and well! I have checked all the MW links in this post and they all lead to the dictionary.
Where do you live? Perhaps the website is blocked in your country?
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hi, Melian, i live in US since 2007, english is my second languge, i went to school and took ESL class as well but i have still a problem when i was communicate with other people ( when i was talk with other people), what do you recommende me to improve my communcation skill.
thank you
Hi, Yoha!
The best thing for you to do is find a private tutor in your town/city. You need to talk to a native speaker one-on-one to improve your communication. Do you live near a major city? Try googling “private ESL teacher ” or “private ESL tutor ” to find a teacher.
Good luck to you,
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Thank you, i would like to learn English both speaking fluently and writing. Because my require it. Thank you
Hi Teacher Melanie!
This website helps me improve my grammar. Thanks a lot!
Hi Melanie,
Good Day !!
Since long time I was looking for on line english tutor and i think my search ends when i saw your website today.
While going website i saw very intresting infomation and tips which will definately improve vocabulary of english. I also observe that small tips which has give for the improvment of english are definately help lot to the beginers to move forword.
I congratulates for your initiate and wish you best luck ahead.
Thanks and best regards
Sunil Karwa
Thanks for the story of chip on the shoulder.
I’ve a little bit question.
I’m learning approx. 8 words a day.
But I have a huge problem that I forgetting most of what I learned. So, Are there anyway to memorize new words forever or for a long time?