An Empirical Study Of Dictionary Use In English Writing: Implications Of Explicit Dictionary User Education

English dictionaries are essential for language learning. However, many surveys conducted in different countries show a common inefficiency in dictionary use and lack of reference skills among students. One way to solve the problem is to enhance users' reference skills, making them more efficient dictionary users. Although it is not easy to answer a question as how to conduct dictionary user education at school, reference skills can be improved by using dictionaries to help with some kind of language activity, and it is appropriate for language teachers to integrate dictionary user education into their teaching of study activities like writing. Therefore, the mission of the present study is to explore what and how English teachers should integrate in their teaching of L2 writing as instructions on dictionary use.The study adopts an empirical approach to answer the research questions:(1) How do Chinese EFL learners use dictionaries in their English writing? (2) What is the status quo of dictionary use in L2 writing among EFL learners in China? Two types of research methods are involved. In the close observation,10 English majors took part in a writing experiment. The whole process was carefully observed and recorded by the researcher. In the questionnaire survey, two groups of English majors (57 students in total) finished a questionnaire on dictionary use and user education. Data from questionnaires are carefully analysed and compared to show the general state of dictionary use among Chinese EFL learners.As to the status quo of dictionary use in L2 writing among EFL learners, data from the questionnaire show that all language learners have some experience of using learners' dictionaries, and that the higher language proficiency students possess, the more they tend to use dictionaries in their study. In addition, students think dictionary use is of great importance and they want to learn more about it.As to user training in writing classes, nine suggestions are put forward after the researcher observing how Chinese EFL learners use dictionaries in English writing:(1) In L2 writing, a combined use of monolingual dictionaries and bilingual leaners' dictionaries is a common practice. Therefore, knowledge about dictionary typology and features of some famous learners'dictionaries should be introduced to students so that they can take the advantages of different dictionaries. (2) Definition and examples in dictionaries are of great importance in L2 writing, so students should have full knowledge about the coding system in dictionaries to understand dictionary texts. (3) Reassurance, finding out an unknown equivalence and distinguishing synonyms to get the best expression are the three top search reasons in L2 writing. Thus, there is a special need for knowledge about using thesauruses and Chinese-English dictionaries. (4) In different stages of L2 writing, students have different reference needs, which require different reference skills. If user training is integrated into the writing class, teachers can introduce different reference strategies according to his/her course plan of writing. (5) More than one search is made for solving a single problem in writing. On the one hand, students should be encouraged to take more attempts and be patient enough when using dictionaries. On the other hand, group discussions on reference strategies are useful for students to share and enrich their reference skills. (6) A dictionary consultation is a complex cognitive process, involving a lot of linguistic and cognitive knowledge. Related linguistic and cognitive knowledge can be introduced to make effective use of dictionaries. (7) People with different levels of language competence have different reference needs and skills. Therefore, different course plans should be designed for beginners and advanced language learners. (8) Familiarity with dictionaries influences users'reference needs and skills too. It is necessary for teachers to introduce dictionary structure to students and to design exercises to ensure sufficient practice. (9) Language teachers play an important role in dictionary use and user education. Their recommendation and encouragements will drive students to make good use of dictionaries. Thus, explicit teaching of reference skills in classrooms can be an effective means of promoting dictionary use.The present study does not aim at a complete answer to the question of what and how to involve dictionary user training in the language classroom, but it provides some valuable suggestions and implications on explicit dictionary user education in English writing classes. Theoretically, it investigates the role of learners'dictionaries and their use in a particular study activity, i.e., L2 writing. The research also contributes to the research of dictionary user education in a broader sense.