It would be extremely useful for an intermediate learner and even advanced ones. The only drawback I see here for this resource is the sheer amount of information. As an added bonus, for teachers who may use this for private tutoring or in their classrooms, the CD includes vocabulary quizzes and worksheets in the Teacher’s Corner. For a motivated student, this is an invaluable resource for learning independently. Instructions and labeling on the CD-ROM program are very simple and easy to understand, so even a newer learner would be able to navigate it without difficulty. While less directly applicable to the Japanese context, for those choosing to study in England it is highly relevant and probably could be of value to those preparing for TOEIC or TOEFL. There is also a section that helps students prep for the Cambridge Preliminary English Test (PET) and Key English Test (KET). In addition, there are Language Trainer activities that allow students to focus on weak points (for example, practicing spelling difficult words with “e” or “a”) and Memory Games, which come in a wide variety and will suit all learner styles. The CD-ROM included has a digital version of the paper dictionary as well a thorough picture dictionary, which is excellent and easy to use. which are, of course, useful (and it’s a dictionary, not an encyclopedia) but my feeling is that a greater variety of maps is needed to highlight the whole world of English speaking countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada or even India. The use of color and layout in these sections are very pleasing to the eye. For example, kitchen verbs or sounds are things that may be culturally relevant, but also not taught because they’re seen as “common knowledge.” The study pages cover a wide variety of material such as letter writing, telling time or taking messages but also provide support for common issues like proper word choice or prepositions. What I really like about this part is that the words in the picture dictionary are those that tend to get overlooked in your typical vocabulary book or oral communication class, yet are high usage. One such item is a small picture dictionary of words in categories, such as verbs of movement, fruits and vegetables, sounds, or verbs in the kitchen.
The dictionary is also chock full of other content that will benefit language learners. Even with English as my first language, I find this to be the most accessible dictionary I have ever used. Perhaps the strongest point of the format, though, is the definitions themselves, which are very easy to understand.
It provides pointers on the distinctions and how to avoid confusing them. Another feature that some words have is a box called “word choice” which is attached to words that are easily confused with others. Entries may also include example sentences, key patterns, spelling, and thesaurus or grammar notes in blue boxes that stand out easily and provide support for the learner. This focus ensures that student can have more exposure to the words they need to know. The Wordwise 2000 are highlighted in red, and blue text identifies related phrases. The format of the dictionary allows students to focus on words that occur with great frequency rather than learning as many as possible. Colorful, engaging pictures are used judiciously and effectively while showing words clearly, avoiding confusion by drawing lines to different parts of images. The 2nd edition of the Longman Wordwise dictionary contains 38,000 words defined in simple, accessible English and highlights the 2000 most common words in the English language for easy identification and reference. Are you looking for a dictionary to recommend to your students that is easy to use, colorful and not off-putting to intermediate level learners? Look no further than the Longman Wordwise dictionary.