Thursday, August 25, 2016

What can you read?

After learning the 360 high-frequency words from the Learn These Words First lessons, you will know more than half of the words you see on any typical page of English text. Then you can start finding articles you can read with a small vocabulary, such as:
  • Books written at an easy reading level for children or second-language learners (for example: Penguin Readers or Pearson English Active Readers).
  • Websites for English learners, written using simpler English vocabulary and shorter sentences (for example: the Simple English Wikipedia).
Tip: When you read sentences containing some unfamiliar words, you can type the words (or copy and paste whole sentences) into the Word Finding Tool. It can show you where to find a simple explanation for each word.

What books and websites have you found that are easy to read with a small English vocabulary?

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Monday, August 15, 2016

Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary

The Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary (learnersdictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.


  • Headwords are defined using simple language for learners. (3000 "Core Vocabulary" words are identified here.)
  • You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.

Read more...

Friday, August 5, 2016

Collins Cobuild English for Learners Dictionary

The Collins Cobuild English for Learners Dictionary (at www.collinsdictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.


  • Headwords are all defined using a 3000-word defining vocabulary.
  • You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.
  • You can see translations of the headword or look it up in several bilingual dictionaries.

Read more...

Monday, July 25, 2016

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.


  • Headwords are all defined using a 3000-word defining vocabulary. (You can see the "Oxford 3000" defining vocabulary listed here.)
  • You can hear British (BrE) and American (NAmE) pronunciations of headwords.
  • Double-click any word to look up its meaning.
  • Definitions include information about grammar, usage, idioms and phrasal verbs.

Read more...

Friday, July 15, 2016

Macmillan Dictionary

The Macmillan Dictionary (www.macmillandictionary.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate-level learners of English.


  • Headwords are all defined using a 2500-word defining vocabulary. (You can see the defining vocabulary listed here.)
  • You can listen to recorded pronunciations of headwords.
  • For most words in a definition, clicking a word will look up its meaning.

Read more...

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

The Cambridge Learner's Dictionary (at dictionary.cambridge.org) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate-level learners of English.


  • Headwords are all defined using a 2000-word defining vocabulary.
  • You can listen to British (UK) and American (US) pronunciations of headwords.
  • For most words in a definition, clicking a word will look up its meaning.
  • You can see translations of the headword or look it up in several bilingual dictionaries.

Read more...

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (www.ldoceonline.com) is a monolingual dictionary for intermediate to advanced learners of English.


  • Headwords are all defined using the 2000-word Longman Defining Vocabulary. (This is the same set of 2000 words explained in the Learn These Words First dictionary.)
  • Double-click any word to look up its meaning.
  • Definitions include information about grammar, usage, idioms and phrasal verbs.

Read more...