The use of bilingual school dictionaries for reading comprehension in high school English classes

Abstract

The National Curricular Parameters for High School – Modern Foreign Language (PCNEM/LEM, 2002) propose that reading skills be developed in the foreign language classes during the three years of high school, and outline that the use of bilingual dictionaries should be included in that process. This paper presents the structure of the English/Portuguese school dictionaries (macrostructure – list of lexical items included; microstructure – information about the form and meaning of the selected item; mediostructure or cross-reference system; outside matter – introduction, user’s guide and appendices) as well as suggests some activities to be done with this type of dictionary in the English classes.