The Effects of Using Dictionaries on Reading Comprehension

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dictionary use in reading comprehension for EFL learners-whether using dictionaries will affect the speed and accuracy of reading. The subjects who majored in English from one university were tested as dictionary users or non-dictionary users during reading comprehension test and fast reading test. The reading speed and comprehension accuracy were quantified for comparison. The results showed that dictionary consulting took negligible effects for both the reading comprehension examination and fast reading examination. Since the subjects were relatively uniform in their linguistic background, the tested results could present a favorable proof for the arguing recognition-the positive or negative effects of dictionary use during reading. In the light of the results, it is concluded that the consultation of dictionaries is not so effective for the reading comprehension.