Active Dictionary

Many VLC texts are " Active Dictionary " pages and use the "point-&-click dictionary" function that dynamically links any word in the text to the VLC dictionary.

Simply place the cursor above any word in the text and double-clicking the mouse enables you to quickly see the dictionary entry for the word.

Active Dictionary web pages bring the functionality of desktop PC programs such as Encarta to the web - any word on the page can be immediately referred to the dictionary just by clicking on it with the mouse. Below is an example which shows the entry for the word extravagant after it has been clicked. Try it yourself now!

Renault : Hello, Rick.
Rick : Hello, Louis.
Renault : How extravagant you are,
throwing away women like that.
Someday they may be scarce.
Renault : You know, I think now I shall pay a call on Yvonne, maybe get her on the rebound, eh?
Rick : When it comes to women,
you're a true democrat.

Texts which feature this include most of the VLC grammar and reading exercises, as well as the News from the Web ESL Corner and the Reading for fun pages. Of particular interest is the Listen and learn section which integrates RealAudio sound files with this approach.

Resource-assisted learning

Active Dictionary web pages are a key feature of the Resource-assisted learning model for online learning which integrates audio streaming so you can listen as you read and at the same time use dictionary and concordance searches for vocabulary study.

For further and related academic discussions see:

	Windows Media presentation: "Resource-assisted learning: using computers to study language" by Chris Greaves
	Full paper: "Resource-assisted learning: a vocabulary on-demand model for online learning" by Chris Greaves
	"Can the rate of lexical acquisition from reading be increased? An experiment in reading French with a suite of on-line resources." by Tom Cobb, Chris Greaves & Marlise Horst