Meaning and Pronunciation
Meaning and Pronunciation Resources (Dictionaries and Translation Apps)
I have links to most of these websites in the documents I send my students, but below is a concise list. I have one important comment regarding ChatGPT: there might be the temptation (particularly for my younger learners) to use ChatGPT to write a composition from scratch. This is using AI as a crutch, and will eventually have the same consequences as using a physical crutch to support a healthy leg: that limb will weaken and wither away instead of getting stronger. Don’t overuse technology!
Also, I’ve seen evidence of some students writing a composition first in their native language, before translating the text into English. Even if you do the translation yourself, not writing a text from scratch in your target language reduces the benefits.
ChatGPT - This is a free AI system taking the world by storm; it’s good for proofreading homework after you’ve written it
deepl.com - This is a great website/app based in Berlin with a Eurocentric bent
Merriam-Webster - When it comes to American dictionaries, this is the Grandaddy of Them All; from time to time this online dictionary derived from Noah Webster’s creation shows its age, and double-checking with the OED is a good idea
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) - This UK-based online dictionary has an even more venerable pedigree than Merriam-Webster’s; one of its useful features included with all definitions is a set of both British and US English pronunciations