dictionaries on beginning level Russian tests?

[Zrinka Jelaska]

Some remarks

There are different possibilities depending on the nature and the purpose
of the test. And the language level.

1. If the purpose of a test is to asses somebody's vocabulary knowledge,
esp. vocabulary accquired so far, the use of a dictionary would be
inappropriate.


2. If a test is used for other things as well, and the time is strictly
limited (short enough) so that the student will not have enough time to
look for too many words, the dicitionary may be allowed.

3. If it is an essay writing test, the teacher might allow the dictionary
so that students may expand their vocabulary, that is - use words they
have not completely acquired, yet know to some extend (showing competence
in using the dictionary). However, using unknown words from a dictionary
may be contra-productive

But, if we are speaking about true beginners who just learned some 100-300
most frequent words, there is no reason to have a dictionary as they
should simply know them.


A teacher of Croatian L2

.
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have one Beginning Russian student from Argentina who insists that it is
> normal for students to use dictionaries when taking beginner-level tests.
>  I have told him why I do not permit dictionaries (one reason being that
> he needs to memorize new vocabulary), but I am hoping to also get some
> input from you as to whether you allow dictionaries on beginning level
> language tests, and why/why not.   This question had never occurred to me
> in the past, because it just seems obvious to me that they are not used.
> Thank you!
>
> Elena
>
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Prof. dr. sc. Zrinka Jelaska
Odsjek za kroatistiku
Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
e-pošta: zjelaska at ffzg.hr
tel. +385 1 6120 074, tajnica 6120 067

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