Contextualization

What is a dictionary?

A dictionary is a reference work that lists words in alphabetical order and provides essential information, such as meaning, pronunciation, etymology, and sometimes an example of use. As Portuguese language, like many other languages, is extremely rich and diverse, and the dictionaries work as a guide to help us navigate and understand this richness.

Importance of the dictionary

Dictionaries are very important tools to help learning any language. They help us increase our vocabulary, improve our comprehension of texts, help in writing and deepen our knowledge in the language. Dictionaries can be found in physical or online versions, and both are very valuable to aid us in this learning journey.

Words and context

Words do not exist in an isolated way, they make sense within a context. So, the same word can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is inserted. The dictionary's job is to offer these different meanings, so we can choose the one that best applies to the situation we are dealing with. This is a key concept that I want you to understand throughout this project.

Real application

Basically, all of us have used a dictionary, at some point, to find out the definition of an unknown word. However, in an academic environment, the dictionary is an essential tool for learning. It helps students improve their writing, reading, and comprehension. Besides that, the dictionary is also fundamental in any translation work, linguistic research, and even to create new words.

Practical activity: "Words on a Journey"

Project Objective

This project is designed to enhance students’ understanding of how to use a dictionary, the context of words, and teamwork. The main goal is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the meaning of words and how they change according to the context.

Detailed description of the project

This is a project that will be realized by groups of 3 to 5 students, and it is estimated to take at least 12 hours, putable to be extended according to each group's rhythm.

The project is divided into several sections and it is intended to be exploratory, challenging and, above all, fun!

Necessary materials

• Printed or online dictionaries
• Paper and pens
• Creative materials (colored papers, markers, glue, scissors, etc.)
• Computer with internet access, if available, for further research

Step by step

1. Selection of the words: Each group must select 10 words that they find interesting or are not familiar with.

2. Research in the dictionary: For each word, the students must look up its meaning, its etymology, its pronunciation, and an example of use in the dictionary.

3. Contextualization: For each word, the group must create three different contexts, where the word can have different meanings. The group must write sentences or short paragraphs illustrating the use of the word in each context.

4. Story Creation: The group must then create a short story incorporating all the words and their different contexts. The story must be coherent and creative.

5. Presentation: Each group must prepare a presentation to share their findings and their story with the class.

Project Deliverables

Written Document: Each group must produce a report that includes:

1. Introduction: Contextualizing the theme, its relevance and real-world application, and the objective of the project.

2. Development: Explaining the theory behind the project (use of the dictionary, meaning and context of the words), detailing the methodology used (how they selected the words, how they did the research, how they created the contexts and the stories), presenting the story created, and discussing the results (what they learned, surprises, challenges).

3. Conclusions: Bringing back the main points, explicating what was learned (technically and socio-emotionally), the conclusions about the project, and suggestions for future projects.

4. Bibliography: The sources used for the research (especially the dictionaries).

Oral presentation: Each group must give a presentation to the class, sharing their findings, reading the story created, and discussing the experience. The presentation must be organized, clear, and engaging. Besides the content, the students will also be evaluated on their presentation skills.