• Mazeegha Ahmed Al-Tale

  Author

Use of Dictionaries in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Writing Skill tests (Writing tests)
has been the subject of ongoing debate in the Middle East, and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
in particular. The present study investigates the attitudes of EFL teachers and students towards
the use of bilingual dictionaries in Writing tests, and also the measured impact of bilingual
dictionary use on the exam performance of the same students. In order to collect empirical
evidence, two tailored questionnaires were presented to 120 female Saudi EFL college students
and eight female EFL Writing teachers to elicit their views on the subject. The results of an
Essay Writing Test by 55 female Saudi EFL students were also evaluated. Observation of the
Essay Writing groups was undertaken, while examples from the students' writings were
subsequently analyzed. It was found that most of the students, as well as a few teachers, were in
favour of the use of dictionaries in Writing tests. Interestingly, there was not a significant
difference between the students' performance with and without the use of dictionaries. The
students also appeared to exhibit more emotional stress, and asked for more time, when they
used bilingual dictionaries. It is concluded that although EFL students and a few teachers prefer
the use of bilingual dictionaries in Writing tests, in actuality the students lack the skills needed to
use the dictionaries perfectly. Training in the use of dictionary is sorely needed. It is
recommended that EFL students receive sufficient vocabulary teaching during the lectures and
adequate practice in dictionary usage while doing Writing Assignments.

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