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Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

dictionarygames.io

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Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#1

Post by tomek_zemla »

English is my second language. From my experience, I learnt that developing your vocabulary is a long and arduous process. Traditionally, learners used flashcards (or their digital incarnations). I wanted to build something more engaging and more effective in building your vocabulary.

DictionaryGames is aimed mostly at ESL (English as a Second Language) students, but I am hoping it might be fun for any English language lovers.

The project is in BETA, it is free, and no registration is required.

I am looking for feedback to improve it. If you comment, please indicate if you are a native English speaker. I am in particular interested in the feedback from ESL learners.

Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary
dictionarygames.io

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#4

Post by AlexErrant »

> Guess the missing word to complete the following sentence:

> Everyone respects him, he's the _ _ _ _ _ in this business.

Apparently the answer is "daddy"... this is not a good question or answer. Good luck with the launch, but you might want a native speaker to audit your question bank.

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#5

Post by tomek_zemla »

AlexErrant wrote: post #4

> Guess the missing word to complete the following sentence: > Everyone respects him, he's the _ _ _ _ _ in this business. Apparently the answer is "daddy"... this is not a good question or answer. Good luck with the launch, but you might want a native speaker to audit your question bank.

This is why it's still in BETA...

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#7

Post by tomek_zemla »

replwoacause wrote: post #6

Hmm, weird questions "Question: Find the word matching the following definition: Extremely or very much." My Attempt: "sufficient" Actual answer: "jolly" huh??

The data comes from various open source, academic, etc databases. If you look up Oxford dictionary you will find for example: adverb INFORMAL•BRITISH very; extremely. "he is jolly busy"

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#8

Post by replwoacause »

tomek_zemla wrote: post #7
replwoacause wrote: post #6

Hmm, weird questions "Question: Find the word matching the following definition: Extremely or very much." My Attempt: "sufficient" Actual answer: "jolly" huh??

The data comes from various open source, academic, etc databases. If you look up Oxford dictionary you will find for example: adverb INFORMAL•BRITISH very; extremely. "he is jolly busy"

Oh ok maybe that’s why it didn’t make sense to me, it’s a British colloquialism I’m not familiar with as an American.

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#9

Post by tomek_zemla »

replwoacause wrote: post #8
tomek_zemla wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The data comes from various open source, academic, etc databases. If you look up Oxford dictionary you will find for example: adverb INFORMAL•BRITISH very; extremely. "he is jolly busy"

Oh ok maybe that’s why it didn’t make sense to me, it’s a British colloquialism I’m not familiar with as an American.

Designing an ESL learning app for the global village is a challenge.

Re: Show HN: I made a word puzzles app for improving your English vocabulary

#10

Post by jamesdhutton »

I think your game has potential but, at present, the questions are too hard and the answers are sometimes simply wrong. Example:

Q: Find the noun matching the following definition: "A burden or responsibility."

A: Saddle

This is not correct. Saddle as a verb can mean "to burden", but as a noun it does not mean a burden.

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