PROJECTS

When I developed this app, I was grappling with my English skills. I could barely string together 2 or 3 words at a time, which left me feeling frustrated and uncertain about how to improve. Initially, I adopted an approach to learning vocabulary by reading books and newspapers, noting down unfamiliar words, memorizing them, seeking out synonyms, and writing sentences using them. However, I later realized that this wasn't the most efficient way to learn. The key to vocabulary acquisition is to read extensively and look up words in a dictionary as needed without dwelling on them too much. Over time, frequent exposure to words leads to natural assimilation and usage. Unfortunately, I didn't recognize this at first and instead focused on deliberate vocabulary study. I even developed this app to mimic my learning process, which, in hindsight, was more beneficial for my coding skills than for my vocabulary.

This app marks my return to using React after a long break. It utilizes React and the Merriam-Webster dictionary API to provide definitions, synonyms, examples, and other resources to enrich your vocabulary. The app also offers features to practice pronunciation and writing with the words you're learning.

To use the app, you start by entering a word into an input field. The app then fetches its definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary API. Once the definition is retrieved, you are directed to a new page that presents detailed information about the word, including definitions, synonyms, and examples to help contextualize it. A "Say It" button is available to aid in pronunciation; clicking this button will play the word's pronunciation for you to replicate. In the "Your Turn" section, a text area allows you to practice using the word in writing. As you type, the app tracks the number of words you've used, enabling you to gauge your progress.

What is special about this app is the ability to click on any word on the result page to open a new page with information about that word, similar to the current one. This feature mimics the learning process I was engaged in at the time: while looking up new words, if I encountered another unfamiliar word, I would look up its meaning, and so on, creating a never-ending loop of vocabulary study. I didn't recognize this as a problem at the time and even incorporated it as a feature in my app.