English is not my native language. I have started to learn English when I was more than 18 years old.
Yet, at the moment I am reading more than 20 English books for one in several other languages I can comfortably read in combined.
This is the way I am improving my English skills. It is also much easier to get an English book for my Reader on the net. Just have a look at the numbers of English versus non-English books at the Project Gutenberg or other popular source of Public domain Books.
I have read well over a thousand books in English, yet I make point of NOT using dictionary while reading. If I can't read the book comfortably without a dictionary, I will not have pleasure reading it.
When I began reading books in English I was not very advanced student of English. I had to abandon many books because there were too many words I did not recognize, or the language was too colorful or elaborate. Very often I would borrow an English book from a "Foreign language library" in my town and I found translated words written in pencil in the book. This always spoiled my reading pleasure and made me angry. Yet, I very soon learned not to despair. Usually such an ... aehm ... "translator" lost interest after "translating" less than 10 pages and I have never discovered such translations beyond page 20.
For me there is also other consideration.
I often translate from and to English as a part of my job. I translate written text and also I interpret for people or make phone calls to our business partners.
When I am translating to English I try to avoid using dictionary (paper, on-line, software) as long as possible. I usually look up those few words I could not translate from my head after all the rest of text is translated.
The reason is, I have discovered that my brain is very, *very* lazy. When I look up the first word I soon discover that I have to look up words more and more frequently and I end up looking up words I am normally able to translate on-the-fly without hesitation.
This is another reason I am avoiding dictionaries as much as possible while reading for pleasure.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but there *are* people that are not interested in having a Dictionary on their Reader.
Do not worry. I am planning to get PRS-700 even if it DOES have a dictionary ;-)
Just do not expect me to pay extra for one
