At the present stage, the role of the student in learning is becoming more significant, since the educational process is increasingly turning into a process of self-learning and the students themselves choose their education path. For successful self-directed learning, students need various skills. This article focuses on the teaching dictionary skills in primary schools. Under changed conditions, elementary schools are required to provide their students with the knowledge and skills in using various types of dictionaries, both printed and electronic media as well as monolingual and bilingual. Therefore, a clearly designed and properly organized educational environment is of utmost importance. Didactic conditions contribute to the development of dictionary skills and, in general, to self-development of students.