Learn English Blog

Chris Lonsdale's 5 Principals and 7 Actions to Learn a Language in 6 Months

2024-08-05T20:04:00.002-04:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0yGdNEWdn0

How to learn any language in six months | Chris Lonsdale | TEDxLingnanUniversity

6:58 4 Words: Attention-Meaning-Relevance-Memory

7:58 1st Principle:Focus on Language Content that is relevant to you We learn tools the fastest when they are relevant to us

8:48 2nd Principle: Use your Language as a Tool to Communicate from Day One !

9:37 3rd Principle: When you first Understand the Language ... you will unconsciously Acquire the Language!

10:29 4th Principle: Physiological Training: Hear the language, if you can't hear it you cant understand it and you cant learn it, and speaking

11:38 5th Principle: Psycho-Physiological State matters: If you are happy, relaxed in an alpha brain state, curious you will learn very quickly, but dont be to perfectionist, be fine with understanding some and some not

12:16 7 actions for learning, 12:18 1: Listen a lot 12:42 2: get the Meaning first 13:29 3: Start mixing: If you have 10 verbs and 10 nouns you can create 1000 sentences 13:57 4: Focus on Core: 3000 Words covers 98% of anything you are gonna say in daily conversation

14:22 Week 1Tool Box:

Questions in Language to help you learn: "What is this?" ; "How do you say?" ; " I dont understand"

14:40 Week 2: You should be saying things like : you, that, me, hot ; Pronouns, Common Verbs, Adjectives 14:53 Week 3-4: Glue Words:although, but, therefore, and 15:20 5: Get a language Parent:

16:04 Rules for a language Parent: 1 works/tries to understand what you are saying; 2 Does not correct mistakes; 3 confirms understanding by using correct language; 4 uses Words the learner knows

16:28 6: Copy the Face: Hear how it feels and feel how it sounds, look at a native speaker uses their face

17:11 7: Direct Connect to mental Images: Verything you know is an image inside your head, go to that image and connect it with sounds

English words are classified into Eight Parts of Speech

2024-07-25T09:53:00.003-04:00

All English words are classified. The term we use to name these classifications is "Parts of Speech". All English words are classified into eight parts of speech: the verb, the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection.

The parts of speech are the building blocks of the English language.

Each English part of speech explains what the word is, how the word is used and the function the word performs. The same English word can perform as a noun in one sentence and a verb or adjective in the next sentence.

The verb is perhaps the most important part of the sentence. A verb or compound verb states something about the subject of the sentence. The verb depicts actions, events, or states of being.

A noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place, thing, or abstract concepts. A noun can function in a sentence as a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, a subject complement, an object complement, an appositive, an adjective or an adverb.

Pronouns as a part of speech can replace a noun, another pronoun, noun phrases and perform most of the functions of a noun.

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. Many consider articles: "the, a, an" to be adjectives.

An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a complete clause by indicating manner, time, place, cause, or degree.

A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.

Conjunctions link words, phrases, and clauses.

An interjection is a part of speech used to show or express emotion or illustrate an exclamation.

English grammar rules are the blueprint for constructing English phrases, clauses and sentences.

Original publication English Grammar Glossary

2010-09-06T14:33:17.236-04:00

Descriptions of ESL English Classes

2024-05-03T13:04:00.007-04:00

ESL in Canada is organizing in-person classes in Windsor Ontario Canada.

First session: June to August 2024

Second session: September to December 2024

Email for additional information:

Descriptions of ESL English classes by specific language skills, by purpose such as IELTS or TOEFL test preparation or English for work, or industry specific vocabulary such as math or medicine.

English Language Pronunciation Class

English language pronunciation includes all the mechanical functions and skills of language sound production and the specific word pronunciation patterns of the English language in context.

English Language Conversation Lessons and Classes

We know that English Language Conversation Skills consist of language abilities, conversation skills, social skills, culture knowledge and non-verbal communication skills.

English Language Grammar Class

English language grammar includes all the technical functions, definitions, explanations and word placement rules, practices and procedures of written language production using English language vocabulary.

English Language Writing Class

English Language writing is defined as: the activity of putting something in written form; the act of creating written works; letters or symbols written or imprinted on a surface to represent the ideas, sounds or words of a language; the work of a writer; anything expressed using the letters of the alphabet in words.

English Language Vocabulary Class

Vocabulary is the content of English. Vocabulary class helps you understand the meaning of the words.

English classes for a Special Purpose or Hobby

English Through Comedy

Explore and examine the variety and nature of comedy in English through film, TV series, sketch shows and political satire. In addition to absorbing language, see how different types of comedy are used in North America.

English Through Film

Expand your knowledge of colloquial vocabulary and expressions by studying and discussing films. Learn about cinematic techniques, read and write movie reviews, and discuss culture and ideas presented in films.

English Through Global Social Issues

This course is designed to develop students' English language skills through the study of global issues. Improve fluency and build vocabulary by exploring and discussing contemporary social issues. Topics reflect global concerns such as women's and children's rights, health care, religion and environmental issues.

English Through Journalism

This course develops your English writing skills with an integrated focus on vocabulary and grammar development. Strengthen your writing skills through the fun and exciting context of journalism. You will have the opportunity to become an investigative reporter. Develop and refine your skills by researching topics in your host country and writing short articles and blogs. You'll have the opportunity to explore the city and investigate issues that are important to you and build solid writing and interviewing skills.

English Through Media Studies

Take this course if you are interested in developing your English skills through exploring media, social media and their impact on society. You will analyze both the structure and context of newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the Internet.

English Through Music

Explore the language of music while learning about the history of popular music genres. Learn about the roots of hip-hop, jazz, rock and roll, punk and other popular music genres, and discuss some of the famous artists who have contributed to each in music history. The focus on each genre may vary based on the interests of the group. Practice your English through reading and discussing song lyrics and improve your listening comprehension and vocabulary by analyzing the rich stories told in a variety of songs. No musical experience necessary.

English Through Media Studies

Develop your English writing, reading, listening and speaking skills while exploring the history of social media and its various applications for business, politics and personal use. You will learn how social media is changing our world through examining case-studies, and participating in class discussions and a group project.

English Through Toronto

Develop your English language skills, and language learning strategies while you explore Toronto's history, historical buildings, churches, neighbourhoods and civilization, both in and outside of the classroom. Learn about and experience Toronto history through readings, videos, and field trips. The course will include written and oral assignments so that you'll be able to put your language learning into practice and track your progress in the course.

International Current Events

Master the language of international affairs and keep pace with today's changing political climate. Practice English through debates on politics, economics and law. Instructional media for this course includes television, video and the Internet.

Street Talk

Enhance your knowledge of everyday colloquial English to communicate more easily with native speakers outside the classroom. Informal language including idioms, phrasal verbs and slang, are taught for practical, real life situations using a variety of authentic materials such as TV shows, commercials and blogs.

Performing Arts

If you are looking for a way to express yourself and be creative, then the Performing Arts Certificate in English is for you! This Certificate program guides you from working with the written word to the spoken word with increased confidence and fluency. Adopt English speaking culture by embracing the tones, the colours, and the passion of the language! Find your English voice by progressing from shorter to longer written pieces, from dialogues to storytelling, radio, theatre and onward to theatrical or filmmaking productions. Develop a balance of speaking and writing skills - Bring your language to life - Transform written language skills into everyday spoken English - Expand your spoken and written vocabulary using a range of powerful speech production techniques - Work intensively on English language fluency and accuracy.

Green Leadership

In this course, you will learn vocabulary, expand your listening and fluency skills, prepare, write and deliver presentations and expand your overall English language skills, while focusing on a combination of leadership and environmental topics. What can one person do? What can awareness bring us? How can we work together as a team to make change happen?

Academic and Test Preparation Courses

Academic Speaking & Listening

Students develop the speaking skills to participate effectively in academic classes and discussions, as well as to develop effective presentation skills.

Academic Vocabulary

Expand your knowledge and use of academic vocabulary; the course covers the most useful and frequently used academic vocabulary found in academic settings. Practice and review new vocabulary using a variety of methods, including speaking, discussions, writing sentences/paragraphs, reading, and quizzes.

Academic Writing

Academic Writing focuses on the skills needed to succeed in college, university or TAFE: essay writing, lecture comprehension, note taking, research and academic discussion skills.

Business English Cambridge

Improve your business English vocabulary and skills by focusing on aspects of the Cambridge BEC tests. Focus on business vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills for business situations. Increase your professional chances in global job markets as well as opportunities to work abroad.

Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is the fourth level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an advanced exam. The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is the fourth level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

It is an advanced exam. Although the level of language skills required is not as high as for the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CAE recognizes the ability to communicate with confidence in English and deal with most aspects of everyday life. CAE is seen by institutions of higher education in many countries as proof of adequate language skills for courses taught and assessed in English. Almost all universities in the United Kingdom and a growing number in the USA recognize CAE, as do many employers throughout the world.

A list of institutions and employers that recognize CAE is available online. Studying for CAE helps learners to improve their language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. The examinations are based on realistic tasks, and indicate the ability to use the language in practical situations. Successful candidates are able to participate in meetings and discussions, express opinions clearly and are able to understand and produce texts of various types, including business letters and reports. They will also be aware of the different styles of English appropriate to different situations.

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

The Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is the highest level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). CPE is for learners who have achieved a high level of language skills and are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context.

Successful candidates at this level are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker. CPE is an invaluable qualification for anyone who wants to work or study abroad, or to develop a career which requires language skills, including business, medicine, engineering and many other professions.

CPE certificates are recognised by institutions of higher education in many countries - including almost all universities in the United Kingdom and a rapidly growing number in the USA. Employers throughout the world also recognize CPE. A list of institutions and employers that recognize CPE is available online. Studying for CPE helps learners to improve their language skills and to learn to use them in a wide range of contexts. Because many aspects of the exams are based on realistic tasks, gaining the CPE certificate demonstrates that learners have progressed beyond a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to actually using the language.

Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)

The Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) is the third level of the Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is an upper intermediate level exam. FCE is designed for learners whose command of English is adequate for many practical everyday purposes, including business and study. Successful candidates will have a wide grasp of vocabulary, and should be able to construct an argument and use appropriate communication styles for a variety of situations.

They also need to show an awareness of register and of the conventions of politeness and degrees of formality as they are expressed through language. FCE is recognized by many universities and other educational institutions as proof of intermediate level English skills, and these institutions accept it as meeting part of their entrance requirements. Because the examinations are based on realistic tasks, an FCE certificate is an important asset for anyone who wants to work or study abroad, or in international business. Employers throughout the world recognize FCE.

FCE indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs in many industries, in particular tourism, where contact with English speakers is required. Successful candidates have the ability to deal with routine letters and telephone enquiries, and to cope with some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles.

English for Academic Purposes

Designed to help you pursue further academic studies in English, this course will strengthen your reading and writing skills. You'll improve your grammar usage and build your vocabulary by exploring academic topics.

IELTS

The IELTS Test is internationally recognized. Educational institutions and government agencies from over 120 countries trust the IELTS test as a valid indicator of ability to communicate in English. In Canada, IELTS is the one test used for immigration purposes and is required for overseas professionals to practice in Canada.

The IELTS Preparation Program is designed for non-native speakers who would like to take the IELTS Exam. Our program begins with an initial IELTS practice test to assess students' abilities. The instructor then focuses on meeting each student's individual needs throughout the course. Students will regularly practice the different components of the test, focus on specific modules of the exam in-depth (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and also learn test-taking strategies.

IELTS Reading

The IELTS Reading course provides students with focused practice on the IELTS Reading module. Students work through reading question types with detailed analysis of test strategies and reading skills for this section of the exam. The IELTS Reading course covers: Practicing reading test tasks - Develop effective test-taking strategies for the reading module - Building reading speed and fluency - Developing reading skills - Building vocabulary skills and strategies - Building dictionary skills.

IELTS Speaking and Listening

The IELTS Speaking and Listening course provides students with focused practice on the IELTS listening and speaking modules. The course guides students through the speaking and listening test modules and focuses on the skills and test-taking strategies for each question type. The IELTS Listening and Speaking course covers: Organizing and structuring answers for IELTS speaking tasks - Practicing speaking and listening test tasks - Developing effective test-taking strategies for the listening and speaking modules Developing listening and speaking skills - Building speaking fluency - Analyzing and using vocabulary and grammar effectively in speaking.

IELTS Writing

Many students find the IELTS writing module the most challenging to achieve the desired band score. The IELTS Writing course provides students with focused preparation for the IELTS Writing module. In this course, students work step-by-step through each writing task. They examine in detail the key strategies for success. They also develop writing and language skills to achieve higher scores on the writing module. The IELTS Writing course covers: Organizing and structuring answers for IELTS writing tasks - Developing effective test-taking strategies for the writing module - Building writing speed and fluency - Practicing writing processes - Developing writing skills - Analyzing and using vocabulary and grammar effectively in writing.

TOEFL Preparation - Prepare to increase your score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language through practice with the latest classroom and computer lab testing materials

TOEFL Speaking -Improve test scores on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT exam, through extensive practice using the latest testing materials in the classroom and in the computer lab. This course can be taken in combination with TOEFL® Preparation.

TOEIC Preparation - Companies use toeic to measure your ability to understand English business-related conversation and literature.

Writing - Challenge yourself by practising your writing daily, learning correct language structure and writing techniques for diverse genres and audiences. Learn the secrets of writing excellent essays.

Grammar - Improve your usage of standard English grammar.

Communication Courses

Assertiveness

Develop skills to confidently handle personal and business situations. A wide variety of speaking and action skills are presented and used in the classroom. You will focus on developing fluency rather than on grammar correction or pronunciation difficulties unless they greatly interfere with communication. Develop new ways of expressing yourself in order to communicate clearly, make good choices, create realistic goals, and stand up for yourself in a positive way.

Conversation

Build confidence and improve your fluency through daily practice, dialogues, role- plays and guided conversation. Build new vocabulary and improve fluency through dynamic discussions on topics such as art, sports, psychology, food, science and technology.

Public Speaking

Master the secrets of effective public speaking. Learn speech organization, delivery techniques and listening skills. Public speaking is an excellent way to push English skills to a higher level.

Very Old TV Glossary - Basic TV Tech Terms

2023-10-28T13:09:00.000-04:00

1080p

1080p is a high-definition video format with resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The "p" stands for progressive scan, which means that each video frame is transmitted as a whole in a single sweep. The main advantage of 1080p TVs is that they can display all high-definition video formats without downconverting, which sacrifices some picture detail.

1080p TVs display video at 60 frames per second, so this format is often referred to as 1080p60. The video on most high-definition discs (Blu-ray and HD DVD) is encoded at film's native rate of 24 frames per second, or 1080p24. For compatibility with most current 1080p TVs, high-definition players internally convert the 1080p24 video to 1080p60. By late 2007, many HDTVs included the ability to accept a 1080p24 signal directly. These TVs don't actually display video at 24 frames per second because that would cause visible flicker and motion stutter. The TV converts the video to 60 frames per second or whatever its native display rate is. The ideal situation would be to display 1080p24 at a multiple of 24 frames per second, like 72, 96, or 120 frames per second, to avoid the motion judder caused by 3-2 pulldown, which is required when converting 24-frames-per-second material to 60 frames per second.

120Hz refresh rate

The digital display technologies (LCD, plasma, DLP, LCoS, etc.) that have replaced picture tubes are progressive scan by nature, displaying 60 video frames per second ¡ª often referred to as "60Hz." HDTVs with 120Hz refresh rate employ sophisticated video processing to double the standard rate to 120 frames per second by inserting either additional video frames or black frames. Because each video frame appears for only half the normal amount of time, on-screen motion looks smoother and more fluid, with less smearing. It's especially noticeable viewing fast-action sports and video games. This feature is available on an increasing number of flat-panel LCD TVs.

16:9

See aspect ratio and widescreen.

240Hz refresh rate

240Hz refresh rate reduces LCD motion blur even more than 120Hz refresh rate. 240Hz processing creates and inserts three new video frames for every original frame. Most "240Hz" TVs operate this way, but some models use "pseudo-240Hz" technology which combines 120Hz refresh rate with high-speed backlight scanning. An example of the pseudo-240Hz approach, which can also be very effective, is Toshiba's ClearScan 240? technology.

3D TV

By adding a sense of picture depth and dimensionality, 3D TVs create a more engaging viewing experience that's similar to watching a 3D movie in a theater. Like 3D movies, 3D TV requires that each viewer wear special glasses to see the 3D effects. 3D TV requires the use of wireless "active shutter" glasses.

Whether a 3D TV uses LCD or plasma screen technology, all 3D TVs use a specially-designed screen that can display two different versions of a video image by alternating the video frames at very high speed. 3D video is basically two full-resolution 1080p images, one for your left eye and one for your right. The shutter glasses' lenses darken and lighten rapidly in coordination with the screen's flashing images. The timing of the shutter glasses is wirelessly controlled by an "emitter" that is usually built into the TV. The system creates an immersive viewing experience. True 3D viewing also requires a 3D video source, like a 3D Blu-ray player playing a 3D movie.

3-2 pulldown processing

Sophisticated video processing common in HDTVs and progressive-scan DVD players. It corrects for artifacts and distortion that occur when film-based material (at 24 frames per second) is converted to video (30 frames per second), then de-interlaced to create a progressive-scan signal.

Active shutter glasses

To see three-dimensional effects on a 3D TV screen, each viewer must wear a special type of 3D glasses called "shutter" glasses. Also called "active" glasses, these battery-powered liquid-crystal glasses are able to lighten or darken hundreds of times per second to alternately block out the left or right lens in coordination with the video frames flashing on screen. The lenses aren't displaying images, just switching between dark and clear. To anyone not wearing shutter glasses, a 3D TV picture will look blurry. Active glasses are far more technologically advanced than the disposable 3D glasses handed out in movie theaters.

ALiS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces)

A type of high-definition plasma TV panel designed for optimum performance when displaying 1080i material. On a typical progressive-scan plasma TV, all pixels can be illuminated at any given instant. With an ALiS plasma panel, alternate rows of pixels are illuminated so that only half the panel's pixels can be illuminated at any moment (somewhat similar to interlaced-scanning on a CRT-type TV). ALiS-based plasmas make up a small part of the overall market; TV makers that use ALiS panels include Hitachi and Fujitsu.

Anamorphic video

Refers to widescreen video images that have been "squeezed" to fit a narrower video frame when stored on DVD. These images must be expanded (un-squeezed) by the display device. Most of today's TVs employ a screen with 16:9 aspect ratio, so that anamorphic and other widescreen material can be viewed in its proper proportions. When anamorphic video is displayed on an old-fashioned TV with a 4:3 screen, images appear unnaturally tall and narrow.

Anti-blur technology

A technology that reduces image "smearing" or "motion blur" that can sometimes occur with LCD TVs. LCD televisions with anti-blur technology can deliver smoother, cleaner images than those without, particularly during fast-paced scenes. This anti-blur video processing is usually described as 120Hz refresh rate or 240Hz refresh rate. TV makers have their own proprietary names for anti-blur technology; examples include Sony's Motionflow? and Samsung's Auto Motion Plus.

Artifacts

Unwanted visible effects in the picture created by disturbances in the video transmission or processing. Examples include "dot crawl" or "hanging dots" in analog pictures, or "pixelation" in digital pictures.

Aspect ratio

The ratio of width to height for an image or screen. The North American NTSC television standard uses the squarish 4:3 (1.33:1) ratio. HDTVs use the wider 16:9 ratio (1.78:1) to better display widescreen material like high-definition broadcasts and DVDs. See our article about aspect ratio to better understand it and get pointers on troubleshooting some common aspect ratio problems.

ATSC (Advanced Television Standards Committee)

Formed to establish technical standards for the U.S. digital television system. A TV tuner that can receive local over-the-air digital broadcasts is often called an ATSC tuner.

Audio Return Channel

This feature is available on some 2010 TVs and audio/video components with HDMI 1.4 connections. A TV with Audio Return Channel allows a single HDMI cable to send the audio from the TV's built-in tuner "upstream" to a compatible A/V receiver, eliminating the need for a separate optical or coaxial digital audio cable.

Audio/video inputs

Using a TV's direct audio/video inputs to connect a DVD player, VCR, camcorder or other video component provides improved picture and sound quality compared to using the everything-on-one-wire RF antenna-style input. If your TV is old enough that it only has RF-type inputs, that's reason enough to consider replacing it, since many newer video components don't include an RF output.

Backlight scanning

An anti-blur technology used in some LCD TVs. Typical LCDs use a fluorescent backlight that shines constantly, which can contribute to motion blur. LCD models with backlight scanning have a special type of fluorescent backlight that pulses at very high speed, which has the effect of reducing motion blur. Some recent TVs use backlight scanning along with 120Hz refresh rate for even greater blur reduction.

Bitrate

Measured as "bits per second," and used to express the rate at which data is transmitted or processed. The higher the bitrate, the more data is processed and, typically, the higher the picture resolution. Digital video formats typically have bitrates measured in megabits-per-second (Mbps). (One megabit equals one million bits.) The maximum bitrate for standard DVDs is 11Mbps; for over-the-air HDTV broadcasts, it's 19.4Mbps. High-definition discs have even higher maximum bitrates: 36Mbps for HD DVD and 54Mbps for Blu-ray Disc?.

Black level

Describes the appearance of darker portions of a video image. Black is the absence of light, so to create the black portions of an image, a display must be able to shut off as much light as possible. Displays with good black level capability not only produce deeper blacks, but also reveal more details and shading in dark or shadowy scenes.

Burn-in

Screen burn-in can affect TVs that use a phosphor coating on the screen. It was an issue for early plasma TVs. Burn-in can occur when a static image ¡ª like a non-widescreen 4:3 image with vertical black bars on the sides, or a scrolling stock or news ticker ¡ª remains on-screen for an extended period. These images can become etched into the phosphor coating, leaving faint impressions. In recent years, TV makers have significantly reduced plasma power consumption and refined the panel technology to dramatically reduce the chances of burn-in occurring, while also including the ability to erase burn-in effects. New plasma TVs are nearly immune to screen burn-in. To prevent any possibility of burn-in, plasma owners should follow the manufacturer's guidelines for adjusting the TV's brightness and contrast settings when the TV is new. For tips on TV settings, see our article about optimizing your TV's picture.

Chrominance

The color component of a video signal that includes information about hue (shade) and saturation (intensity).

Color resolution (color bit depth)

The color resolution of HDTVs and other video gear is typically described as a color bit depth such as "8-bit" or "10-bit." Color resolution indicates how fine the gradations can be between different shades of the same color ¡ª it's a measure of color accuracy. Nearly all consumer video equipment is 8-bit, and 8-bit resolution allows 256 possible shades. That's 256 each for the red, green, and blue primary colors. To calculate the total number of possible colors an 8-bit TV can reproduce, you multiply 256 x 256 x 256, which equals 16.7 million. Some TVs use 10-bit panels and video processing. That may not sound like much more, but 10-bit resolution means 1024 possible shades and over one billion total colors.

Color space

A "color space" is a defined range of colors, and is usually associated with an industry standard. Examples of color spaces that relate to television and video equipment include NTSC for analog video, and ATSC and x.v.Color for high-definition video. A wider color space offers the potential for deeper hues. Few current HDTVs are even capable of reproducing the full NTSC color space, let alone the wider ATSC color space or the much wider x.v.Color color space. When you see a TV's color range expressed as a percentage of a color space, it's almost always NTSC.

Comb filter

A comb filter's task is to remove residual chrominance (color) information from the luminance (brightness) signal. Comb filtering enhances fine detail, cleans up image outlines, and eliminates most extraneous colors from analog video signals. A comb filter is very effective for composite video signals, but is not required and not used for S-video or component video since those connections carry the chrominance and luminance information separately. There are 4 different types of comb filters found in today's TVs, listed here in order of ascending quality:

Glass: may also be referred to as an "analog" comb filter.

2-line Digital: compares consecutive scanning lines within one field of video and makes adjustments to reduce cross-color interference.

3-line Digital: compares 3 scanning lines within a field of video. By comparing more picture information, a 3-line filter further reduces color bleeding and dot crawl.

3D Digital: not only analyzes consecutive scanning lines within a field, but also analyzes the preceding and following fields. Results in improved color purity and a more stable video image, and nearly eliminates dot crawl and color bleeding. Also called 3D Y/C.

Component video

The three-jack component video connection splits the video signal into three parts (one brightness and two color signals). Compared to other analog video connections, component video has increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding. Component video is the only type of analog video connection that can pass high-definition signals, and provides better picture quality than S-video or composite video connections. See our connections glossary for more info.

Composite video

A single video signal that combines brightness and color information. A composite signal is better than an RF signal, but not as good as S-video. A composite video jack is usually a single RCA-type. See our connections glossary for more info.

Contrast ratio

Measures the difference between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks that a TV can display. The higher the contrast ratio, the better a TV will be at showing subtle color details, and the better it will look in rooms with more ambient room light. Contrast ratio is one of the most important specs for all TV types.

There are actually two different ways of measuring a TV's contrast ratio. Static contrast ratio measures the difference between the brightest and darkest images a TV can produce simultaneously (sometimes called on-screen contrast ratio). The ratio of the brightest and darkest images a TV can produce over time is called dynamic contrast ratio. Both specs are meaningful, but the dynamic spec is often four or five times higher than the static spec, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube)

A CRT ("picture tube") is a specialized vacuum tube in which images are created when an electron beam scans back and forth across the back side of a phosphor-coated screen. Each time the beam makes a pass across the screen, it lights up a horizontal line of phosphor dots on the inside of the glass tube. This beam rapidly draws hundreds of these lines from the top to the bottom of the screen, creating the image.

The old-fashioned "direct-view" TVs most people grew up watching have a single large picture tube, while CRT-based rear-projection and front-projection TVs use three CRTs: one each for the red, green, and blue primary colors.

Deep Color

A color resolution standard associated with high-definition TVs and video gear that include HDMI 1.3 connections. Deep Color supports 10-bit, 12-bit and 16-bit color bit depths, up from 8-bit, which is the current standard for consumer video. All earlier versions of HDMI supported 8-bit color. (Because video is based on three primary colors, you'll sometimes see Deep Color described as 30-bit, 36-bit and 48-bit.) A higher color bit depth enables finer gradations between different shades of the same color, for smoother gradients and reduced color banding. Deep Color gives TVs the potential to display billions rather than millions of colors, but in order to see that improvement, the entire video production chain has to use it (camera, editing, format, player, display). See color resolution.

De-interlacing

The process of converting an interlaced-scan video signal (where each frame is split into two sequential fields) to a progressive-scan signal (where each frame remains whole). De-interlacers are found in HDTVs and progressive-scan DVD players. More advanced de-interlacers include a feature called 3-2 pulldown processing.

Digital audio output

A connection found on HDTVs and HDTV tuners for sending the Dolby Digital soundtrack of HDTV broadcasts to an A/V receiver with Dolby Digital decoding. The two most common types of digital output are coaxial and Toslink optical.

DLNA

DLNA, short for Digital Living Network Alliance, is a collaboration among more than 200 companies, including Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Microsoft, Cisco, Denon and Yamaha. Their goal is to create products that connect to each other across your home network, regardless of manufacturer, so you can easily enjoy your digital and online content in any room.

While all DLNA-compliant devices are essentially guaranteed to work together, they may not be able to share all types of media. For example, a DLNA-certified TV may be able to display digital photos from a DLNA-certified media server, but not videos.

DLP? (Digital Light Processing)

A projection TV technology developed by Texas Instruments, based on their Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) microchip. Each DMD chip has an array of tiny swiveling mirrors which create the image. Depending on the TV's resolution, the number of mirrors can range from several hundred thousand to over two million. DLP technology is used in both front- and rear-projection displays.

There are two basic types of DLP projector. "Single-chip" models, which include virtually all rear-projection DLP TVs, use a single DMD chip, with color provided by a spinning color wheel or colored LEDs. "3-chip" projectors dedicate a chip to each primary color: red, green, and blue. While 3-chip models are considerably more expensive, they completely eliminate the rainbow effect, which is an issue for a small minority of viewers.

Dolby? Digital

A discrete multichannel digital audio format that is the official audio standard for HDTV (and DVD). Dolby Digital is normally associated with 5.1-channel surround sound. Though this channel configuration is the most common, it is only one of several possible variations ¡ª a Dolby Digital soundtrack can mean anything from 1 to 5.1 channels. To learn about the various surround sound options available, see our article about surround sound formats.

Downconversion

All digital TV display technologies have screens with a fixed number of pixels for displaying images. If a video source has a higher resolution than the screen's resolution, the TV will automatically downconvert the video signal to fit the screen. Downconversion reduces image detail, but downconverted pictures can still look very sharp. A good example is a 1080i HDTV broadcast displayed on a 720p TV.

DTV (Digital Television)

A general term for the ATSC digital broadcast TV standard, which replaced the NTSC analog broadcast system. DTV comes in two basic flavors: widescreen, high-quality HDTV (High-Definition Television) with Dolby Digital audio, and medium-quality SDTV (Standard-Definition TV).

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

A multi-pin, computer-style connection intended to carry high-resolution video signals from video source components (such as older HD-capable satellite and cable boxes, and upconverting DVD players) to HD-capable TVs with a compatible connector. Most (but not all) DVI connections use HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) encryption to prevent piracy. In consumer electronics products, DVI connectors have been almost completely replaced by HDMI connectors, which carry both video and audio. You can use an adapter to connect a DVI-equipped component to an HDMI-equipped TV, or vice versa, but a DVI connection can never carry audio. See our connections glossary for more info.

Dynamic backlighting

Found on many LCD TVs, this feature dynamically adjusts the brightness of the backlight in response to the picture content of whatever you're watching, to improve picture contrast and reduce power consumption. It helps the TV display both bright outdoor scenes and dark indoor scenes with greater accuracy. Use of dynamic backlighting contributes to the very high "dynamic contrast ratio" specs provided by TV makers.

EDTV (Enhanced-Definition Television)

A virtually obsolete class of televisions, generally flat-panel LCD or plasma, that displays signals in 480-line progressive-scan (480p) mode. 480p screen resolution is superior to standard analog TV (480i), but not as sharp as true HDTVs (720p or 1080p).

Electronic program guide (EPG)

Provides an on-screen listing of available channels and program data for an extended time period (typically 36 hours or more). Examples of program guides include subscription services like TiVo? and free guides like TV Guide? On Screen. To learn more about EPG features and capabilities, see our article about TV Guide On Screen.

Emitter (for 3D TV)

An important part of a 3D TV system is the "emitter" that precisely controls the timing of the active shutter glasses. The emitter communicates with the glasses wirelessly via infrared beams. "3D-ready" TVs include a built-in emitter, while "3D-capable" TVs require that you add an outboard emitter box.

For more info, see our intro to 3D, or check out our in-depth 3D TV FAQ.

Energy Star? compliant

A certification for consumer electronics products indicating energy efficiency. The Energy Star program was introduced by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 1992, and set standards for product power consumption in "standby" mode. (When a component is switched off but still plugged into an AC power source, it continues to draw a small amount of power in standby mode to keep circuits active and ready for quick turn-on.) In November 2008, the EPA created the more stringent Energy Star 3.0 specification, which requires energy efficiency when products are in use, as well as when they are in standby mode. Products that meet the new spec are up to 30% more energy efficient than previous models.

Ethernet port

An Ethernet port on a TV enables a connection to a home network and/or the Internet. What you can do once you're on the network varies by model. Typically, only a select number of websites are accessible, and capabilities may be limited by the speed of your Internet connection.

Field

In interlaced-scan video, each complete frame is split into 2 sequential fields, each of which contains half the picture information. One field contains the odd scanning lines, and the other field the even lines.

Flat-panel TV

Any ultra-thin, relatively lightweight TV ¡ª especially those which can be wall-mounted. Current flat-panel TVs use either plasma or LCD screen technology.

Frame

In moving picture media, whether film or video, a frame is a complete, individual picture.

Frame rate

The rate at which frames are displayed. The frame rate for movies on film is 24 frames per second (24 fps). Standard NTSC video has a frame rate of 30 fps (actually 60 fields per second). The frame rate of a progressive-scan video format is twice that of an interlaced-scan format. For example, interlaced formats like 480i and 1080i deliver 30 complete frames per second; progressive formats like 480p, 720p and 1080p provide 60.

Gain

Measures the light-reflecting ability of a projection screen. The higher the number, the greater the amount of light reflected back to the viewer(s).

HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection)

HDCP encryption is used with high-resolution signals over DVI and HDMI connections and on D-Theater D-VHS recordings to prevent unauthorized duplication of copyrighted material.

HDMI? (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

Similar to DVI (but using much smaller connectors), the multi-pin HDMI interface transfers uncompressed digital video with HDCP copy protection and multichannel audio. Using an adapter, HDMI is backward-compatible with most current DVI connections, although any DVI-HDMI connection will pass video only, not audio. For an in-depth look at HDMI, see The Ins and Outs of HDMI.

HDMI-CEC

A remote control protocol that is an optional part of the HDMI spec ¡ª CEC stands for consumer electronics control. Available from HDMI version 1.2a on, HDMI-CEC allows multiple HDMI-connected components to be operated from a single remote control without any special setup or programming. HDMI-CEC is a 2-way communications system, and up to 10 devices can be controlled in a system. Each electronics manufacturer calls this feature something different: Panasonic uses EZ-Sync, Samsung Anynet+, Sony BRAVIA Theatre Sync, Toshiba CE-LINK, LG SimpLink, etc.

HDTV (High-Definition Television)

Often mistakenly used as a generic description of all digital television, HDTV specifically refers to the highest-resolution formats of the 18 original DTV formats. Although there still isn't 100% agreement among manufacturers, retailers, journalists, etc., only 1,080-line interlaced (1080i) or 720-line progressive (720p) broadcasts are generally considered to be true HDTV. 1,080-line progressive (1080p) is not an official HD broadcast format, but it is found on high-definition Blu-ray discs and some satellite TV movie broadcasts. And 1080p is now an established standard for HDTV screens.

HDTV-ready

The term used to describe TVs which can display digital high-definition TV formats when connected to a separate HDTV tuner. These TVs generally have built-in tuners for receiving regular NTSC broadcasts, but not digital. An HDTV-ready TV may also be referred to as an "HDTV monitor."

Hertz (Hz)

A measure of frequency, where one Hertz equals one cycle per second. In video, Hertz is used to describe a frame rate in frames per second. For example, you'll often see 24-frames-per-second video at listed as "24Hz."

Interlaced scan

Interlaced scan is a way to describe how some video signals and displays form an image. America's NTSC analog television system uses 525 scanning lines to create each complete picture (frame). The frame/picture is made up of two fields: The first field has 262.5 odd lines (1,3,5...) and the second field has 262.5 even lines (2,4,6...). The odd lines are scanned (drawn on the screen) in 1/60th of a second, and the even lines follow in the next 1/60th of a second. This presents a complete frame/picture of 525 lines in 1/30th of a second.

Analog NTSC video uses interlaced scanning, as do some digital television formats. Formats that include an "i" (1080i, 480i) use interlaced scanning. In fact, these days interlaced scanning is mostly mentioned when describing video broadcasts because virtually all non-tube TV types are progressive scan by nature. And for a more complete discussion of interlaced vs. progressive scan, see our article about HDTV resolution.

Keystone correction

"Keystoning" is a form of video image distortion that occurs with front projectors if the centerline of the projector's lens is not perpendicular to the screen. Keystoning results in an image which is shaped like a trapezoid rather than a rectangle ¡ª the top of the picture is wider than the bottom, or the left side is taller than the right, for example. Most front projectors include "keystone correction" to correct this distortion. Some models have vertical keystone correction, while others include both vertical and horizontal correction. Although keystone correction allows greater mounting flexibility, it is a form of processing which usually has a slight softening and dimming effect on the picture.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Liquid Crystal Display technology is one of the methods used to create flat-panel TVs. Light isn't created by the liquid crystals; a "backlight" behind the panel shines light through the display. The display consists of two polarizing transparent panels and a liquid crystal solution sandwiched in between. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal acts like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light. The pattern of transparent and dark crystals forms the image.

LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon)

A projection TV technology based on LCD. With LCoS, light is reflected from a mirror behind the LCD panel rather than passing through the panel. The control circuitry that switches the pixels on and off is embedded further down in the chip so it doesn't block the light, which improves brightness and contrast. This multilayered microdisplay design can be used in rear-projection TVs and projectors. TV makers use different names for their LCoS technologies ¡ª Sony uses SXRD?, while JVC uses D-ILA? or HD-ILA?.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

An LED is a semiconductor diode that typically emits a single wavelength of light when an electric current passes through it. Different colors can be generated based on the material used; common colors include red, green, blue, and white.

LED TV

A term sometimes used for LCD TVs that use an LED backlight instead of a conventional fluorescent one. An LED backlight improves contrast and delivers a wider range of colors, for a more lifelike picture. TVs with LED backlights also generally consume less power than those that use fluorescent backlights.

Some of these TVs use a series of LEDs arranged in a grid behind the LCD panel. And some TVs with these LED grids feature "local dimming", which allows the TV to display light and dark portions of the same image more accurately. Other sets are "edge-lit," meaning that the LEDs are located around the sides of the panel instead of in a grid behind it. While edge-lit LED TVs don't offer local dimming, they generally have thinner cabinets ¡ª sometimes barely more than an inch deep. For more information, see our video on LCD backlighting.

Letterboxed video

A method for displaying the entire picture as seen in a movie theater on a TV screen. The resulting image width is much greater than its height. On an old-fashioned TV screen with 4:3 aspect ratio, letterboxed videos appear with horizontal black bars above and below the image. You will often see these black bars when watching movies on a widescreen TV, too. To learn more about aspect ratios and ways to deal with those black bars, see our aspect ratio article.

Light output

Measures the amount of light produced by a video display, and is an especially important spec for projectors. Expressed in "lumens" or "ANSI lumens," with a higher number indicating greater light output, which results in a brighter picture.

Local dimming

A feature found on some LED-backlit TVs that allows them to dim or even completely shut off different sections of the LED grid independently. These TVs can accurately display both light and dark portions of an image at the same time, for greater contrast and a more lifelike picture.

Lumen

The unit of measure for light output of a projector. Different manufacturers may rate their projectors' light output differently. "Peak lumens" is measured by illuminating an area of about 10% of the screen size in the center of the display. This measurement ignores the reduction in brightness at the sides and corners of the screen.

The more conservative "ANSI lumens" (American National Standards Institute) specification is made by dividing the screen into 9 blocks, taking a reading in the center of each, and averaging the readings. This number is usually 20-25% lower than the peak lumen measurement.

Luminance

The brightness or black-and-white component of a color video signal. Determines the level of picture detail.

Megahertz (MHz)

Equal to one million Hertz. Video signal bandwidth is typically expressed in megahertz.

Microdisplay

A general term covering several different technologies used in digital rear-projection TVs and projectors. These displays produce large images; the "micro" refers to the postage stamp-sized image chips that create the images. Microdisplay types include DLP, LCD, and LCoS. For a comparison of rear-projection microdisplay types, and details on how each technology works, see our Choosing a Big-screen Projection TV article.

MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)

The organization charged with developing video and audio encoding standards. On the video front, consumers are most likely to encounter the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compression formats, or "codecs." These formats are capable of producing very high quality video by employing an adaptive, variable bitrate process that can allocate more bits for complex scenes involving a lot of motion, while reducing the bits in static scenes.

MPEG-2: Used for over-the-air digital television broadcasts, standard DVDs, some Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD discs, and small-dish satellite TV (DIRECTV and DISH).

MPEG-4: This newer format is more efficient than MPEG-2, meaning it can deliver the same picture quality as MPEG-2 using a lower bitrate. Some Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs, and newer DIRECTV and DISH satellite gear use MPEG-4.

NTSC (National Television System Committee)

The North American 525-line analog broadcast TV standard, which was established over 50 years ago. Although it is referred to as a "525-line" standard, we're only able to see 480 lines on a TV display. The ATSC digital broadcast standard will replace NTSC as of June 12, 2009.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)

OLED is an up-and-coming display technology that can be used to create flat-panel TV TVs. An OLED panel employs a series of organic thin films placed between two transparent electrodes. An electric current causes these films to produce a bright light. A thin-film transistor layer contains the circuitry to turn each individual pixel on and off to form an image. The organic process is called electrophosphorescence, which means the display is self-illuminating, requiring no backlight. OLED panels are thinner and lighter than current plasma or LCD HDTVs, and have lower power consumption. Only small OLED screens are available at this time, but larger screens should be available by 2009.

Overscan

The portion of a video image that lies outside a TV's visible screen area. The amount of overscan varies from model to model, but typically ranges between 5% and 10% or the total image. Some recent TVs with "pixel-by-pixel" or "dot-by-dot" display modes are capable of showing the full image, with no overscan. This is especially advantageous when viewing 1080i or 1080p content on a 1080p TV.

Pan-and-scan

The process of transferring a widescreen movie or other source material to videocassette, DVD, or broadcast so that it fits the squarish 4:3 aspect ratio of most old-fashioned TVs. This results in a significant amount of lost picture information, particularly in the width of the image. Most new HDTVs use the wider 16:9 aspect ratio, which can display all or most of the original picture of widescreen material.

At the beginning of a movie on videocassette, you'll usually see a disclaimer about the movie having been "...formatted to fit your TV." That means it's been converted to pan-and-scan.

Picture-in-picture (PIP)

There are two flavors of picture-in-picture: 1-tuner PIP models require that you connect a VCR or other video component to provide the source for your second picture. 2-tuner PIP models have two built-in TV tuners, so you can watch two channels at once using only the TV.

Originally, PIP allowed viewing of multiple channels or sources by creating a small inset image overlaid on the main image. With the shift to widescreen displays, the inset type of PIP is gradually being replaced by "split screen" designs that are sometimes referred to as POP (picture-outside-picture) or PAP (picture-and-picture).

Pillar-boxed video

The pillar-box effect occurs in widescreen 16:9 video displays when vertical black bars are placed at the sides of a non-widescreen 4:3 image. The smaller the size of the pixels in an image, the greater the resolution. To learn more about aspect ratios and ways to deal with black bars, see our aspect ratio article.

Pixel

Short for "picture element." The smallest bit of data in a video image. As pixel size gets smaller, more pixels can fit in the same screen area, increasing picture resolution.

Pixel response time

The amount of time it takes for a single pixel in a video display to switch from active to non-active; it is measured in milliseconds (ms). If a display's response time is too slow, faint motion trails may be visible following fast-moving on-screen objects. Pixel response time is an important performance spec for all types of digital flat-panel and projection displays although it's rarely listed for non-LCD TVs. For smooth, accurate playback of high-quality video material, look for a response time of 8 ms or less.

Plasma

Plasma technology is one of the methods used to create flat-panel TVs. The display consists of two transparent glass panels with a thin layer of pixels sandwiched in between (think of this layer as containing somewhere between 800,000 and two million tiny fluorescent bulbs ¡ª the pixels). Each pixel is composed of three gas-filled cells or sub-pixels (one each for the red, green and blue primary colors). A grid of tiny electrodes applies an electric current to the individual cells, causing the gas to ionize. This ionized gas (plasma) emits high-frequency UV rays which stimulate the cells' phosphors, causing them to glow, which creates the TV image. For more info on how plasma technology works, see our LCD vs. Plasma article.

Progressive scan

Some digital television broadcast formats (720p, 480p), and most DVD players, use a type of video signal known as progressive scan. Instead of splitting each video frame into two sequential fields like analog interlaced NTSC video, progressive-scan video displays the entire frame in a single sweep. For example, where standard NTSC video displays 30 frames (60 fields) per second, progressive scan displays 60 complete frames per second.

Projector

A video display device that projects a large image onto a physically separate screen. The projector is typically placed on a table, or ceiling-mounted. Projectors, sometimes referred to as front-projection systems, can display images up to 10 feet across, or larger. Old-fashioned large, expensive CRT-based projectors have been replaced by compact, lightweight, lower-cost digital projectors using DLP, LCD or LCoS technology.

QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation)

A digital modulation format used for downstream transmission in cable TV systems ¡ª commonly used for cable HDTV.

QAM tuner

A QAM tuner allows cable subscribers to tune in unscrambled cable channels without a separate set-top box, including high-definition channels, if the cable service provider offers them.

Rainbow effect

A visual artifact associated with single-chip DLP-based rear- and front-projection displays. Fortunately, only a few people see these momentary flashes of color, and fewer still find these "rainbows" to be distracting. For those unlucky few, rainbows typically occur when the viewer's eyes dart away from the screen. Rainbows result from DLP's use of a color wheel, which causes the three primary colors ¡ª red, green, and blue ¡ª to be projected sequentially, rather than continuously. Some recent single-chip DLP TVs have replaced the lamp-and-color-wheel system with colored LEDs, which reduce this effect. And rainbows aren't an issue for 3-chip DLP projectors because each primary color has its own dedicated image chip, so no color wheel is needed.

Rear-projection TV

Typically referred to as "big-screen" TVs, these large-cabinet TVs generally have built-in screens measuring at least 40". Unlike the bulky CRT-based rear-projection TVs from years ago, today's "tabletop" rear-projection TVs are relatively slender and light. These TVs use digital microdisplay technologies like DLP, LCD, and LCoS. For an in-depth look at these new rear-projection TVs, see our Choosing a Big-screen Projection TV article.

Resolution

In video terms, resolution refers to the amount of picture detail provided by a video signal or display. Although you may hear references to "lines of resolution," that's mainly a holdover from the tube-TV era. Today's digital TVs create their images using a grid of pixels; more pixels generally equals higher resolution. This grid has a fixed number of pixels, which means if the TV receives any video signal with a different resolution, the TV will scale that signal to fit the screen's pixels.

The picture quality you see on your TV depends on two factors: the resolution of the TV's screen and the resolution of the video signal. Since video images are always rectangle-shaped, there is both horizontal resolution and vertical resolution to consider.

Vertical resolution: The number of horizontal lines (or pixels) that can be resolved from the top of an image to the bottom. (Think of hundreds of horizontal lines or dots stacked on top of one another.) The vertical resolution of the analog NTSC TV standard is 525 lines. But some lines are used to carry other data like closed-captioning text, test signals, etc., so we end up with about 480 lines in the final image. So, all of the typical NTSC sources ¡ª VHS VCRs, cable and over-the-air broadcast TV (analog), non-HD digital satellite TV, DVD players, camcorders, etc. ¡ª have vertical resolution of 480 lines. DTV (Digital Television) signals have vertical resolution that ranges from 480 pixels for SDTV, to 720 or 1080 pixels for true HDTV. If you're comparing TVs or video sources, vertical resolution is what's usually listed: 480p, 720p, 1080p, etc.

Horizontal resolution: The number of vertical lines (or pixels) that can be resolved from one side of an image to the other. Horizontal resolution is a slightly trickier concept, at least for analog video, because while the vertical resolution of all analog video sources is the same (480 lines), the horizontal resolution varies according to the source. Some common examples: VHS VCRs (240 lines), analog TV broadcasts (330 lines), non-HDTV digital satellite TV (up to 380 lines), and DVD players (540 lines). DTV signals have horizontal resolution that ranges from 640 pixels for SDTV, to 1280 pixels (for 720p HDTV) or 1920 pixels (for 1080i and 1080p HDTV).

Multiplying the horizontal resolution by the vertical resolution gives you the total screen resolution. For example, a 1080p screen has 1920 horizontal pixels by 1080 vertical pixels ¡ª 1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600 pixels. For an in-depth look at high-definition video resolution, see our article about video resolution.

RF (radio frequency) jack

Sometimes referred to as a "75-ohm coaxial" connection, this kind of jack is commonly used for bringing signals from antennas and other sources outside the home to components with some type of tuner, such as cable boxes, HDTV tuners, VCRs, satellite receivers, TVs, etc. A 75-ohm coaxial cable can carry video and stereo audio information simultaneously. However, as a way of making a video connection between components, RF is inferior to composite, S-video, component video, and HDMI. RF cable connectors (often called "F-type" connectors) either screw onto the 75-ohm jack, or just push on to connect. See our connections glossary for more info.

There are different types of coaxial cable. Standard coaxial cable is stamped "RG-59"; higher-quality "RG-6" cable features better shielding, and exhibits less high-frequency loss over longer runs. (For connecting DBS satellite systems, it's important to use RG-6 cable to correctly pass the entirety of the digital signal.)

Scaler

Circuitry that converts a video signal to a resolution other than its original format. Scaling can involve upconversion or downconversion, and may also include a conversion between interlaced- and progressive-scan formats. A scaler can be built into a TV, HDTV tuner, DVD player, or home theater receiver, or may be a standalone component.

Scanning lines

On CRT-based TVs, the number of scanning lines measures the screen's resolution. Scanning refers to an electron gun tracing horizontal lines across a phosphor-coated screen, painting each video frame as a series of lines. Although you may still hear the term "scan lines" used when describing digital TVs that use plasma, LCD, or other pixel-based technologies, it's not really accurate. These newer TV types flash each complete screen image simultaneously without any type of actual scanning.

SDTV (Standard-Definition Television)

SDTV refers to the non-high-definition formats in the ATSC digital television standard. SDTV pictures can have either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. Picture and sound is clearer than analog NTSC video, with picture resolution of 480i or 480p. These digital signals require less bandwidth than analog signals, allowing TV stations to simultaneously broadcast multiple channels of programming in place of a single analog channel; this is called "multicasting."

S-video

Found on nearly all of the TVs we sell, this 4-pin connector usually provides a sharp, clear picture by transmitting the chrominance and luminance portions of a video signal separately. The signals can then be processed separately, reducing interference. Direct S-video connections generally outperform composite connections when hooking up video components like DVD players, DBS receivers, and S-VHS and Hi8 recorders and camcorders. However, they don't look as sharp as HD-capable connections like component video, and HDMI.

Upconversion

The term used to describe the conversion of a lower resolution to an apparently higher one. This process increases the number of pixels and/or frame rate and/or scanning format used to represent an image by interpolating existing pixels to create new ones at closer spacing.

V-Chip

Several years ago the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) began requiring that TVs include "V-Chip" technology to block the display of television programs based on their rating. All sets with screens 13 inches or larger manufactured after January 1, 2000 must include the V-Chip. Broadcasters are required to encode an electronic signal in TV programs indicating the level of violence, language, and sexual content. Parents can program the TV with a rating so that when the the V-Chip reads a show's signal, it will prevent it from displaying if it is above the rating.

The rating system, known as "TV Parental Guidelines," was established by the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television Association and the Motion Picture Association of America. These ratings display on the TV screen for the first 15 seconds of rated programs.

Viewing angle

Measures a video display's maximum usable viewing range from the center of the screen, with 180¡ã being the theoretical maximum. Most often, the horizontal (side to side) viewing angle is listed, but sometimes both horizontal and vertical viewing angles are provided. For most home theater setups, horizontal viewing angle is more critical.

Widescreen

When used to describe a TV, widescreen generally refers to an aspect ratio of 16:9, which is the optimum ratio for viewing anamorphic DVDs and HDTV broadcasts.

Wobulation

A technique originally invented by Hewlett-Packard for its ink jet printers. Texas Instruments, developer of DLP display technology, employs wobulation in some of its image chips used in rear-projection TVs. Like interlacing, wobulation shows half the picture at a time, but displays the two halves so rapidly that our eyes combine the two parts into one. A 1080p DLP TV can display images with 1920 x 1080 pixels, yet its DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) image chip has 960 x 1080 mirrors. Half the image is displayed, then a separate pivoting reflective panel called an "actuator" shifts the display a half pixel's width to the side. This all happens fast enough to generate 60 full frames per second, for a clean progressive-scan image. Texas Instruments calls this technique SmoothPicture?, and it is also often referred to as "pixel-shifting."

x.v.Color (xvYCC color space)

A high-definition video color space that is supported by many HDTVs beginning in 2007 (generally models with HDMI v1.3 inputs). The x.v.Color standard supports 1.8 times as many colors as the ATSC HDTV standard. Although there are HD camcorders that support x.v.Color, there are no broadcast or packaged consumer high-def sources that support it. Even if both your HDTV and high-def player support x.v.Color, your video source must be encoded with it as well or you won't see the wider color range.

I Love You can be Powerful or Empty Words

2023-07-21T13:36:00.004-04:00

There are many alternative ways to say “I love you” in English.

Some of them include using synonyms like adore, cherish, idolize, or appreciate.

You can also express your feelings or attraction by saying things like “you are my everything” or "I love you to the moon and back"

You can also show your love through actions like doing a chore, making a cup of coffee, running an errand, or getting their car washed for them.

Physical touch like wrapping your arms around them, inventing a secret handshake, or writing “I love you” on their hand with your fingers can also be a way to express your love.

Some alternative ways of saying “I adore you” include using synonyms like admire, cherish, delight in, fell for, idolize, revere, worship, esteem, exalt, glorify, honor, prize, treasure and venerate.

You can also use phrases like “you complete me” or "you fill my heart with love".

One alternative way of saying “you are a treasure” is to say "you are a treasure to me".

You can also express the sentiment by saying things like “I value you”, “you are precious to me”, or “you are important to me”.

Not ready to say " I Love You"

Knowing what to say instead of I love you can help lighten the situation. You don’t want your partner to get the wrong idea that you’re not serious or happy.

36 sweet things to say to your partner instead of ‘I Love You’

ESL English as a second language Tutors Teachers and Coaches in Canada

2023-06-27T21:50:00.008-04:00

Excellent ESL English tutors can be hired for 60 minutes of individual study time to participate, correct English pronunciation, correct English grammar, explain English vocabulary and improve English language fluency.

Hiring a professional ESL English tutor or ESL English teacher or English language skills coach for 1 or 2 hours a day is less expensive and creates more ESL English learning and ESL English practice teacher time than any ESL English language school in Canada.

How to Choose a Language Tutor

Picking the best tutor can change your life, give you the first "A" or even a pass for the first time. Picking the best tutor can build confidence to do something for the first time or hone existing skills into excellence.

How to Rank and Choose a Language Tutor

Available tutors can be ranked based on their current status:
high school students
college students,
graduate students
high school teachers,
college teachers,
career workers and skilled workers
regulated professionals
retired workers, teachers or professionals.

Available tutors can be ranked based on their education experience as:
a high school student,
a college student,
a graduate student
as a worker,
as a manager or
as a professional.

Available tutors can be ranked based on their teacher training:
no teacher training,
some workshops or weekend seminars,
beginner 100 hour TESL certificates,
Bachelor of Education Degrees,
Masters of Education Degrees or
Education PHD's

Available tutors can be ranked based on their work experience as a:
worker,
supervisor,
manager,
executive or
owner.

Students should pick the tutor who has the education, theory training, teacher training and work experience that can actually help the student's education goal.

For additional information and recommendations for tutor salaries go to:

https://eslincanada.blogspot.com/p/professional-educational-consulting.html

reprinted from the ESL in Canada Directory and News Blog

Previous blog posts, education articles, links to information, education services and social media in the right side bar,

List of education blogs below the posts.

How many GOALS were achieved in our top 15 List

2023-06-19T08:03:00.002-04:00

Watch the Siming Lan video "learning English has ruined my life" and then count how many of the top 15 goals were achieved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePpYU575Z48

Top 15 Goals for studying English as a second language

Immigrate into an English speaking country
Get hired at a first job
Be hired at a better company
Be promoted in your company
Sell and market your products to English speaking countries
Be able to operate a business completely in English.
Publish an authoritative business, scientific journal article in English
Be admitted and study in a North American university.
Be admitted and study in a North American university graduate program.
Travel independently in English speaking countries.
As an Artist, perform for English speaking audiences
Enjoy entertainment produced by English speaking artists
Use English instructions for computer applications. Surf the net in English
Score 950 on the Toeic test or 280 on the new Toefl exam
Study English Literature in the original text

First step " Choose your Goal" for learning English as a Second Language

Goals are your motivation. Goals can remind you of purpose and direction. Why do you need English as a second or third language. What do you wish to accomplish with English as a second language? Studying ESL requires thousands of hours of real effort - you need motivation and endurance to be able to study or work using the English language with native speakers.

How to Study English as a Second Language PLAN

Go to:

https://eslincanada.blogspot.com/p/how-to-study-english.html

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ESL in Canada recommends both free and commercial ESL English classes

2023-06-05T12:49:00.003-04:00

http://learn-english-blog.blogspot.com

ESL in Canada recommends both free and commercial ESL English classes for example: the FREE Toronto ESL Cafe classes, the free LINC classes for new Canadians, the free English classes at many libraries, at accredited TESL Teaching schools, and some excellent low cost Board of Education classes.

ESL in Canada recommends a few affiliated ESL schools with colleges and universities where the students earn credits towards an undergraduate degree and enable entry into the regular college or university programs.

ESL in Canada recommends a few English classes at excellent independent ESL schools that cost between 12 to 18 dollars per hour.

ESL in Canada recommends and provides some excellent private ESL and Business English teachers.

ESL English Classes in Canada

"ESL" English as a Second Language classes can be generalized into specific types usually by language skills such as: reading, listening, pronunciation, conversation, vocabulary, grammar and writing or be a combination of English language skills.

English classes can be generalized by purpose such as test preparation or English for work.

English classes can be generalized by content such as general purpose or industry specific vocabulary such as math or medicine.

For more complete class lists and explanations

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The Post Pandemic Education Agency Business has been changed

2022-11-08T22:23:00.004-05:00

The Post Pandemic Education Agency Business has been changed by online education and online shopping.

The emergence and use of user reviews can be more accurate for students than " agent sales pitches"

Students who research locations, facilities, prices, reviews, and student experiences can make a better school choice.

War between Agents & Schools creates Education Wasteland

Once upon a time there was a happy balance between the education agents and the language schools. The agents provided admission services and translations and the schools taught the students. The average commission of 10 percent was paid to the agents. Almost all of the students stayed at the university residences. Everyone was happy.

The Beginning of the Problem

Some schools viewed the benefits of the longer term exchange programs and said "we should offer homestay - live with a Canadian family for the two or three months and enjoy your trip to Canada even more". The schools thought their stealing the exchange program housing was so brilliant that they decided to keep all of the commission. Now the agents had to work twice as hard selling the school and homestay and only got commission on half of the revenue.

The agents decided that they should charge fees for this extra work so created service fees that the students had to pay in advance for forms processing, airline ticket reservations and homestay applications.

The Problem becomes Larger

The schools realized that the agents were making more money from service fees than commissions so they created direct registration internet forms and hired their own staff of foreign speaking sales reps to compete with the foreign located agents.

The foreign agents then decided that since the schools were competing against them as agents then they should set up their own language schools and compete with the schools.

The Competition increases Costs Lowers Revenue

As the marketing wars heated up between agent-schools and school-agents they drove up the cost of trade fairs, coop advertising, brochures, media advertising and sales commissions and they created additional local competition.

The foreign agent-schools then decided that they had to increase sales and advertising spending and demanded higher commissions. They then reduced the cost of teachers, books and educational materials to better compete with the local schools and new groups of local agents.

There are now ex-students and ex-patriots located locally offering tuition discounts, no service fees, free baseball tickets, cheap housing and access to illegal jobs and other incentives to international students. These new local discount agents without an education background, training or experience are unable to distinguish between good or bad schools or good and bad programs or good and bad teachers. They just quote discount prices with stories that all the ESL English schools were the same.

Lower Revenue creates changes in Operations

The local schools went in two directions - some cut costs and became babysitting schools with no standards, no qualifications and no educational value while some attempted to set professional standards and operate with ethics.

Some of the local schools decided to fight the local discounters with summer specials and "special walk-in pricing" offered if you register directly for the first time in the school.

The foreign agents are trying to use exclusivity and monopoly and lock-down contracts to prevent certain ethnic groups from exercising their freedoms and rights while in countries such as Australia, the USA and Canada.

The local agents are now organizing small language classes disguised as special conversation clubs and opening street front drop-in centers. The agents are giving away food and creating a friendly happy environment with pretty staff to make the students welcome with a touch of "Home". To keep costs low they are offering a combination salary and sales commission to the salesman disguised as a teacher.

This war between education agents and language schools is over money. Just like all the other wars that humans engage in. The Agent and School War victims are the students who think they have purchased professional English language lessons, business English or internships but instead attend stripped down, gutted useless babysitting sessions with unqualified time fillers.

Students now have to know who and what they are dealing with. Is this a Local professional school, foreign professional school, local agent, foreign agent, agency-owned school, scam, degree mill or a baby-sitting school. You may need some help !!!

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English Language Future Verb Tenses and Conditionals

2022-11-07T19:28:00.003-05:00

Simple Future

1. [am/is/are] + [going to] + [verb]
2. [will] + [verb]
(describes an action that will begin and be completed in the future)
I am going to study English next year in Canada.
I will help you study English tomorrow.

Future Continuous

1. [will be] + [verb + ing]
2. [am /is /are] + [going to be] + [verb + ing]
(describes an action that will begin in the future and continue)
I will be studying English when you arrive today.
We are going to be studying English next year in Canada.

Future Perfect

1. [will have] + [past participle]
2. [am/is/are] + [going to have] + [past participle]
(describes an action that will be completed before some point in the future)
I will have studied all the verb tenses by the end of today.
We are going to have studied all the chapters by five o'clock.

Future Perfect Continuous

1. [will have been] + [verb + ing]
2. [am/is/are] + [going to have been] + [verb + ing]
(describes an action that will continue until some point in the future)
I will have been studying English for one hour by the time you arrive.
We are going to have been studying for three hours by supper time.

Introduction to English Language Conditionals
Formats for Specific Purposes

A conditional format is used when the writer expresses an action or an idea that is dependent on a condition, on something that is only imagined in the present, in the past or the future.

Present Real Conditional
If I have money, I travel. (Sometimes I have money.)

Present Unreal Conditional
If I had money, I would travel. (I don't have money.)

Past Real Conditional
If I had money, I traveled. (Sometimes I had money.)

Past Unreal Conditional
If I had had money, I would have traveled . (I didn't have money.)

Future Real Conditional
If I have money, I will travel.

Future Unreal Conditional
If I have money, I am going to travel. (I don't know if I will have money or not.)
If I had money, I would travel. (I won't have money.)

Original Post: ESL in Canada

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Using Stories to Learn English

2022-09-14T10:37:00.001-04:00

Learn a new language through stories.

Is This the World's Best Language Immersion School?

10 Reasons English is Ridiculously Easy

13 Countries Who Speak The BEST English

16 Things The English Language Can't Do

5 Reasons English is Ridiculously Hard

Do You Make These 12 Mistakes in English?

⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Test #1 0:29 - Test #2 - Part 1 0:55 - Test #2 - Part 2 1:26 - Test #3 1:51 - Test #4 - Part 1 2:27 - Test #4 - Part 2 2:55 - Test #5 3:53 - Test #6 4:52 - Test #7 5:49 - Test #8 6:25 - Test #9 7:34 - Test #10 8:17 - Test #11 8:57 - Test #12 9:38 - Free Grammar Guide

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Two Stories to Learn English and have a Laugh

2022-08-29T10:40:00.001-04:00

Wrong Email

It's sometimes easy to forget how easily email technology can be misused, sometimes unintentionally, with serious consequences.

Consider the case of the man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida.

His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day.

When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail. Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it in from memory.

Unfortunately, he missed one letter and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife, whose husband had passed away only the day before.

When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.

At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

Dearest Wife,

Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.

Your Loving Husband

PS. Sure is hot down here.

******************

Beer is Good

A herd of animals can move only as fast as the slowest animal. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first.

This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, we all know, kills brain cells, but naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.

In this way regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

Yes this is funny !!!

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English Language Present Verb Tenses

2022-07-16T13:46:00.004-04:00

PRESENT TENSE

Simple Present

(describes an action that is happening usually or regularly)
examples: I write books. She writes a letter every day. I study English everyday.

Present Continuous [am / is / are] + [verb + ing]

(describes an action that is happening now and may continue)
examples: I am writing a book. She is writing a letter. We are studying English now.

Present Perfect [has /have] + [past participle]

(describes a completed action or an action that began in the past and continued until the present)
examples: I have written a book. She has written a letter. I have studied English in several Canadian cities.

Present Perfect Continuous [has/have] + [been] + [verb + ing]

(describes an ongoing action that began in the past)
examples: I have been writing books. She has been writing letters for 2 hours. I have been studying English for two years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiZKPwcdn1A

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Education Blogs Directory

2022-06-17T12:31:00.008-04:00

Learn English Laughing Blog

2022-06-16T11:38:00.001-04:00

Question
Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?

Answer
Yes I am, I married the wrong woman.

***********

When I was young I didn't like going to weddings.

My grandmother would tell me, "You're next"

My grandmother stopped doing that after I started saying the same thing to her at funerals.

***********

A very drunk man comes out of the bar and sees another very drunk man.

He looks up in the sky and says, "Is that the sun or the moon?"

The other drunk man answers, "I don't know. I'm a stranger here myself."

***********

Question
What starts with E, ends with E and only has one letter?

Answer
An envelope.

***********

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Top 15 Goals for studying English as a Second Language

2022-06-06T19:12:00.003-04:00

Immigrate into an English speaking country
Get hired at a first job
Be hired at a better company
Be promoted in your company
Sell and market your products to English speaking countries
Be able to operate a business completely in English.
Publish an authoritative business, scientific journal article in English
Be admitted and study in a North American university.
Be admitted and study in a North American university graduate program.
Travel independently in English speaking countries.
As an Artist, perform for English speaking audiences
Enjoy entertainment produced by English speaking artists
Use English instructions for computer applications. Surf the net in English
Score 950 on the Toeic test or 110 on the new TOEFL iBT exam
Study English Literature in the original text

Link to Original Post

Examples of educational goals:

Think positive
Stay resilient
Make time to read
Manage your time
Find time to relax
Strive for excellence
Build a strong network
Build good study habits
Attend learning events

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Present English Tenses

2022-05-07T11:27:00.007-04:00

Simple present

I study English everyday.

Present continuous [am / is / are] + [verb + ing]

I am studying English now.

Present perfect [has /have] + [past participle]

I have studied English in several Canadian cities.

Present perfect continuous [has/have] + [been] + [verb + ing]

I have been studying English for two years.

Verbals

Participle or verbal adjectives are words with a value of an adjective and a verb.

Gerunds or verbal nouns have the value of a noun and a verb.

They usually end with the "ing" ending.

Infinitives act like gerunds .

They have the value of a noun and a verb. Verb forms "to see, to study" are infinitives, can be a subject of a verb, object of a verb, or a subjective completion, take an object or have an adverbial modifier.

Modal Verbs are irregular verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs.

Here are some important differences:
1. Modal Verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.
2. You use "not" to make Modal Verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
3. Many Modal Verbs cannot be used in the past or future tenses.

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Past English Tenses

2022-05-07T11:16:00.005-04:00

Simple past [verb + ed]

Two years ago, I studied English in Canada.

Past continuous [was /were] + [verb + ing]

I was studying English when you called this morning.

Past perfect [had] + [past participle]

I had studied English before I moved to Canada.

Past perfect continuous [had been] + [verb + ing]

I had been studying English for two years before I moved to Canada.

*********************

Additional grammar at ESL in Canada & Sentence Master blogs

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**********

SIMPLE PAST

Simple past, form for regular verbs: base+ed

Example; walked, showed, watched, played, smiled, stopped

Simple past for irregular verbs.

Simple past, be, have, do:

Subject Verb

Be Have Do

I was had did

You were had did

He was had did

We were had did

They were had did

Affirmative

I was in Canada last year

She had a headache yesterday.

We did our homework last week.

Negative

We didn't do our homework last night.

They weren't in Canada last summer.

We hadn't any money.

We didn't have time to visit the Eiffel Tower.

We didn't do our exercises this morning.

Interrogative

Were they in Vancouver last January?

Did you have a bicycle when you were a boy?

Did you do much climbing in British Columbia?

Simple past with regular verbs: verb + ed

Affirmative

I washed

Negative

I did not wash.

Interrogative

Did she arrive?

Interrogative negative

Didn't you like?

Example: to walk, simple past.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I walked I didn't walk Did I walk?

You walked You didn't walk Did you walk?

They walked They didn't walk Did they walk?

For the negative and interrogative form of all verbs in the simple past, always use the auxiliary 'did''.

Examples:

Simple past, irregular verbs 'to go'

He went to a gym last night.

interrogative form

Did he go to the club last night?

negative form

He didn't go to bed early last night.

Examples: Simple past, irregular verbs "to give"

We gave her a doll for her birthday.

They didn't give John their copy.

Did Barry give you my report?

Examples: Simple past, irregular verbs "to come"

My parents came to visit me last year.

We didn't come because it was snowing.

Did she come to your open house last week?

Simple past function is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. Duration is not important. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past.

Examples:

John Cabot sailed to Canada in 1498.

My father died last year.

He lived in Calgary in 1986.

We crossed Lake Superior yesterday.

You always use the simple past when you say when something happened, so it is associated with certain past time expressions.

Examples:

Yesterday, I arrived in Montreal.

She finished her work at five o'clock.

We saw a good play last week.

I went to the hockey game last night.

She played the piano when she was a child.

He sent me a report six months ago.

Peter left five minutes ago

Street Slang Names and Situations

2022-05-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

Behind bars - someone is in prison. ( Open Doors Event Toronto Don Jail )

A steal - something costs much less than it is really worth.

beyond the call of duty - much more than should be expected

Cat burglar - a skillful thief who breaks into places without disturbing people or setting off alarms.

Get away with murder - when someone does not get caught or punished.

Highway robbery - Something that is ridiculously expensive

Honor among thieves - bad people sometimes have a sense of honor or integrity, or justice, even if it is skewed.

In the clink - someone is in prison.

In the dock - someone is on trial in court.

in the line of duty - doing what was expected in a particular job

Make out like a bandit - someone is extremely successful in a venture

New sheriff in town - when a new authority figure takes charge.

off duty - not working

On the case - someone is dealing with a problem.

On the lam - someone is hiding from the police

On the run - someone is avoiding arrest and hiding from the police.

Pull a runner - If people leave a restaurant without paying, they pull a runner.

Serve time - someone is in prison.

Stool pigeon - is a police informer.

Take no prisoners - aggressive actions without considering any harm they might do to achieve their objectives.

Thick as thieves - close friends who have no secrets from each other.

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Learn English language Blog Posts

2022-04-28T14:00:00.000-04:00

English 4 Cooking Blog Posts

Cooking Instructions for Whole Grains

Glossary of Pizza Words Terms Names

The Salt Question when Cooking

There are Over 100 Ways to Cook Eggs

Farmers Market - Garden Fresh Fruits Vegetables and Home Made Baking Preserves

Everything Asparagus

Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich Ingredients

20 Terms for Cooking

Simple Vegy Nachos

Buying Fruits and Vegetables

Learn English Blog Posts

Wordle improves Spelling and Vocabulary

CELPIP Classes to Qualify for Canada Immigration English Language Certification

Online Business & ESL English Classes

Learn English with Sentencemaster Vocabulary Exercises

ESL "English as a Second Language"

How to Study or Learn English as a Second Language PLAN

Are you experiencing problems because of your English?

Sentence processing in the cerebral cortex

Study ESL English as a Second Language on Twitter

Welcome to Sentence Master Games

How to Study English Recommendations

The Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) is the largest freely-available corpus of English

Top 40 Grammar Pet Peeves

ESL Students Require English Language Conversation Skills

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More Clean jokes - Learn English laughing

2022-04-20T21:05:00.000-04:00

What did one calculator say to the other calculator? “You can count on me!”

What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other’s "a little lighter".

When does a joke become a ‘dad’ joke? When it becomes "apparent".

Why did the boy eat his homework? Because the teacher said it was "a piece of cake".

Did you hear about the circus fire? It was "in tents"

What do dentists call their x-rays? "Tooth pics"

Did you hear about the first restaurant to open on Mars? It had great food, but no atmosphere.

Why did the bullet end up losing his job? He got fired.

I entered ten puns in a contest to see which would win. No pun in ten did.

How do you measure a snake? Use inches they don’t have feet.

Why do toilets always win at poker? They always get a flush

What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.

How do NASA engineers organize a party? They planet.

Did you hear the nasty rumor about butter? No I really shouldn’t spread it.

Where should you go in a room if you’re feeling cold? Go to the corner they’re at 90 degrees.

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Wordle improves Spelling and Vocabulary

2022-04-20T11:19:00.108-04:00

Yes playing word games helps English language learning - bonus is having fun and achieving success.

Wordle is a FREE spelling game using 5 letter words.

Wordle starts with a blank set of boxes which can be filled with one of 5 letters.

You are given only 6 word guesses - non English words are not accepted as "not in list"

The green colour indicates the correct letter in the correct position.

The tan colour indicates correct letter in the wrong position

The alphabet at the bottom indicates what letters you have used and what remains for you to use.

Here is a picture of 4 completed games:

Wordle keeps stats of the games you have played - you can see how you are doing

Link to Daily Wordle Game

English language students can use dictionaries and glossaries to expand their English language vocabulary when finding words to complete the Wordle game.

Best opening Wordle Words

AUDIO - you use 4 of the five English language vowels

If you do not obtain any correct letters use STYLE as 2nd word

good luck

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Marketplace went undercover to investigate life coaches

2022-04-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

Many life coaches help clients work on things like mindfulness, goal setting, boosting confidence and offer career and relationship advice.

Life coaches are not therapists and there is no organization regulating the industry. Anyone can call themselves a life coach even with no training.

Marketplace wanted to know if they’d cross the line and offer unqualified advice about mental illness. To investigate Marketplace producers created cover stories with the help of several experts and met with a number of life coaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FygdK--wT8

Silly Puns and more

2022-03-31T11:54:00.000-04:00

Some late additions:

A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to the hospital. The nurse told the parents "leave him here and we will call if there is any change"

Two silk worms started to race - they ended in a tie.

No matter how much you push the envelope it's still stationery.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Two kids came to my door asking for a donation for the local swimming pool - I gave them a gallon of water.

Did you hear about the accident victim who had his entire left side chopped off? he is all right now!

My most difficult read was the anti-gravity book - it was hard to put down.

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Indian Hills Humorous Signs

2022-03-20T10:33:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, Indian Hills, Colorado resident, Vince Rozmiarek, started posting informative, funny, or cute sayings on the sign to the town's community center. Since then they've achieved worldwide fame. Here is one of them for your enjoyment.

Links to videos featuring many of the puns, sayings jokes ...

Indian Hills Sign

Someone In Colorado Is Putting Out The Funniest Signs Ever, And The Puns Are Priceless

Funniest Signs And Puns Ever Put Up In Colorado (Part 2)

Funniest Signs And Puns Ever Put Up In Colorado

The story behind that punny sign in Indian Hills

If you’ve driven through Indian Hills over the past few years, chances are you’ve noticed a sign on the side of the road with humorous, oftentimes punny phrases. It’s the brainchild of Vince Rozmiarek, a local resident who decided to take it upon himself to switch up the status quo while working as a volunteer for the Indian Hills Community Center.

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PRESENT TENSE

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Formats for Specific Purposes