ETC Conversation Course
ETC Conversation Course
62 New Words from Module 1 terms
This glossary is for my ESL students in Cairo, Egypt who are learning English online using the Canvas LMS. Each term is one that is used somewhere in our online lessons and might need clarification.
- Accuracy
- Noun
- the ability to do something in an exact way without making a mistake
- en: دقة
- Artwork
- Noun
- paintings and other objects produced by artists.
- Example: I love to see the artwork of the quilters there.
- Assessment
- Noun
- the act of assessing, especially (in Britain) the evaluation of a student's achievement on a course
- Example: ... and the things they need are just a few clicks away, such as: course information, workbooks, guides, and assessments
- en: تقييم او في ثياق الدراسة: أمتحان
- At your own base
- Phrase
- If you do something at your own pace, you do it at a speed that is comfortable for you
- Example: Canvas is a cloud-based classroom where learners have the flexibility to learn online, anytime, at their own pace
- Background
- Noun
- the sounds that you can hear apart from the main thing that you are listening to
- Example: Use headphones to block out background noises and if possible, choose a learning environment where you will not be interrupted.
- en: خلفية
- be a dream come true
- Phrase
- if something is a dream come true, it happens after you have wanted it to happen for a long time.
- Example: It was a dream-come-true for me to go to Greece last summer with my family and some of my best friends.
- Beginner
- Noun
- someone who has just started to do or learn something.
- Example: I also like to paint with watercolors. I am a beginner but I am enjoying learning a new skill.
- en: مُبتدىء
- Benefit
- Verb
- to get help or an advantage from something
- Example: Around the world, I have 14,000 training providers, 18,000,000 learners and their employers benefit from Canvas.
- en: يستفيد
- Block out
- Verb
- to stop yourself thinking about something or remembering it
- Example: Use headphones to block out background noises and if possible, choose a learning environment where you will not be interrupted.
- Cheerleader
- Noun
- someone who encourages other people to do something
- Example: I am your teacher but I am also a cheerleader, your tour guide and a co-learner. We can do this together!
- Cloud-based
- Adjective
- using software or space for storage that is on the Internet rather than on your own computer
- Example: Canvas is a cloud-based classroom where learners have the flexibility to learn online, anytime, at their own pace
- Co-learner
- Noun
- someone who learns with youi
- Example: I am your teacher but I am also a cheerleader, your tour guide and a co-learner. We can do this together!
- Directions
- Noun
- instructions about what to do
- Example: Scavenger Hunt Directions
- en: ارشادات او تعليمات
- Distracted
- Adjective
- unable to think clearly or focus
- Example: FOCUS.
We all know that being online can mean being distracted.
- en: مشتت
- Effort
- Noun
- the physical or mental energy that is needed to do something
- en: مجهود
- Element
- Noun
- one part or feature of a whole system, plan, piece of work etc, especially one that is basic or important
- Example: All the essential elements for successful e-learning are in one secure place (Canvas)
- en: عُنصر
- Environment
- Noun
- the people and things that are around you in your life, for example the buildings you use, the people you live or work with, and the general situation you are in
- Example: Use headphones to block out background noises and if possible, choose a learning environment where you will not be interrupted.
- Essential
- Adjective
- extremely important and necessary
- Example: All the essential elements for successful e-learning are in one secure place (Canvas)
- Evident
- Adjective
- easy to see, notice, or understand SYN obvious, clear
- Familiar
- Adjective
- someone or something that is familiar is well-known to you and easy to recognize
- Example: This short activity will help you become familiar with the different parts of the online learning system
- Feta cheese
- Noun
- a white cheese from Greece made from sheep’s milk or goat’s milk
- Example: My favorite fruit is pomegranate. I also love olives. I could eat feta cheese at every meal.

- Final
- Adjective
- last in a series of actions, events, parts of a story etc
- Focus
- Verb
- to give special attention to one particular person or thing, or to make people do this SYN concentrate
- Example: FOCUS.
We all know that being online can mean being distracted.
- Fulfilling
- Adjective
- making you feel happy and satisfied because you are doing interesting, useful, or important things
- Example: I find it very fulfilling to be learning new things and to help others do the same.
- Genre
- Noun
- a particular type of art, writing, music etc, which has certain features that all examples of this type share.
- Example: My favorite genre is mystery but I don’t like anything scary.
- Grateful
- Adjective
- feeling that you want to thank someone because of something kind that they have done, or showing this feeling.
- Example: I have been able to visit many places in the world and I feel grateful.
- Hack
- Noun
- a clever and possibly new way of doing something
- Example: Here is a small "hack" or helpful hint that will allow you to slow down the audio of YouTube videos so you can listen more carefully and understand more easily.
- Homework
- Noun
- work that a student at school is asked to do at home
- in charge of
- Phrase
- having control of or responsibility for (something)
- Incomprehensible
- Adjective
- difficult or impossible to understand
- Incorporate
- Verb
- to include something as part of a group, system, plan etc
- Interrupt
- Verb
- to stop someone from continuing what they are saying or doing by suddenly speaking to them, making a noise etc
- Example: Use headphones to block out background noises and if possible, choose a learning environment where you will not be interrupted.
- en: يقاطع
- Learning Management System (LMS)
- Phrase
- (in our case Canvas) the system we use to organize all our learning online
- Example: ... because Canvas is a powerful Learning Management System with great features; learners have a more supportive learning experience
- Locate
- Verb
- to find the exact position of something
- Example: By the end of this module, you will be able to: Locate our course announcements
- Location
- Noun
- a particular place, especially in relation to other areas, buildings etc
- Example: ... you will be required to visit several sections of our online course and provide an answer to a question in order to show that you correctly found the location and were able to understand the information in that location.
- Module
- Noun
- one of the separate units that a course of study has been divided into. Usually students choose a number of modules to study
- Example: How many modules are there in this course?
- Navigate
- Verb
- to find your way around on a particular website, or to move from one website to another
- Example: Navigate to the Gradebook. Take a screenshot if you are able.
- Notification
- Noun
- a message that is automatically sent to you to tell you there has been activity on one of your social media accounts, for example, when someone has commented on something you have written on Facebook™
- Example: During your study times, turn off notifications from social media, close other apps and focus on your coursework.
- Olives
- Noun
- a small bitter egg-shaped black or green fruit, used as food and for making oil
- Example: My favorite fruit is pomegranate. I also love olives. I could eat feta cheese at every meal

- Platform
- Noun
- the type of computer system or software that someone uses
- Example: Today we will take some time to learn about our online learning platform, called Canvas
- pomegranate
- noun
- en: رمان

- Post
- Noun
- a message sent to an Internet discussion group so that all members of the group can read it
- Example: Add a post to the thread "hello!" and tell us your name, where you live and why you want to learn English
- Quarantine
- Noun
- a period of time when a person or animal is kept apart from others in case they are carrying a disease
- Example: During the coronavirus quarantine, I have learned how to make ricotta cheese at home and this is also very good!
- en: حجر صحي
- Quilters
- Noun
- people who make quilts.
A quilt is a warm thick cover for a bed, made by sewing two layers of cloth together, with feathers or a thick material in between them.
- Example: My favorite place to visit in Cairo is Tentmaker’s Way near Bab Zuwayla. I love to see the artwork of the quilters there.

- Reflect
- Verb
- to think carefully about something, or to say something that you have been thinking about
- Example: Take a moment to reflect on how your learning went this week.
- Ricotta cheese
- Noun
- a type of soft white Italian cheese
- Example: During the coronavirus quarantine, I have learned how to make ricotta cheese at home and this is also very good!

- Scavenger Hunt
- Noun
- a game in which players have to look for and find several items in order to win
- Screenshot
- Noun
- a picture of what is on a computer screen at a particular time, which can be saved and put into a document or printed out
- Example: Navigate to the Gradebook. Take a screenshot and attach it.
- Secure
- Adjective
- 1. a situation that is secure is one that you can depend on because it is not likely to change
2. safe from and protected against damage or attack
- Example: All the essential elements for successful e-learning are in one secure place (Canvas)
- Several
- Adjective
- a number of people or things that is more than a few, but not a lot
- Example: In our scavenger hunt activity, you will be required to visit several sections of our online course ...
- Study
- Noun
- when you spend time learning, especially at home or by yourself rather than during school
- Example: During your study times, turn off notifications from social media, close other apps and focus on your coursework.
- Syllabus
- Noun
- a plan that states exactly what students at a school or college should learn in a particular subject
- Example: By the end of this module, you will be able to: Find our syllabus so you know what is expected of you in this course
- Technology
- Noun
- new machines, equipment, and ways of doing things that are based on modern knowledge about science and computers
- Example: I have learned new technologies and new tricks for things I thought I know about, like Google Docs!
- Thread
- Noun
- a series of messages concerning the same subject, written by members of an Internet discussion group
- Example: Add a post to the thread "hello!" and tell us your name, where you live and why you want to learn English
- Tip
- Noun
- a helpful piece of advice
- Example: Tips for Online Learning
- Tour guide
- Noun
- someone whose job is to take tourists to a place and show them around
- Example: I am your teacher but I am also a cheerleader, your tour guide and a co-learner. We can do this together!
- en: مرشد سياحي
- Trick
- Noun
- a way of doing something that works very well but may not be easy to notice
- Example: I have learned new technologies and new tricks for things I thought I know about, like Google Docs!
- Visibility
- Noun
- the fact of being easy to see
- Example: You can also have visibility of learner progress to further support your learners
- Watercolors
- a type of paint that you mix with water.
- Example: I enjoy reading a lot. I also like to paint with watercolors.

- Welcome
- Adjective, Noun
- if someone is welcome in a place, other people are glad that they are there
- Example: Watch my welcome announcement and discover which four countries I have lived in
- ٍSkill
- Noun
- an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practiced it.
- Example: I am a beginner but I am enjoying learning a new skill.