Headline English: A Video Experiment

I’m trying a little video experiment today. I decided today that instead of writing my blog post, I’d just shoot a little video. I did this first thing this morning, as I was drinking my morning coffee (and before I shaved, as you’ll see!). I love reading the newspapers when I drink my coffee, so I combined all of that with a little lesson about the English that appears in some of today’s headlines.

I recorded it on my iPad, edited in a video editing app right on my tablet (iMovie), then published it to YouTube. The whole thing took less time than it normally takes me to write a post, although I did have a little trouble getting the YouTube connection to work.

So, there you go! Tell me what you think.

~Jeff

UPDATE: I just realized that I misspelled the name of the U.K. Labor Party leader in the video. It should be “Miliband.”

 

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51 Responses to Headline English: A Video Experiment

  1. Juanan says:

    Jeff, thank you very much for improving and trying new things everyday. This video post rocks! I really like it.

    As a suggestion, I would add the headlines that you mention in the video also in the blog post, so it is easier for us to search for them.

    Keep up the good work!

  2. peter says:

    Hi chief ,
    Couldn’t get better!!
    A great change of pace.
    I must say I love the idea!!!
    The whole thing stuck in my mind.
    Specially the bee graphical presentation was awesome !!!

    I can relate to the blog posts better like that.
    Very exciting
    U set a nice precedence 🙂
    I have one suggestion though
    I would love to see a video clip on Warren on the blog too
    U know , I personally thing when we place face on our great profs we can more relate to them consequently the material you present in your blog posts set better , and stick longer

    Thanks for the teaching excellence

    P.S. The reason I m not asking Lucy to do so because I know Lucy is no big on appearing in front of the camera. I respect her wish!
    Besides , I done wanna be an imposed figure
    Thanks boss
    Peter from your neighbouring country

  3. Silvia says:

    Jeff
    You are incredible.
    It’s wonderful to see the movements of your mouth when you’re talking.
    You are a great teacher.
    Thank you very much for all the effort you do so we can learn the language and immerse into your culture.
    Thank you for your time and your dedication.
    You are very professional.
    If you want a topic suggested would be the tragedy of Lufthansa happened some days ago.

    Thank you again
    Silvia

  4. ALAN JEFFERSON MENDOZA says:

    Hi Jeff, What a great idea, I really liked, I listen to all the ESL podcasts every day and I can say that with video it is easier to understand and to have a better idea of the context you are talking about. I really encourage you to continue with this great tool. we all would appreciate it.

    Thank’s again

    yours

    ALAN JEFFERSON MENDOZA
    FROM COLOMBIA

  5. Salvatore (Savlino) Lisciandrello says:

    GREAT EXPERIENCE! Do it again and again, please!

  6. peter says:

    Guys
    There is sth I have picked up on for quite while
    Have u ever noticed of the funny faces jeff makes while on the camera !!
    They are Hilarious!!
    He has done it every time he has got behind the camera!!

    Very refreshing !!!
    He did it two or three times in this video clip alone

    Yours

  7. peter says:

    Guys
    They are subtle ! But there are there.nust look harder!
    I m talking about jeff ‘s funny expressions

    Yours

  8. H?ng Tr?n says:

    Thank you, Dr. Jeff. You know, I have learnt English so much from you and Dr. Lucy. Especially, I practice and improve my pronuciation and speaking skill by imitating your perfect voice *every *day. So, you know, it would be nice if you launch many videos like this. Thank you so much!

  9. Lorenzo Passarini says:

    A simple Thank You Jeff. You’re the best podcast teacher in the world!
    Lorenzo, 30, from Bologna (Italy), city of the world most ancient university in the eastern.

  10. Dan says:

    HI Jeff!

    What a nice and unexpected surprise! I hope this is not a joke for April fools.

    Here’s what I think: Tip N.1 E-mail to Mr Boehner and ask him what kind of fake tan he is wearing and get some. 🙂 Just kidding.

    At the beginning you sound and look little bit tense, but that is not a problem.
    I understand it is not easy rec., edit, and posting videos on YTube. I know little bit about video editing. It takes time.
    You used iMovie which is the equivalent of movie Maker on windows, the one I use.

    It’s not always a good idea shooting outside for the obvious reasons. Sound quality, lighting unexpected noise and so forth.
    Given the tools you have used for making the video I would say you did a good job.
    If you can, please keep the jump cuts to a minimum. I hate when there is a video that has a jump cut at every sentence. One or two a video is allowed, no more.

    About the video’s content: I like it. It’s interesting to have those difficult to understand headlines explained by Jeff. Our personal financial expert.

    Hey Jeff, are you sure you want to keep the comment section on YT open? there are mean people out there. The so called Troll.
    Do not worry, if anyone write something mean, I am going to show you guys my “offending skills”

    Thank you Jeff!

  11. Dan says:

    Me again, because there is more and much to be said here.

    You know what I would like to see? but unfortunately I know it’s not going to happen.
    I would like to see Jeff pick up a piece of news and give out his views on it.

    For example: these days a hot topic is the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Which I think is crazy.

    Hey guys, have you noticed Jeff is wearing a Minnesota hoody. That’s a message for someone or a subliminal image. He wants us to go and freeze in Minnesota..yeah..

    Thanks Jeff

  12. ?? says:

    Dear Jeff,

    why i can’t open your vedio in China?(???`)

    yours

  13. Fred Wolf says:

    I just watched your video. I liked it. Congratulations on your initiative!

  14. cool guy says:

    Hi, Dr Jeff , It’s wonderful, it’s absolutely wonderful please please do more videos like this. Thank you very much.

  15. Ling says:

    Hi Jeff,

    I am a big fun of you, and listen to your podcast everyday!
    I love this video! Hope you could make more such videos from now on.

    Sincerely,
    Ling

  16. Fabio says:

    Hello, Jeff

    Congratulations for your Blog and this movie now, I´m from Brazil, I have been learning english quite throught it.

    Thank,
    Fabio

  17. Marcos says:

    Hi everyone

    Great idea and a nice place, green, bird singing around, my dream is have a office like that. I think on English Cáfe will work well too.

    Thanks and nice day

  18. dan says:

    Hey me again.

    That’s because I watched the video again and realized that first time I missed the huge cup Jeff is using for the coffee.
    That’s the biggest mug I have ever seen in my life.

    Judging from the cup’s size, the coffee machine must be at least 10 inches tall.

    Thank you again.

  19. André Ávila says:

    Hi, Professor Jeff!

    I downloaded the app on my cell after my brother talked about it. I listen to your podcasts everyday when I commute and was curious about the site. When I started looking at it, I watched your first video. Congratulations for your great idea. I hope you continue recording videos about daily news, because it’s difficult to understand some terms used in newspapers.

    Best wishes,

    André Ávila
    Sobral, Ceará, Brazil

  20. peter says:

    Hi
    You know , to me , it is a good alternative for electronic conversation we have going on here.
    We can establish deeper connection Like that
    It is more personal !!

  21. hanmi says:

    Yes, I step up.
    Thank you so much this experiment !

  22. Tania says:

    Hi! Awesome video experiment, dear Jeff!
    You emit so much goodness speaking to us heart-felt, warmly, passionately…
    And your eyes… like our national poet said ” our eyes are the window of our soul”.
    I have not forget my first impression:
    Jeff’s eyes = Johnny Depp’s eyes.

    All the best for you,

    Tania

  23. Angela F says:

    As many of us I like “to meet you personally” Seen the face of the voice I listen to everyday in my way to work it’s amazing ~ ~ ~ thanks a lot for the useful podcasts you share with us. Greetings from the North of Spain !!!

  24. Neal says:

    Dear Jeff,

    You have been an incredible ESL teacher for a host of students across the world and have truly contributed much to passing on your invaluable life experience and the language skills to all of us. All your podcasts have been divided into certain sections, based upon students’ interests and preferences that make the whole learning process fun, exciting and rewarding.

    I would also like to express deep gratitude to Dr. Lucy Tse who has been kind enough to create wonderful scripts. It must be challenging and exciting at the same time). Both of you make a difference to this world).

    As for this video cast, it is highly enjoyable since we can see your body language and have a bonding experience.

    One of the suggestions would be to watch an episode of an interesting movie or CNN news together for a couple of minutes, pause and focus on new vocabulary that might come in handy later in life. Thus, listening comprehension skills will boost.)

    Yours faithfully,
    Neal

  25. Dan says:

    Hello.
    If Jeff decides to make and post other videos, I would like to see
    different topics covered.
    It could be crime then economy, science and so on.

    For the series` title I was thinking of:
    Headlines explained.
    English behind the news.
    The news with Jeff.

    Something like that.

    Thanks

  26. Thiago Messias says:

    Hey boss, that was an amazing thing you did.. super interesting, different efficient and we get to see you speaking.. Great and different experience with the ESLPod. Thanks.. Cheers from Brazil.

  27. emiliano says:

    Bravo, bravo Jeff, it seems to me you are here again, in front of me, face to face, talking like a close friend who is explaining in a relaxing
    way some difficult headlines in the newspaper thats rules the business affairs of the East World.
    Just a special great gift to me dear friend to have you so close like being at home once again, but you know I have not any garden to receive
    you properly but we have here in Madrid the Retiro Park.

    Thank you so much Jeff, indeed

    —-

    Bravo to you Neal also, nice comment, I think we need your opinión in this Blog more frequently
    God writing that gives us a bit of fresh air, thank you Neal.

    emiliano

  28. Aecio Flavio Perim says:

    Seing your face is hard and not often. You look like a young man in the vidoe. I say hello to my eslpodcastmates. I am Aecio from Brazil and I am just a Brazilian waiting for a better world, with more peace, more love among people. I stop here and I hope to talk to you very soon.
    Aecio

  29. Dan says:

    My cats did not appreciate this video.
    What about Gatufo?

    Bye

  30. Felipe says:

    HI

    nice to meet you,

    I use this blog to learn more about english, and to the first time i saw the creator and I’m very glad,
    thank you for the video and send more videos for everyone.

  31. emiliano says:

    Just the same, Gatufo likes Jeff´s Voice, but he does´t show any attention to Jeff video.
    Gatufo also likes the sound of the piano when emiliano is trying to play some Music
    what is impossible for the moment.

    Ja,ja, Dan you are a crack up.

    emiliano

  32. emiliano says:

    Lily, where are you?
    We all are awaiting you opinión about Jeff´s face whe he is speaking
    making the video.

    Again, Lily, our Betty, we are missing you a lot
    just the same as all our Iran´s Friends, where are you? Tell us something
    about the new agreement and the changes your are awaiting for.

    emiliano

  33. Alex from Russia says:

    Jeff, brilliant experience! From didactic point of view this is a nice supplement for your very useful podcast! I am not discussing your personal influence on students here but … It is a bomb for many of your fans ))) So, let me say thank you for your hard job for more than 10 years. It is very apropriate moment!

  34. lili:) says:

    Hello Everyone! I’m still here, reading all the posts from you all. Thank you all for nice writings for me to read. They are essential food for my mind – they keep me open-minded.

    Thanks Dear Jeff, this is a real Easter gift. It’s very nice to see you in the video. Now we know you’re very well. However, you’ve gone a bit slimmer than a few years ago.

    Thanks also to Emiliano, thanks for urging me to say something here. I’m very sorry I’ve become so lazy recently.

    Anyway, yes, like all of you, I truly appreciate Jeff making this video for us. I’ve always want to hear the blog, in addition to reading the blog. So this video is excellent because I can “listen” to it. But then the text has gone!

    I was tempted to write out the script myself and post it here. But, no, no time at the moment!

    The most important lesson I’ve learned from this blog post is, Jeff always like to teach us “Headline English”

    I googled “Headline English” and found many web pages talking about it, one of them is an explanation of it in “dictionary.cambridge.org”, it says:

    “A newspaper headline is a very short summary of a news report. It normally appears in large letters above the report.

    The grammar of headlines is often non-standard and they can be difficult to read. The main features of the grammar of headlines are the use of a series of nouns and the use of ellipsis (leaving out words which are not necessary). We often leave out articles (a/an, the) and verbs (especially the verb to be):

    Headlines often use the present simple, even where the report refers to a past event. This is done to make the news seem more dramatic and immediate:

    Headlines often use the to-infinitive form to refer to future events: ……….”

    Headline English is an interesting area in itself, no wonder Jeff is so interested in it.

    OK, that’s all I’ve got to say about this experiment. Well Done Jeff! You had started working even before you shaved and finished your morning coffee. So dedicated to teaching!

    BTW, I can see you have a “Starbucks” coffee mug from Eire (Irish for Ireland). I’m sure you love the mug, I love it too.

    Best Regards

    lili:)

  35. lili:) says:

    I remember someone here said he/she didn’t understand the sentence “No, but they’re sitting in the hall” in ESL Podcast 1079 – Receiving Letters and Packages in the Mail

    I think the best explanation for the above sentence in the context is from “macmillandictionary.com”
    it says:

    Sit “[INTRANSITIVE] to be in a particular situation or condition for a period of time”.

    Hall “the area inside the front door of a house or other building that leads to other rooms
    I wish you wouldn’t leave your shoes in the hall.
    entrance hall: The house has a large entrance hall with an open staircase.”

    So, “they’re sitting in the hall.” means “the letters are situated in the hall of Celeste and Anwar’s house for a period of time”, hinting no one has done anything to them.

  36. Tania says:

    Hi! Happy Easter to our dear teachers!

  37. Tania says:

    Hi! Happy Easter to all our dear blog friends who celebrate the Easter!

  38. Dan says:

    Hey Jeff

    Please post a new video.
    I am tired of looking at the same video over and over. 🙂

    Thanks

  39. Roli says:

    Hi Jeff. I’m glad that I’m still a member of this ESLpod. Your video experiment is an Easter gift. I’m happy, to see more of this videos! Kind regards Roli (Switzerland)

  40. emiliano says:

    Listen all of you readers of ESL, in YouTube the video is subtitled in English, so for all of you that
    wanted the text, you may read it in the YouTube web site, where is the Jeff´s all videos.

    So go ahead, I have seen it already despite it use to be easy for me to understand my dear friend
    Jeff, even more looking him face to face.

    Thank you Lily, as nice as ever, a pleasure to have you here just the same as our dear Tania.

    emiliano

  41. Aecio Flavio Perim says:

    Hi Jeff, you hit the target in the buleyel when you sent us a video. I loved it. About Easter, we, Brazilian, ate a lot of chocolate in the shape of a rabbit. Delicious. Only Brazilian people can say how good it is. I’d like to share with you all of ESL I invite you all to come to know Brazil and its delicious food. Chicken, fish, crabs, shrimp, meat, frut and everything. Don’t miss it. Come as soon as you can.
    Aecio

  42. Miraquebonito says:

    I love it. Excelent idea! Thanks bests wishes!!

  43. AlexanderYao says:

    Nice video! People from China please use software like “free gate” to get rid of “the great wall”‘s blocks, since I’m also from China.

  44. soraia says:

    Hello Jeff,

    I loved your idea, all day I stay waiting your post and become my newspaper because you explain
    about culture and way american life and now your video become my tv news.
    How say Aecio Flavio…come to know Brazil …..

    Are people as you that do we like of to learn more and more english.

  45. Sergey says:

    Hello Jeff,
    it is great idea with video, keep it up.
    Of course produce video usually takes more time that writing a text, but if you will do this at least occasionally – it would be super.
    Thanks.

  46. Emma says:

    Hi Jeff,

    I really appreciate the change! Thanks so much for your work for ESL learners!

    Best,
    Emma

  47. Jamal says:

    Hi Jeff…It’s a great idea… but could you compress the size of the video to be much smaller?

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