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7 Ideas to Boost Student Performance in English Subject

Listening, reading, writing, and speaking are the core skills to master the English language. Beyond the mode of communication, it’s a gateway to shape your academic future. Learning the English language will nurture critical thinking and cultural appreciation. Whether you are an educator who wishes to unlock the student’s potential or a parent who is eager to support their child’s academic journey - this article is meant for you. As we go further, we will share why English is essential for Indian students and how you can boost their performance.

Why is English Important for Indian Students?

If you are an Indian student, English is not going to be your mother tongue. Mastering the language opens doors to numerous opportunities, making it a vital skill in today's globalized world.

Higher Education

Proficiency in English is essential for Indian students who are aiming for higher education in prestigious institutions in India or abroad. Many advanced textbooks, research papers, and academic resources are available primarily in English, facilitating a deeper understanding of various subjects.

Employment Opportunities

Another advantage of learning English is that it enhances employability in the job market. MNCs and top-tier domestic firms often seek candidates who are fluent in English to interact effectively with international clients and colleagues.

Cultural Exchange and Diversity

Learning English allows Indian students to engage with diverse cultures and ideas through literature, media, and communication. This fosters a broader worldview and promotes cultural understanding and tolerance.

Personal Development

Fluency in English boosts self-confidence and self-expression. It enables students to access a wealth of information, participate in global discussions, and cultivate a more informed personality.

Technological Advancement

With the majority of technological content and software instructions in English, it helps Indian students stay aware of the latest technological trends and innovations.

Ways to Improve Students' Performance in English

1. Encourage Students to Speak in English in and out of the classroom

As much as listening and reading is vital to get a command of the language. It’s crucial to interact in English and harness your speaking skills. There are various English speaking techniques like communicating only in English with friends. You can also record and talk to yourself in the mirror. Initially, it might feel awkward, but you will be able to pinpoint the mistakes you made while speaking.

2. Suggest English storybooks

Reading English storybooks is a great way to enhance your English reading skills. You get to understand the plot, pick the informal words to know about their meaning, and then use them for your writing.

3. Provide vocabulary to practice daily

Get yourself a dictionary to understand new words. You can start by making a list of valid words and phrases. Every time you hear an unfamiliar word, note it down in your notebook or computer. Check out its synonyms and understand its meaning to use accurately in the sentence.

4. Conduct regular English test

Conduct regular English tests so that students can write better in English. The more they read new words and phrases, the better it would be to put them in the form of a sentence. It also empowers their imagination thinking skills.

5. Encourage students to participate in Extracurricular Activities

Participating in extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. But once the students are confident then it will push them to participate. These activities could include English clubs, drama, or debate teams, which will be only performed in the English language.

6. Present English Videos in the classroom to enhance listening skills

The best way to improve listening skills is by presenting English videos in the classrooms. Initially, students will require subtitles to understand what the speaker is conveying. Once they are comfortable enough to catch up with the words, subtitles will not be necessary. Additionally, suggest they watch English TV shows, news, radio and even songs to comprehend the meaning.

7. Encourage students to play word games

Last but not least, encourage students to play word games like Scrabble, Wordle, and Crossword puzzles. This will help them in learning new words, their meanings and where you can use these words in the form of sentences.

Conclusion

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. That’s the best way to master English. Try coming up with a new word every day and employ it in daily usage as often as possible. Remember, the goal is not to excel academically but to appreciate the beauty of language. Whether through interactive activities, shows, or reading - each step brings students closer to mastering English.

What Is Google Translate and How Does It Use AI?

Google Translate is a widely used machine translation service developed by Google. It provides instant translations for text, documents, websites, and even spoken language.

Google Translate is one of the most accessible and versatile translation tools available today. It supports over 100 languages and is used by millions of users, including travelers, businesses, students, and professionals, to overcome language barriers and facilitate cross-cultural communication.

The platform leverages artificial intelligence (AI), particularly neural machine translation (NMT), to deliver fast, accurate, and context-aware translations. Over time, its AI-driven approach has significantly enhanced the quality of translations by improving sentence structure, context understanding, and fluency.

How Does Google Translate Work?

Google Translate provides translations using a combination of advanced neural networks, machine learning algorithms, and deep learning models.

The system processes entire sentences instead of individual words, producing more coherent and contextually accurate translations.

Key Components of Google Translate’s AI System

Neural Machine Translation (NMT): NMT allows the AI to analyze whole sentences, providing translations that maintain the correct context and flow.
Training Data: The AI is trained on vast multilingual datasets, including publicly available texts, user feedback, and professionally translated documents.
Continuous Learning: Google Translate improves by incorporating real-time user feedback and learning from new data sources.
Real-Time Language Detection: The platform can automatically detect the language of input text, simplifying the translation process.
Sentence Parsing: To improve accuracy, the AI identifies complex grammatical structures, idiomatic phrases, and cultural nuances.

Example: When translating the phrase “break the ice,” Google Translate’s AI understands it as an idiomatic expression. It provides an equivalent phrase in the target language rather than a literal word-for-word translation.

Key Features of Google Translate

Google Translate offers versatile features to meet various translation needs across multiple platforms. These features cater to text, speech, documents, websites, and more, ensuring users can effectively communicate and understand content in different languages.

1. Text Translation

Users can enter text directly into Google Translate for instant translations. The system supports over 100 languages and leverages neural networks to provide accurate, context-aware translations. It strives to maintain both the tone and meaning of the original text.

Example: A student can translate a paragraph from a French article to English and receive a coherent, grammatically correct result.

2. Document Translation

Google Translate allows users to upload PDF, Word, and text files. The platform translates the entire document while preserving its layout, formatting, and structure. This feature is especially helpful for business, education, and professional documents.

Example: A company can upload a product manual in Japanese and receive an English version with all formatting elements, such as headings and bullet points, intact.

3. Website Translation

With Google Translate, users can translate entire websites by inputting a URL. The service processes each page and provides a translated version, making accessing foreign-language websites for research, news, or business purposes easier.

Example: A user can paste the URL of a Chinese news website to read articles in their preferred language. Navigation and page elements remain usable during translation.

4. Voice and Speech Translation

Google Translate offers real-time voice translation, enabling users to speak or listen in different languages. This feature supports conversations and live communication, making it invaluable for travelers, business professionals, and multilingual events.

Use Case: A traveler in Japan can ask for directions in their native language, and Google Translate will provide a spoken Japanese translation to communicate with locals.

5. Offline Translation

Users can download language packs to enable translations without an internet connection. This feature is ideal for travel, remote work, or areas with limited connectivity. Offline packs maintain high accuracy for common phrases and vocabulary.

Example: A tourist visiting a rural area without internet can translate road signs and directions by using Google Translate offline mode.

6. Image and Camera Translation

Google Translate can scan and translate text through a smartphone camera. Using optical character recognition (OCR) and AI, this feature allows users to translate signs, menus, brochures, and other printed materials instantly.

Example: A tourist can point their camera at a restaurant menu in Italian and receive a real-time English translation displayed on their screen.

7. Handwriting Input

For languages that use non-Latin scripts, Google Translate supports handwritten input. Users can draw characters or text on their touchscreen, and the platform recognizes and translates the input. This feature is particularly useful for languages like Chinese, Arabic, and Russian.

Example: A learner of Chinese can draw a character they don’t recognize, and Google Translate will display both the meaning and translation of the character in their language.

How AI Improves Google Translate

Google Translate uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance translation accuracy, context awareness, and scalability. By addressing common challenges in machine translation, the platform delivers more natural and context-sensitive results, improving communication across languages.

1. Context Awareness

Google Translate’s AI analyzes sentences to understand context and select the appropriate meanings for ambiguous words or phrases. This reduces the risk of mistranslations, particularly in cases where a word has multiple interpretations.

Example: The word “bank” could refer to a financial institution or the side of a river. Google Translate evaluates the context of a sentence to choose the correct meaning.
Use Case: In business communications, accurate context detection prevents misunderstandings when translating critical documents such as contracts and reports.
Benefit: Greater translation accuracy for complex or ambiguous text, leading to clearer communication across various content types.

2. Neural Machine Translation (NMT)

Google Translate employs neural machine translation (NMT) to analyze full sentences rather than translating words in isolation. This approach ensures that translations maintain natural sentence flow and structure.

Example: A complex sentence in a technical document can be translated into another language without losing its logical structure or key points.
Use Case: Businesses use NMT to translate product descriptions and marketing content, ensuring the tone and message remain intact.
Benefit: NMT produces translations that sound more fluent and human-like, making content easier to understand and more engaging for readers.

3. Multimodal Translation

Google Translate supports multiple input types: text, speech, and images. This allows users to access translations in different scenarios, making the platform more versatile and accessible.

Example: A traveler can use the app’s camera feature to translate a street sign by pointing their phone at it.
Use Case: Educational institutions use speech translation to help non-native students participate in classroom discussions by translating spoken content in real-time.
Benefit: Users can switch between input methods depending on their needs, improving convenience and adaptability in various situations.

4. Continuous Learning and Feedback Integration

Google Translate’s AI models are continuously improved through user feedback and ongoing data analysis. This helps the platform adapt to changes in language trends, slang, and regional variations.

Example: If users frequently correct a particular phrase, Google Translate’s AI updates its model to reflect the preferred translation.
Use Case: Media companies benefit from updated translations that reflect the latest cultural and linguistic trends, ensuring localized content resonates with target audiences.
Benefit: Regular updates to the translation models keep Google Translate relevant and reliable, providing high-quality translations over time.

5. Scalability and Global Reach

Thanks to its cloud-based AI infrastructure, Google Translate is designed to handle millions of translation requests daily. This scalability ensures that users worldwide can access reliable translation services across multiple platforms.

Benefit: Google Translate’s scalability supports large-scale operations and high-demand situations, ensuring consistent translation quality for users worldwide.
Example: A global e-commerce site can translate thousands of real-time product listings and customer reviews to serve international customers.
Use Case: Multinational organizations use Google Translate during high-traffic events, such as product launches or conferences, without experiencing performance issues.

Benefits of Using Google Translate

Google Translate is a versatile tool offering a range of benefits for both personal and professional users. Its wide language support, instant translation capabilities, and accessibility make it a valuable resource for overcoming language barriers.

1. Accessibility

Google Translate supports over 100 languages, providing services to a global audience. Its availability across multiple platforms—including mobile apps, desktop interfaces, and browser extensions—offers users flexibility and convenience.

Example: A traveler can use the Google Translate mobile app to quickly translate menus or signs, while a student can use the web version to translate research papers on their desktop.
Use Case: International businesses can rely on Google Translate to communicate with clients in different countries, improving accessibility for global operations.
Benefit: Accessing translation services on multiple devices ensures users can overcome language barriers anytime and anywhere.

2. Instant Translation

Google Translate provides real-time translation, allowing users to quickly convert text, documents, speech, and images. This is particularly valuable for situations that require immediate access to foreign-language content.

Example: A journalist covering an international event can instantly translate press materials to stay informed without waiting for manual translations.
Use Case: Live chat support platforms use Google Translate to deliver instant responses, improving customer satisfaction and engagement.
Benefit: Real-time translation accelerates communication and decision-making, helping users remain productive in fast-paced environments.

3. Versatility Across Use Cases

Google Translate caters to diverse needs by offering a range of input methods, including text, document, speech, and image translation.

Example: A business professional can upload a Word document for translation, while a traveler can use the app’s camera feature to translate street signs in real time.
Use Case: Educational institutions use Google Translate to support non-native students by translating lecture notes, assignments, and course materials.
Benefit: The platform’s ability to handle multiple input types makes it suitable for various scenarios, from business presentations to travel assistance.

4. Cost Savings

As a free service, Google Translate allows users to access high-quality translation tools without the expense of hiring professional translators. This particularly benefits startups, small businesses, and individuals with limited resources.

Example: A small business can expand its online presence by translating its website content using Google Translate, avoiding the costs of professional localization services.
Use Case: Freelancers and entrepreneurs use Google Translate to communicate with international clients, reducing the need for paid translation services.
Benefit: Users can allocate resources to other areas of their business or projects by eliminating translation fees.

5. Offline Functionality

Google Translate offers offline translation through downloadable language packs. This feature is crucial for users traveling to remote areas or working in locations with limited internet access.

Example: A tourist visiting a rural area can still use Google Translate to understand local signage and communicate with residents despite not having internet connectivity.
Use Case: Humanitarian organizations operating in disaster-affected regions use offline translation to coordinate relief efforts when communication infrastructure is down.
Benefit: Offline functionality ensures that users can access translation services even in challenging environments, enhancing their ability to navigate and communicate.

6. Enhanced Collaboration

Google Translate facilitates collaboration between multilingual teams by enabling seamless communication across different languages. Teams can use the platform to translate emails, reports, and meeting notes in real-time.

Benefit: Improved communication enhances productivity and collaboration, enabling organizations to work cohesively despite language differences.
Example: A multinational company can hold virtual meetings where participants receive real-time translations of discussions, allowing everyone to contribute effectively.
Use Case: Academic research teams collaborating across borders use Google Translate to share findings and translate scholarly articles.

Common Use Cases for Google Translate

Google Translate facilitates communication and information sharing across industries, helping users overcome language barriers in various real-world situations.

1. Travel and Tourism

Travelers use Google Translate to communicate with locals, navigate foreign environments, and understand essential information like signs, menus, and travel instructions. This enhances their experience by enabling better interaction and access to local services.

Example: A tourist visiting Japan can use the app to scan a restaurant menu, instantly translating the dish names and descriptions into their native language.
Use Case: Backpackers traveling through multiple countries can rely on the offline translation feature to understand train schedules and hotel instructions without internet access.
Benefit: Improved travel experiences by making communication with locals easier and ensuring travelers can confidently explore new places.

2. Business Communication

Companies leverage Google Translate to facilitate communication with clients, partners, and employees in different regions. The platform is particularly useful for translating business emails, reports, contracts, and presentations.

Example: An export company can translate contracts and negotiation documents, ensuring both parties understand the terms clearly.
Use Case: Multinational corporations use Google Translate to handle day-to-day communication between departments located in various countries.
Benefit: Smoother collaboration and more efficient international business operations through accurate and timely translations.

3. Education and Learning

Students and educators use Google Translate to support language learning, research, and collaboration. The tool helps translate textbooks, research papers, and academic resources, enabling access to knowledge across language barriers.

Example: A university student can translate foreign-language academic articles to support their research project, expanding their access to global resources.
Use Case: Language learners use Google Translate to practice vocabulary and sentence structure by translating phrases between their native and target languages.
Benefit: Greater access to global academic content, making it easier for students to learn and researchers to share knowledge internationally.

4. Content Localization

Developers and content creators rely on Google Translate to localize their apps, websites, and marketing materials for global audiences. They can expand their reach and cater to different language markets by automating translations.

Example: A software developer can quickly localize an app interface for multiple languages, enabling international users to understand and use the application effectively.
Use Case: Marketing teams can translate promotional materials to launch campaigns in new regions, ensuring the messaging resonates with local audiences.
Benefit: Faster and more cost-effective localization, allowing businesses to enter new markets with culturally appropriate content.

5. Customer Support

Businesses integrate Google Translate into customer support systems to assist in multiple languages. This allows them to serve clients from diverse backgrounds and improve customer satisfaction.

Example: An online retailer can use Google Translate to handle customer inquiries from international buyers, ensuring that support is provided in their preferred language.
Use Case: Companies use real-time translation during live chat sessions to respond instantly to non-English-speaking customers.
Benefit: Improved global customer service, leading to stronger relationships and increased trust from international clients.

6. Personal Use

Individuals use Google Translate for everyday tasks such as translating personal messages, recipes, instructions, and other content. The tool makes life more convenient by enabling users to understand and communicate in different languages.

Benefit: Easier access to information and better communication in multilingual settings enhance daily life for users worldwide.

Example: A person can use Google Translate to understand cooking instructions from a recipe written in a foreign language.

Use Case: Users can translate messages when communicating with friends or family members who speak a different language.

Google Translate remains one of the most trusted AI-powered translation services globally. Its neural machine translation system, continuous improvements, and wide range of features make it indispensable for users seeking quick, reliable, and versatile translations.

Google Translate bridges language gaps and fosters global communication for travel, education, business, or personal use.

FAQ for What Is Google Translate and How Does It Use AI?

What is Google Translate used for?
Google Translate helps users translate text, documents, websites, and spoken language in real-time, supporting over 100 languages globally.

How does Google Translate use AI?
It uses neural machine translation (NMT), a deep learning technique that analyzes entire sentences to provide accurate, context-aware translations.

What is Neural Machine Translation (NMT)?
NMT focuses on translating full sentences rather than isolated words, resulting in more natural and coherent translations.

Can Google Translate handle idiomatic expressions?
Yes, Google Translate understands idiomatic phrases and provides culturally appropriate equivalents instead of literal translations.

How does Google Translate improve over time?
Google Translate’s AI continuously learns from user feedback and new data, allowing it to refine and improve its translation accuracy.

What input types does Google Translate support?
Google Translate can process text, voice, images (camera translations), and handwriting, making it adaptable to various use cases.

Can Google Translate detect the input language automatically?
The system includes a real-time language detection feature that recognizes the input language without requiring user selection.

What document formats can Google Translate handle?
It supports Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF (.pdf), and plain text (.txt) documents for translation while maintaining formatting.

Does Google Translate work offline?
Yes, users can download language packs for offline translation, which is particularly helpful when traveling or in areas with poor connectivity.

Is Google Translate free to use?
Yes, Google Translate is a free tool that is available via web, mobile app, and browser extensions.

How accurate is Google Translate compared to human translators?
While Google Translate can provide high-quality translations for many scenarios, human translators are still superior for complex or highly specialized texts.

How does Google Translate handle different dialects?
Google Translate focuses on widely-used standard language forms. However, dialect-specific translations may be less precise.

Can Google Translate help businesses with localization?
Businesses use Google Translate to localize websites, applications, and marketing materials for different languages and regions.

Does Google Translate offer a glossary or customization feature?
Unlike some specialized translation tools, Google Translate does not provide a user-defined glossary feature.

What industries benefit from using Google Translate?
Travel, education, business, e-commerce, and customer support industries benefit from Google Translate’s ability to break language barriers quickly and reliably.

Delete Temporary Files on Windows PC: Step-By-Step Guide

In this guide, you will learn:

Why should I delete temporary files on my PC?
How do I manually delete temporary files in Windows?

Is your PC running out of space? Deleting temporary files can quickly free up room for your essential files and applications.

Why should I delete temporary files on my PC?

Temporary files (.tmp) are created by software to store information temporarily. Removing them can free up space and improve your PC's performance:

Free Up Disk Space: Make room for new files and applications.
Improve System Performance: A cleaner storage drive runs faster and more efficiently.

How do I manually delete temporary files in Windows?

Press WINDOWS ⊞ + R keys together to open the 'Run' dialog.
Type %temp% and press ENTER. This opens the 'Temporary Files' folder.
Select all files by pressing CTRL + A.
Press DELETE and confirm by clicking Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
Done.

Windows 11: The Best Hidden Features, Tips, and Tricks

Mention the words “Windows 11” to any tech-savvy person these days, and you’ll get either an eye roll or a brief shrug that's physically the same as uttering “Meh.” It has not won over the masses, to say the least. Many feel it doesn’t do anything better than Windows 10 while offering a new interface that repels Windows diehards.

Thankfully, many changes can be reversed or tweaked to make the OS easier to use, and we’re here to walk you through them. You'll also want to look at some cool new features. Here are our top Windows 11 tips.

1. Restore Your Right-Click Options

One of Microsoft's most infuriating changes to Windows 11 is the redesigned right-click menus. The company removed most previously available options from the default view to make it more compact. However, it did keep the full list of options around. It moved them one layer deeper in the UI, forcing you to click “Show More Options” to see it.

Some of us have to use this every time we right-click, which is highly annoying. Thankfully, there’s a way to revert to the old menu permanently. All it involves is adding an entry to the registry via the command line. Here’s what you must do to get the old right-click menus back via Microsoft:

Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal
Copy and paste this into the window: reg.exe add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve
Close Terminal

To see the changes, reboot your PC or restart File Explorer. You can restart it by killing it in Task Manager, then clicking "Run new task" and typing “explorer.exe” in the window without quotes.

2. Customize Your Quick Settings

If you glance at the System Tray in Windows 11, you’ll notice a small “gear” icon next to it, along with the icon for your speakers. A menu pops up if you click the icon, giving you quick access to frequently toggled items. It's like a control panel on your smartphone. The options let you cast your screen, change Wi-Fi networks, enable Airplane mode, and more.

Many of these seem more relevant to mobile users, though, which might be your cup of tea. On the desktop, they’re not so helpful. Thankfully, you can remove most of them or add ones not currently shown. Click the gear and the “pencil” icon to customize the menu to your heart’s content.

3. Use the Xbox Game Bar

Don't be like your humble author and ignore this feature if you don't have an Xbox. It's incredibly useful and something that has been missing from gaming for ages. It's a built-in toolbar for gaming that drops down from the top of the screen when you press Windows + G. The most valuable feature, in this PC gamer's opinion, is it provides a moveable, transparent overlay on the screen showing your CPU, GPU, VRAM, and system RAM usage, along with your current frames-per-second as well.

Yes, you could previously use MSI Afterburner for this, but you had to download, run, and configure the software to do it, and that's a bridge too far for many. Plus, it's stuck in the corner of your game, which is not always an ideal location to glance at.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg for the Game Bar. You can also use it to adjust your audio settings, snap a screenshot or record your gameplay, view your current system resources, and chat with Xbox friends (supposedly, as we did not test last this feature). Our favorite is each of the modules (performance, resources, audio, capture, etc.) can be pinned to the desktop and made transparent. If you have a big monitor, you can easily stash them on the edges of your game and keep tabs on what your PC is doing without them getting in the way. And of course, make sure Game Mode is enabled under Settings -> Gaming > Game Mode for maximum performance and no interruptions about updates.

4. Use Multiple Desktops

This is a returning feature from Windows 10, but it's been upgraded. To use it, you need to enable the Task View icon in your taskbar (Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar). Click it to add a new desktop. You can then easily switch between them by hovering over the icon and selecting the desktop you want to use.

What makes this feature great is that you can easily separate your preferred apps for work and not work, and quickly swap them when needed. New for Windows 11, you can also change the wallpaper for each desktop to make it easier to identify at a glance. Whatever theme you've selected will be applied across the board, though.

5. Tweak Your Privacy Settings

We've always worried about third parties tracking us as we use our computers. But in Windows 11, Microsoft has become the tracker (insert Captain Phillips meme here). The company has begun touting that the more it's aware of your activities, the more it can personalize suggestions, ads, and the overall experience. It’s similar to the line companies like Facebook use, where they say they can only serve you relevant ads if they know what apps you’re using.

It makes sense, sure—but that doesn’t mean we have to like it or even allow it. Thankfully in Windows 11, you can disable these settings. First, head to Settings and click Privacy & Security > General. From there, you can disable all the settings below, as they will serve you ads from Microsoft.

Next, click back to Privacy & Security and go to Diagnostics & Feedback. In this box, Microsoft says it is required to collect data on you to keep your Windows 11 PC “secure, up to date, and working as expected.” Sadly, there’s no way to opt out of this, but at the bottom is a box that should be unchecked if you care about privacy. It lets Microsoft uses your diagnostic data (excluding website traffic) to show you personalized tips, ads, and recommendations. You can safely turn this off.

6. Try Out Live Captions

Microsoft has added Live Captions to Windows 11 for videos. It’s a neat feature, if not consistently accurate. By default, the captions appear in a bar on the top of your display, but you can change its location and have it appear as a floating box. Although you might expect it to work only with Microsoft’s media player or Edge browser, it works with almost anything, including Google Chrome and VLC.

For people with hearing impairments, it also works in games that don’t offer subtitles. A Redditor discovered this cool trick, and the thread notes there are some caveats for games. The biggest is it doesn’t work in full-screen mode, only windowed mode. It also has a slight delay, as it has to hear the words before transcribing them, so there can’t be any music playing in the background. It's only in English and struggles with music videos where people are screaming/growling (sorry, metal fans).

Still, if you find a game that doesn’t offer subtitles, it’s worth a shot.

7. Try Focus Mode

You don’t need to be a writer on deadline all day to appreciate the new Focus mode in Windows 11. It’s a great way to shut the outside world out for a bit and get some work done. You can enable a session by going to Settings -> System -> Focus and clicking Start Focus Session.

Once enabled, your PC will go into Do Not Disturb mode for the allotted time. Apps in the taskbar will not flash when notifications arrive, and badge notifications in the taskbar will also be disabled.

Once it begins, an on-screen timer appears in the corner. It includes a built-in notification for when you need to take a break, which is on a 20-minute timer by default. You can add Spotify to the app to listen to music while working. Additionally, the app lets you add various tasks from Microsoft To Do.

8. Move the Start button Back to the Left Corner

The above list of Windows 11 tips is a collection of features you should check out when first using the OS. There are several other pitstops we believe every Windows 11 user should make, but these last three tweaks are subjective, so you might not want to do any of them. Regardless, these are the things we’d change immediately upon first booting Windows 11.

First up is the Start button. By default, it’s in the center now, and we hate it. To move it back, go to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar. Under Taskbar Behaviors, you can change the location of the Start Menu.

9. Experiment With Dark Mode
Though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, we appreciate Dark mode since Light mode is too bright for our tastes, so don’t skip this new feature in Windows 11. To fiddle with it, click Settings -> Personalization -> Colors and enable it under “Choose Your Mode.” Click Custom to adjust it the way you prefer.

10. Boost Your Power (Settings)
Microsoft hasn’t really figured out where to put this collection of options. As a result, in Windows 11, power settings exist in three different locations. Go into Settings -> System -> Power to start, but the most important ones are still in Control Panel.

But even when you go to Control Panel -> Power Options, you must click “Change Plan Settings” and then “Change Advanced Power Settings.” You’ll see a box that looks like it’s from Windows XP. In that window, you can customize your power settings at a granular level, whether you prefer maximum performance on a desktop PC or want your laptop to sip battery.

Learn How to Use Windows 11 Effectively

Windows 11 was released to the public on October 5, 2021. The new OS is a major improvement in many areas making the new operating system user friendly, efficient and easy to use.

There are many new features in Windows 11 such as: a revamped UI, new multitasking options, virtual desktops, better memory management system, integrated Teams chat, enhanced gaming, widgets, Android apps, and restructured Settings menu. The following guide is designed for the beginners with no limited prior experience. The guide covers most aspects of what a working professional does in the workplace.

This page is designed to be the go-to place for learning how to learn and master Windows 11 for effectively using it in the workplace. We have developed both the full free course videos accompanied by the quick guide below the videos.

WHAT IS NEW IN WINDOWS 11

There are at least 35 new features in Windows 11, most of which have been covered in the tutorial above. The main new features are: a revamped UI
new multitasking options
virtual desktops
better memory management system
integrated Teams chat
enhanced gaming
widgets, Android apps,
restructured Settings menu.

LOGGING IN
Once your reboot the computer, enter your username and password. If someone else is already logged in, click on Switch Accounts option from the bottom left.

THE WINDOWS TASKBAR
The Taskbar contains key options for using the operating system such as the Start Menu, Windows Search, Virtual Desktops, Windows Explorer access and certain programs. On the right side, it lists applications currently running in the background along with the Action Center.

The Start Menu allows you to access all the programs in the computer.
Search allows to search for a program, settings or files.
Desktops allows to create a new virtual desktop or switch between desktops.
File Explorer allows access to files stored in the computer.
The Widgets icon displays various updates such as weather, news etc.
Teams Chat enables you to chat and video conference with anyone.
Edge is the default browser for Windows 11.
To customize the taskbar settings, right click on the Taskbar and select Taskbar Settings.

THE START MENU
The Windows 11 Start Menu incorporates the features of the Windows 10 but on a different position. The location can be changed by customizing the Taskbar Settings.

Click on the Windows Logo and note the search functionality. To locate an app, simply start typing or click on All apps button locate your app.
To add an application to Start menu, click on All Apps, locate the application, and then right click selecting Pin to Start.
To remove an App from the tiles area, right click on it and choose Unpin.…
To access the Start Menu Quick Options, right click on the Start Menu icon.
To further customize the Start Menu, click on Start / Settings / Personalization / and then Start. Note the other options to customize the Background, Colors, Lock Screen, Themes etc.

Tip: Press the Windows key to access the Start Menu without clicking.

To pin apps to the Taskbar, click Start / All Apps or search for the app, then right click and select Pin to Taskbar.
To access key areas of managing Windows, right click on the Windows icon and select one of the options.

THE WINDOWS DESKTOP
The desktop allows you to launch applications or access files from the main desktop area.

To add a program to the desktop, click on the Start Menu > All Programs > Drag the program icon to the desktop.
To remove the icon from the desktop, simply press delete.
To change desktop settings, right click anywhere where there are no icons and then select View and use one of the settings such as icon size etc.
To further customize the desktop, right click where there are no icons and select Personalize.
To create new virtual desktops, click on the Desktops icon on the Taskbar, and select new desktop.

LAUNCHING APPLICATIONS IN WINDOWS 11

To launch an application, click on the icon on the Taskbar once.
To launch an app from the desktop, doubleclick on the app’s icon.
To launch an application from the Start Menu, locate the application and click on it once.

WORKING WITH ACTIVE APPLICATIONS

To close the opened application, click on the X icon on the top right of the application bar.
To minimize the application, click on the minimize icon – sign on the application bar.
To resize the application window, click on the resize icon. Also note the various desktop layouts if you hold the mouse on the resize icon of the application bar. To select a position, simply click on it.

SWITCHING BETWEEN OPEN APPLICATIONS

Hold the ALT key and press TAB and select the application.
To switch between active apps, click on the application icon on the taskbar.

SEARCHING USING THE SEARCH ICON OR KEYSTROKE

Press the Windows Key on the keyboard or click on the Search icon and start typing e.g. Word, or Settings.

ACCESSIG FILES / USING THE IMPROVED FILE EXPLORER
1. Click on the File Explorer icon on the Taskbar.
2. Note the various options on the left panel:

Quick Access enables you to access recently accessed files and folder. To add a folder to Quick Access panel on the left, right click on the folder and select Pin to Quick access.
Desktop displays the items on the main desktop.
Documents displays folders and subfolders of your files under the account.
Pictures is a shortcut to Pictures
This PC shows al the devices connected to the PC.

3. To change the default view of how the files show up, click on View and select the desired view under the layout area (e.g. List).
4. To add a new file or folder, click on New on the top left bar.
5. To copy files or folders, right click on the object selecting copy, then go to the new location and right click and press the Paste
6. To create a .zip file, select a folder or a bunch of files, right click and select Compress to Zip

CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET

If you use a wired connection, simply plugin the network cable.
If you use a WIFI connection, click Connections icon on the Taskbar > click on the WIFI icon and make sure it is selected in Blue, then click on Manage WIFI Select your WIFI and enter the WIFI passphrase. Another option is to search for WIFI settings and then select Show Available networks.

BROWSING THE INTERNET USING MICROSOT EDGE

Click on the Microsoft Edge icon on the Taskbar.
Click through the prompts (if prompted)
Type the URL of the site you want to visit in the address bar and press enter.

LOGGING OUT OR SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTER

To logout, click on Start > click on your username > select Sign out.
To lock the computer, click on Start > click on your username > Lock or use Windows Key + L.
To shutdown the computer, click on Start > Power and then select Shutdown, or Reboot.

USING THE WINDOWS STORE
Like Google Play and Apple Store, Windows 10 offers the options for downloading apps that can be used across multiple devices.

Press the Windows key on the keyboard and type Store.
Open Windows Store and pick the app that you want like Apple/Android.

MODIFYING WINDOWS SETTINGS

Click on the Search icon (or press the Windows key), then type Settings.
Browse through the various categories of settings on the left. Note you can also search for a particular setting on the left panel. E.g. wallpaper.

PERSONALIZING THE LOOK AND FEEL OF WINDOWS 11

Right click on the desktop and choose Personalize.
Choose from one of the themes or backgrounds you like. This option is also in Settings.

CHANGING THE FONT SIZE

Right click on the desktop and choose Display Settings.
Scroll down to Scale and Layout section and change the scale %.
CONNECTING TO A PROJECTOR OR A SECONDARY SCREEN Press the Windows Key + P choose Project).
Choose Duplicate (when connecting to a projector); Extended (two monitors).

PROJECTING TO THIS PC FROM A MOBILE DEVICE
This allows Windows devices that support Miracast or Android devices to connect to your Windows 11 PC. Note, both devices must be on the same WIFI network.

Click on Search icon > Projection > Change settings to: Available from Anywhere > Ask every time a connection is requested and Pin to Always.
Click on “Launch the Connect App to Project to this PC”.

UPDATING YOUR COMPUTER WITH THE LATEST UPDATES

Click on Search > Windows Updates > Check for Updates
Install the updates. Note you can change the settings under Advanced options.

USING THE WINDOWS SNAP LAYOUT FEATURE

Maximize the application and drag the title bar to the top of the screen around the screen until you see the desired layout. Note you can also hold the mouse on the Window resize icon on the top right (to left of x icon) and select one of the layouts.
Resize App to Half Screen: Windows Key + R or Windows Key + L (left).

USING THE STICKY NOTES

Press the Windows Key and type Sticky Notes. (You can also choose to pin this application to the taskbar by right clicking on it)
Start writing on the note.

USING THE SNIPPING TOOL
This is useful if you want to send part of a screenshot to someone via email, etc.

Press the Windows Key and type Snipping tool.
Click on New / Select a portion of the screen you want to capture.
Choose Save to save the captured image or copy and paste the image.

CHANGING THE DEFAULT PRINTER

Press the Windows key or type Printers in the search area in the Taskbar
Scroll down and unselect “Let Windows manage my default printer”.
Click on the printer you want to set as the default, click on Set as Default.

BACKING UP THE FILES

Use OneDrive or an external drive to backup your files.
Click Search > Windows Backup to configure the settings.

CHANGING THE WINDOWS PASSWORD
Updates are typically installed automatically. You can check also manually:

Click Search > search for Password > Click on Password > Click on Change.
Option 2: Press CTRL+ALT+Del and select Change Password

SCANNING YOUR COMPUTER FOR VIRUSES AND MALWARE
Windows 11 comes with built-in Antivirus protection called: Windows Defender.

Press the Windows Key and type: Windows Security > Virus and Thread protection
Click on Scan Now and/or customize the settings

USING THE TASK MANAGER TO TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS

Click on Search, type Task Manager.
Click on More Details and note the apps running in the background and how much CPU and Memory they are using. These indicators can be used to identify problematic apps in your PC. Note also the other tabs on the top such as Performance (Resource Monitor), Startup etc.

IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING UNNECESSARY APPS
Use this with caution. It is best to take note of what apps you have when you first get a computer and then remove any unnecessary ones later on.

Press Windows Key and search for: Add or Remove Programs
Click on the application properties (three dots on the right) and select

CUSTOMIZING THE PRIVACY SETTINGS IN WINDOWS 10
By default, Windows 11 collects a lot of data from browsing, online purchases, words you say or type in order to personalize your experience similar to Android and iOS.

Press Start > Settings > Privacy Settings on the left. Then go through each item on the left such as location, camera, etc.
Under General: What you write; Location: Off; Speech and Inking: Unless you like to use Cortana, turn it all off. Feedback and diagnostics: Diagnostic and usage data: Basic.

RESETTING THE COMPUTER FROM MALWARE OR TO SELL IT

Search > Reset this PC
To fix problems without resetting it, select the option “Fix problems without resetting”.
To go back to a previous date and time (helpful in case of malware) choose Go Back.
To reset the computer keeping the files or to sell it, select Reset this PC. Use this with caution of course.

ACCESSING THE ACTION CENTER

Click on the action Center icon on the far right of the Taskbar.
Note you can also add new icons by clicking on the pen icon.

ADDING AND CUSTOMIZING WIDGETS

Click on the Widgets icon
Click on Add Widgets.
Relocate the widgets as needed.

CUSTOMIZING QUICK SETTINGS

Click on the Quick Settings Icon on the far right of the toolbar first icon to the left of the time.
Click on the little pen
Click on Add and select the options you prefer. Click Done when finished.

CONTROLLING SOUND SETTINGS

Right click on the Sounds icon on the Taskbar (far right) and select SoundMixer.
Adjust the settings as needed. Note they are now application specific.

USING FOCUS ASSIST
Focus Assist is a new tool where you can control what alerts you will receive so that you can focus on tasks at hand.

Click on the Quick Settings Icon on the far right of the toolbar first icon to the left of the time.
Click to toggle the FocusAssist Additional settings are available under Settings.

ENABLING THE GAMING MODE
When you use Game Mode, Windows prioritizes your gaming experience.

Click on Search > Gaming Mode
Toggle the On

LAUNCHING THE WINDOWS TERMINAL

Click on Search and type Command Prompt.
To launch the Windows Terminal, click on Search and type Windows Terminal. This will launch the Windows Powershell.

CONTROLLING APPLICATIONS THAT START AUTOMATICALLY

Click on Search and type Startup Apps.
Turn off the apps you do not want on to start automatically.

CREATING A BOOTABLE USB FLASH DRIVE FOR A FRESH WINDOWS 11 INSTALL

Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11 and select the second option: Create a Windows 11 Installation Media.
To update manually to the latest Windows 11 release, select the first option: Windows 11 installation assistant.

TCL Unveils Nxtpaper 11 Plus Tablet at MWC 2025

TCL has officially announced its Nxtpaper 11 Plus tablet at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona. It has TCL's latest Nxtpaper 4.0 screen technology, with improved blue light filtering and a new nano-matrix lithography process for screen etching. TCL says this improves visual clarity while achieving 100% coverage of the sRGB color range. Its screen technology is designed to provide a paper-like viewing experience.

The Nxtpaper 11 Plus will have an 11.5-inch IPS LCD with 2.2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, with 550 nits peak brightness, a MediaTek Helio G100 chipset, 8GB or 12GB RAM options with 256GB storage, an 8,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support, Android 15 with Android Enterprise Recommended certification, 6.5mm thickness, and 490g weight, as reported by GSM Arena.

The tablet supports stylus input via TCL's T-Pen (sold separately) and has AI-powered functionalities such as Text Assist, Writing Assist, and Google's Circle to Search.

TCL is also offering Smart Eye Comfort Mode and Personalized Eye Comfort Mode, which are designed to improve viewing comfort and reduce eye strain based on usage scenarios and user preferences.

The Nxtpaper 11 Plus is set to be available across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and additional regions starting next month. Pricing will start at €249 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage configuration; no word yet on US pricing, but it should be similar.