Languagelab.com Blog

The students had great fun in Jazz’s Business English classes at the bank. The students were asking a bank teller for money and a bank manger for a loan. Check out the pictures!

So you can take a little bit of Langaugelab everywhere you go, weekly Podcasts  are now available at the Brass Tacks store in English City.

Click on blue button to download

There will be a new one every week, available in mp3 format so you can listen to it on your phone, ipod, computer or any compatible device.

Visit English City now to get your copy.

http://bit.ly/LanguagelabPodcast

Enjoy,

Shiv

Hi Students,

I have been looking on the web this week for stories about music and world news. I am sure you have all heard about the earthquake in Haiti and how many people are still missing. Here is a positive story showing how social media can help people.

Read the article and answer the questions:

Former Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean’s charity text appeal for victims of the Haiti quake has reached a staggering $1m in just a matter of days.

Wyclef jean was one of a number of celebrities who took to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook urging fans to pledge their support to the crisis. And it certainly seems to have worked.

The rapper, singer and producer had encouraged followers on Twitter to donate £5 (£3) text messages to the Yele for Haiti charity, with over 200,000 followers donating to the cause.

According to ABC news, fundraising experts claim the response has been truly staggering and breaks all previous records so soon following a disaster. A total of $1 million was raised by all charities through text donations in 2008.

“This is a watershed moment. It’s historic,” said Albe Angel, founder and CEO of Give On the Go, whose company is helping Jean raise funds for his Yele Haiti Foundation, said. “This has been remarkable in every way.”

On Tuesday the poverty-stricken Caribbean island was hit hard by a massive tremor measuring 7 on the Richter Scale that struck just south of capital city Port-au-Prince.

Wyclef Jean isn’t the only celebrity who moved quickly to help ease the crisis. Hollywood super couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated £1m from their foundation to Doctors Without Borders to help the organization’s emergency medical operation in Haiti.

Other stars lending their name to the relief effort including Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton, Ben Stiller, Lindsay Lohan, Coldplay singer Chris Martin and hip hop star P Diddy.

Questions:
1. How much were the text messages?
2. How much money did they raise?
3. What band was Wycleff Jean from?
4. What is the charity called?
5. What social networking sites did Wycleff use to promote the charity?

If you would like to join a discussion about this topic come and talk to Lane the English City journalist.

New music in China – News story from the BBC.

We don’t just use our voices to talk, you can sing, shout or even make music using your voice! Watch the video and answer the questions afterwards.

Questions:
1. What instrument does Lian Bo use?
2. How old is he?
3. How did he learn to beat box?
4. What city is he from?
5. Is beat boxing popular in China?
6. What songs does he name?
7. What is the reaction from the audience?
8. How many beat boxers are there in China?

If you want to try singing in English visit Griffin’s class at English City every Thursday and Friday.

Hi Everyone,

So 2009 is coming to an end and 2010 is beginning.

Some great things that happened in English City this year.

1. We had a fantastic  student photo exhibition in our gallery.

2. An interesting BBC Reporter came in to be part of our chat show and talk to our students.

3. A flying squid escaped in the city, Lane have you found it yet ?

4. Students dressed up as Turkeys for Thanksgiving in the theatre with Pebbles.

5. Students meeting and making friends with lots of interesting people from all over the world.

6. The Michael Jackson karaoke tribute sing-a-long, what a great afternoon!

7. One of our students making a documentary about his life in English City – keep watching the blog for news.

8. Scary fun killing aliens in Dark Mines, I need to get a better spacesuit.

9. Amusing art discussions about Damien Hirst’s shark.

10. Jason playing his saxophone on the beach at Gertie’s beach party.

Here is a little video I found showing some of the highlights of the year.  The music is by The Temper Trap a great band that I have discovered this year.

What has been your favourite moments of 2009?

Happy New Year ! See you in 2010 !

Jessie Teacher

Captain Salsita waiting for passengers

Have you seen this video before? It’s the flight attendant onboard a South West airlines flight who is ‘rapping’ the welcome aboard message.

Come along to conversation hour and learn how to ‘rap’ this song. I’ve posted the words below.

When? Tuesday 21st April, PST 11pm

Where? The airport at languagelab.com (Click here to teleport)

Watch the video here

Here are the words

This is flight 372 on SWA the flight attendants on board serving you today
Theresa in the middle
David in the back
My name is David and I’m here to tell you that
Shortly after take off
First things first
There’s soft drinks and coffee to quench your thirst
But if you want another kind of drink then just holler
Alcohol and beverages ‘ll be four dollars
If a monster energy drink is your plan
That’ll be three dollars and you get the whole can

We won’t take your cash
You’ve gotta pay with plastic
If you have a coupon
Then that’s fantastic

We know your ready to get to new places
Open up the bags put away your suitcases
Carry on items go under the seat
In front of you so none of you have things by your feet
If you have a seat on the row with the exit
We’re gonna talk to you so you might as well accept it
You gotta help us evacuate in case we need you
If you don’t wanna then we’re gonna reseat you

Before we leave
Our advice is
Put away your electronic devices
Fasten your seat belt
Then put your trays up
Press the button to make the seat back raise up
Sit back relax
Have a good time
It’s almost time to go so I’m done with the rhyme

Thank you for the fact that I wasn’t ignored
This is South West airlines
Welcome aboard

One of our students Energizer Aboma came to me a few days ago with a great idea – a writing contest. This is a great way to improve your writing and get critical feedback that can help you improve.

Many of our students have been writing on the English City News Blog a newspaper run by the students and Lane Jarman, reporter at the City News.  If you would like to write something for the blog come to one of Lane’s activities or comment on another student’s article and we will get back to you.

Ok so here are the rules:

• Below there is a list of 50 words, you must look up their meanings.
• Students must write a fictional story,  news style report or discursive essay using at least thirty words in the list.
• Points will be given for originality, style, grammar and structure.
• The winner’s profile will be featured on the new Languagelab website and also displayed all over English City.
• Everyone who enters will be given detailed feedback and those who choose to share their feedback with the group will be posted on the blog for all students to benefit from.

The words:

1. advice
2. benefit
3. liaise
4. compete
5. effect
6. relate
7. budget
8. discreet
9. regard
10. respond
11. comply
12. procure
13. paradigm
14. defy
15. assess
16. criterion
17. appreciate
18. jingoism
19. analyse
20. retain
21. affect
22. enhance
23. podcasting
24. acquire
25. oblige
26. information
27. use
28. intend
29. ecopolitics
30. endeavour
31. continue
32. provide
33. allege
34. emphasize
35. aesthetic
36. empathy
37. request
38. pragmatic
39. despite
40. ubiquitous
41. sceptic
42. propose
43. assume
44. ambiguous
45. competence
46. irony
47. subtle
48. implement
49. concur
50. general

The deadline is 9th March and all submissions should be made on the English City News Blog or to jessie@languagelab.com

Good Luck !

Want to come and visit English City ?

Never learned English in a virtual world ?

If you want to visit English City for one day and meet our ‘English City People’, students and teachers why not get a Day Pass – for the special reduced price of $2,500 Lindens which is less than $10 US dollars you can try all the classes and activities for 24 hours and also get help from our team on how to use your voice and move around in English City.

So to visit us:

1. Register

2. Visit our welcome area

3. Join the group Languagelab Day Pass

Start learning now !

Jessie Teacher

This New Years Eve December 31st -

Languagelab is opening English City to the public for free !

1. FREE ENGLISH LESSONS We are holding lots of fun and interesting English classes for you to attend for FREE. You can explore English City, meet new friends and improve your speaking,listening, reading and writing FREE!

2. ONE MONTHS FREE SUBSCRIPTION And if you buy a subscription on New Years Eve or New Years Day you will get the 2nd month free! So pay for January and get February free.

Included in a one month subscription you get:* Classes with native speaker teachers.
*24/7 Access to our virtual City.
*Games and online activities to help you to improve your English. *Students from all over the world to practice with.

3. COMPETITIONS Languagelab will also be holding COMPETITIONS at the party, where you can win FREE subscriptions worth over $100. We have lots of other OFFERS and give a ways too! You will have to come in-world and see for yourself. So don’t miss out and start 2009 with a Languagelab bang! Click here to visit English City.

A full programme of events will be available in the welcome area and on the website but I will give you an idea of what will be happening, click on the link to go to the event.

2:00am PDT: The Party

begins with New Year at Christmas Island.

3:00am PDT: See in the New Year New

Zealand ! DJ and fireworks at the Manor in English City.

4:00am PDT: Darts quiz at the pub, the Edgware Arms - see in the New Year British style.

5:00am PDT: Languagelab’s Lowri Mills sees the New Year in Sydney! First prize of the night is up for grabs!

6:00am PDT: Pogo stick races and 250 Linden prize to the winner Vladivostock New Year !

7:00am PDT: Celebrate, watch and vote with the Coolest Quick Build Contest - 250L prize to the winner.

8:00am PDT: Think you are funny? Like comedy? Come, listen, participate and vote at the Funniest Avatar Joke Contest – 250L to the Winner at the Theatre in Arts.

9:00am PDT: Jessie brings in an Indonesian New Year with another large prize drawing come and join us.

10:00am PDT: Sailboat races at Hotel Pier – 250L to the Winner ! The New Year arrives at Dhaka!

11:00am PDT: Practice your best moves ice skating at the Home Sim. Enjoy some hot cocoa or get involved with a snow ball fight.

12:00pm PDT: Darts quiz at the pub, the Edgware Arms - see in the New Year British style.

13:00pm PDT: Funniest Avatar Joke Contest – 250L to the Winner at the

href=”secondlife://Arts/144/60/27″>Theatre in Arts.

14:00pm PDT: What kind of fish are in the sea? Come find out at the

languagelab.com Fishing

Contest -250L to the Winner, happy New Year Athens and Cairo.

15:00pm PDT: Sailboat races at Hotel

Pier – 250L to the Winner ! The New Year arrives at Dhaka!

16:00pm PDT: London celebrates New

Years Eve ! Lowri starts giving away major prizes while the

London Home Office is out in London celebrating….

17:00pm PDT: While the New Year crosses the Atlantic, we will enjoy hot cocoa,

skating and perhaps a snowball fight at the

href=”secondlife://Home/95/112/34″>Home Sim.

18:00pm PDT: Enjoy the New Year all over the world with dancing, singing and fireworks ! Dart contest too at the Edgware Arms

19:00pm PDT: Party at Ciudad Bonita!!!! Fun and Spanish dancing at languagelab.com’s beautiful Spanish City and all of it’s charm.

20:00pm PDT: Enjoy the New Year with the World as Languagelab.com opens all 18 sims to the public to celebrate our global New Year – Fireworks and fun, happy New Year to you !

21:00pm PDT: Pogo you way into 2009. Participate, watch and win the languagelab.com – Pogo Stick Races 250L to the Winner.

22:00pm PDT: Ami Champion is celebrating a Texas New Year with a large prize and Sailboat races at Hotel Pier – 250L to the Winner

23:00pm PDT: Bring in the New Year with laughter with the Funniest Avatar – Joke Contest – 250L to the Winner

00:00pm PDT: Celebrate the Second Life New Years with fireworks, crackers, the official dropping of the Ball! The Final Party of the Night! The biggest and best in SL.

So as we say good bye to 2008 and hello to 2009 we will have a very full programme of events at English City – 24 hours of fun and games and a special event for each hour – so to celebrate the New Year in every country ! Our students are from over 50 countries so there are lots of traditions and celebrations to take part in and also there are some special offers and prizes to be won for some lucky students ! Every hour there will be a prize given away one for each country.

Buy on the 1st of January and get 1 month free !

If you have always wanted to study English with native speakers and never had the chance then 2009 is the year for you !

If you buy a subscription on New Years Day 1st January 2009 you will get the 2nd month free ! So pay for January and get February free. 

So you can explore English City, meet new friends and improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing FREE !

Included in a one month subscription you get:

Classes with native speaker teachers.

24/7 Access to our virtual City.

Games and online activities to help you to improve your English.

Students from all over the world to practice with. 

If you would like to take a look at English City and meet some of our actors, who are called the ‘English City People’ you can sign up and visit us free too – English City is open to the public on January the 1st.

There may be some special prizes and offers available exclusively in English City too – but to get those offers you have to go in-world and find them !

So why not go and visit English City and see the City People and enjoy our New Years offers.

See you there !