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What do you do every day ?

The theme this week at English City is every day life.  This type of language is important as if you visit another country. go on a business trip or even visit a English speaking friend it is the language you will use.

The language of daily routine is probably familiar to you already - Example: Using present simple for daily routine tasks, “I get up everyday at 6:30am”. “Every week I go to a dancing class”.  However, phrasal verbs are one of the most important parts of every day language. 

What is a phrasal verb?

1.  A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

Example:
I ran into my boss at the shopping centre yesterday. run + into = meet
She ran away when she was 16. run + away = leave home

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

Example:
He suddenly turned up. “turned up” cannot take an object

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

Example:
He made up the story. “story” is the object of “make up”

4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I talked my aunt into letting me borrow her car.
She looked the address up.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I bumped into my old teacher yesterday.
She is looking into the complaint.

6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .

Example:
He looked the number up in the phone book.
He looked up the number in the phone book.

7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Example:
He looked the number up in the phone book.
He looked up the number in the phone book.
He looked it up in the phone book. correct
He looked up it in the phone book. incorrect

Have a go at our phrasal verbs quiz:

The outdoor dance performance was ___ because of the rain.
a. called off
b. blacked out
c. turned off

How did they ___ their errors with the figures.
a. come to
b. account for
c. jot down

She must be about 86. She is really ___.
a. getting on
b. bringing up
c. bringing forward

In the end everything ___ OK.
a. turned out
b. wore out
c. climb up

Can you ___ all right or should I get a ladder?
a. fall through
b. climb down
c. barge in

I am sorry that I am late. I got ___ in traffic.
a. lifted off
b. held down
c. caught up

I was so angry that I ___ in protest.
a. gave up
b. walked out
c. ran over

The man was ___ of jail early for good behavior.
a. let out
b. bent down
c. sent down

Even though he was tired, he ___ going.
a. kept on
b. brought out
c. fell over

After the accident a lot of people ___.
a. turned out
b. set out
c. crowded around

Answer in the comments and I will update you in the next blog post !

Good luck !

New Year’s Resolutions

A resolution is like a promise you make to yourself to change something that you do

- like a bad habit or something you would like to improve for the next year.

The most popular New Years Resolutions are:

1. Spend Time with Loves Ones

2. Get Fit

3. Lose Weight

4. Stop Smoking

5. Enjoy Life More

6. Stop Drinking

7. Get Out of Debt

8. Learn Something New

9. Be More Charitable

10. Reorganize Life

The one I like most is learn something new.  This could mean learning a new skill or take up something you have never done before.  Perhaps you studied English at school and you have not spoken for a long time or you have always wanted to learn but never done it.

A new year is always a good time to start learning something, when you are full of enthusiasm about the year ahead, also if you want to try something new come and visit us at English City.

If you want to comment on your resolutions I will get back to you and we can see who has the best ones !

New Years Eve - English City is open to the public !!

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.

So what are you waiting for ?
Come to English City and visit us !
See you there,
Jessie Teacher
How to visit The Languagelab School?

Please following these 6 simple steps to The Language School:

To The Languagelab School Step 1. Check minimum system requirements.

Step 2. Download and install our software PC MAC

Step 3. Launch the software

Step 4. Login using your Avatar First & Second names and Password Step 5. Get yourself a headset

Fran McMinnar - this week at SL 1am

Have you had the chance to meet Fran McMinnar yet? She is one of English City’s newest residents. This week she will be in the city talking about the latest news headlines (Monday SL 1am), writing thank you notes for all her lovely ‘Chrissie Pressies’ (Tuesday SL 1am) and making some New Year’s resolutions (Wednesday SL 1am).

Before coming to English City Fran was an English teacher so she is ready and waiting to help you practice your English. Can you guess where she is originally from?

Answers in the comments please.

Boxing Day Blues - Go shopping cheer yourself up !

Today in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other commonwealth countries we celebrate the day after Christmas - which is called Boxing Day.  You might think that this is a day to celebrate boxing, the sport but that isn’t what Boxing Day is about.

Boxing Day dates back to past centuries when it was the custom for rich people to give presents to employees or to people who were less fortunate, most especially to household servants and other people who worked for them.

Now it is a public holiday and also is more associated with the after Christmas sales where shops have big discounts to attract shoppers to come and buy.  I know there are some sales at English City - Donatella is having a great sale down at Periwinkles and there is also a gift giving activity where you can learn how to buy the perfect gift in English.

In this activity you will help to select an appropriate gift for a friend, relative or colleague. You will consider such things as personality of the person who will receive the gift, the price of the gift and the cultural expectations of gift giving and receiving.

I was very happy with my gifts I received yesterday - I will give you a list of adjectives that could be used to describe my gifts….funny, beautiful, clever, strange, interesting. 

Also here is a little quiz on thanking people:

1. Words can’t possibly ……… how grateful I am for what you have done.

2. Thank you so much for helping me. I really ……… it.

3. A thousand thanks for all your hard work. I shall never ……… it.

4. They showed their great gratitude by sending us a large ……… of money.

5. Thank you for all you’ve done from the ……… of my heart.

6. I’m sending this bunch of flowers as a small ……… of my thanks and appreciation.

7. How can I ……… thank you enough for all you’ve done?
8. On the watch they gave him were the words: ……… gratitude for 40 years loyal service.
9. It’s very difficult for children to ……… their gratitude for what their parents have done for them.
10. Look upon this as a ……… of thank you present for all your endeavours on our behalf.
Have a go at the questions and I will post the answers tomorrow or you can register and visit us at English City to get the answers.
Bye for now !

Christmas Dinner around the world

Join the English City People for their Christmas Dinner on Thursday 25th December at 9:00am PDT (5pm UK) at the Manor in English City - hope your hungry !

Back to my favourite topic - Christmas dinner ! Christmas dinner around the world is a very special meal where families get together and celebrate with traditional food.

In some countries the weather is hot and they eat barbeque food or cold meat, and in some countries the weather is cold so they drink warm mulled wine to keep cosy.

See if you can match up the country and the Christmas dinner in my little quiz for you.

Which is which ? Match them up to win a prize !

Countries: Foods:

Australia                                                                 Tamales
Denmark                                                                 Stollen
UK/USA/Canada                                                      Fried carp
France                                                                     Roast goose
Germany                                                                  Barbeque
Honduras                                                                La Buche Noel
Finland                                                                    Turkey
Austria

Float making for the Christmas Parade and the Christmas Parade

On December 25th you are invited to a float making session with Lowri Mills as part of a seasonal skills class. The float making is at 4am-5am PDT and (12 noon UK) at the Hotel.

The main parade is on from 8am-9am PDT (4pm UK ) starting outside the Grammar House.

You will learn how to make a Christmas float which will involve being able to listen to instructions.
To continue the theme of making things and instructions, here is a great video on how to make an origami Santa Claus !

Key vocabulary:

to fold       to measure


Origami Santa Claus! Marry Christmas!! - More free videos are here

Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer - The Movie

“Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose….”

This is the start of a popular Christmas carol about one of Santa Claus reindeers.

When you go and visit Bonnie go ahead and ask her who the other reindeers are, there a quite a few to guess.

The last Christmas Eve activity at English City is watching the movie Rudolf the Rednose reindeer, sometimes if I watch movies in a language that is not my own I get confused and want to ask someone for help with vocabulary or the story, well if you watch with Bonnie you will be able to ask her for help when you need it.

The film starts at the Cinema in English City at 1pm PDT (9pm UK) and lasts for around an hour.

Have fun see you at the movie !

Christmas Party with Santa Claus and Presents for all !

Go and join the Christmas Parties on Wednesday 25th December at English City.

Christmas is an annual holiday celebrated on 24th-25th December. Traditionally it is  Christian festival held to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem.

Customs vary from country to country but the celebration usually centres around spending time with family and friends and eating a lot of food, and perhaps going to a Church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Houses are decorated with a Christmas tree and lights and presents are placed under the tree.

In most European countries Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 24th but in the UK and USA it is celebrated on Christmas Day, with turkey being the traditional Christmas Dinner.

However, each country has different traditional food and drink, in the Czech Reupblic they eat carp,  a freshwater fish and in Poland there are 12 different courses to eat on Christmas Eve !

Christmas began as a Christian festival but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is celebrated all over the world.

Go and join the Christmas Party on Wednesday 25th December at English City.
Times are:
7am-9am      PDT  (3pm-5pm UK)  With Kent
9am - 10am  PDT  (5pm-6pm UK)  With Phillip
10am-12pm  PDT  (6pm-8pm UK)  With Pebbles
Click here to check schedule.

You can pick up your present, talk to your friends and have a happy and fun experience while practicing new vocabulary and learning new Christmas words.

See you there !

Jessie Teacher



Happy Holidays ! Carols by Candlelight

Carols are traditional songs that people sing at Christmas, they date back to the 13th century and each country has their own traditional songs and customs that they follow at Christmas time.

They are often sung at church services or in public places like the town square where everyone can join in.

On Wednesday 24th December there is a Carols by Candlelight event at English City where you can learn some carols and practice singing them with the Enlglish City People and other students.

To help you practice singing here are the words for my favourite Christmas carol - ‘Jingle Bells’ and you can sing along too with the video kareoke! Have fun and come and join us at the Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Through the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.

chorus:

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, O
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Vocabulary

Dashing : going very quickly
open sleigh : a type of vehicle that is pulled by horses over the snow
bob-tail : the horses tail
spirits : people’s emotions
jingle : to ring