Life based learning…
Languagelab would like to wish you a Happy New Year and show you some of the best parts of 2008 at the Languagelab School. It’s definitely brought back some funny memories! Please take a look below…
If you have always wanted to study English with native speakers and never had the chance then 2009 is the year for you!
So why not go and visit English City and see the City People and enjoy our New Years offers.
See you there!
From the Languagelab Team!
Heute haben wir von Pebbles gelernt wie wir uns richtig auf einen Vortrag oder eine Präsentation vorbereiten.
Dies beinhaltet sowohl eine gewisse Technik als auch verschiedene Ausdrucksweisen auf die man achten sollte.
Im hauptsächlichen geht es darum das Publikum zu involvieren und mit ihm zu arbeiten, anstatt es mit einem nüchternen Vortrag zu langweilen. Komiker nutzen dieses Prinzip der Kommunikation mit den Zuschauern sehr stark. Um die Aufmerksamkeit aufrecht zu halten sollte man hin und wieder ein paar Witze einfügen, aber auch andere Mittel wie z. B. Projektoren, Lichteffekte, Mikrofone oder andere sachliche Dinge können sehr hilfreich sein. Man sollte im vorraus das ein oder andere Konzept bereits erarbeiten und es später in den Vortrag mit einfließen lassen. Auf jeden Fall sind wir auf die witzigsten Ideen gekommen und es hat mir sehr viel Spaß gemacht den anderen bei der Umsetzung zuzusehen
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.
2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.
3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.
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.
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.
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 + .
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 !
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 !
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.
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
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 !
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.
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.
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
As we talked about before there are lots of different traditions connected to Christmas and the holiday season. Some of these traditions are very old and some of them are newer, some countries have taken, adapted and used other traditions to create a unique Christmas culture.
The topics that will be talked about in this Christmas session are:
The origins of Christmas,
Santa Claus,
Christmas Trees,
Christmas Stockings,
Mistletoe,
The Holly and the Ivy,
Poinsettias,
Candy Cane,
Christmas Cards,
Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer,
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
How many of these do you know about ? Why not join Lane Jarman and talk about your Christmas experience. Sharing traditions is on December 25th at 6:00am PDT and 2pm UK at the Manor and is followed by Christmas Carols with Lane from 7am-8am (3pm UK).
So if you would like to sing again or missed the Carols by Candlelight, come along to the Manor and sing :-)
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