Beginner Classes

Our classes are open to students of every level.

Some classes are recommended for beginners.

  • Tuesday 2am PST: Voice. Picture description. Work on your skills of description - ask questions about words and expressions.
  • Wednesday 11am PST: Voice. Flat Mates. Scripted conversation. Vocabulary, reading, comprehension.
  • Thursday 6am PST, Text. Practical English, descriptions, exercises, word games. Bring your questions.
  • Thursday 10am PST: Voice. Vocabulary. Words and Idioms.
  • Friday 8am PST. Voice. Excursion class. Learn English exploring new places.
  • Sunday 8am PST. Text. Story Writing. During this class students will write a short story

Peach Island

ESL Group Story Writing Class. Sunday 8am PST
November 22, 2009

Peach Island

You can't imagine how happy I was when my teacher told me that I could attend the conference with her. Before the conference I had to prepare all the presentations for my teacher. I count the days, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Yes, we almost will start the trip.

The trip will be very useful for me because it mixes study with fun. We will go Peach Island. Some of my friends told me that it is a very nice place in China. I wish to knew more about that place, so this trip will give me a chance to learn more about it.

When we arrived I looked for information about Peach Island. But all the locals seemed to not know what I was talking about. I went for a walk in the old part of town and I found a small store without a sign. I went in.

As I entered the store, an old copper bell that was hanging over the door rang. I walked in and looked around. The shop appeared empty but for a large crate in the corner of the dimly lit room. "Hello," I called out. There was no response at first but then I heard someone or something moving behind a door at the back of the shop.

Week 47

15 classes this week
School calendar http://www.drive-through-esl.info/
Click on the classes to read a description.
Click on Help Team for information and assistance in your language

3 Text Classes
Tuesday 12pm PST Verb Tense
Thursday 6am PST Practical English (recommended for beginners)
Sunday 8am PST Story writing (recommended for beginners)

2 Skype classes
Wednesday 4pm PST Grammar Practice. Listening. Reading. Speaking.
Sunday 6am PST Flat Mates/International news in English Reading. Pronunciation. Comprehension.

2 New Voice classes at 2am PST
Tuesday Picture Description
Thursday Bloopers. Correct funny mistakes.




Sachswakwa Gwinee

ESL Group Story Writing Class. Sunday 8am PST
November 15, 2009

Sachswakwa Gwinee

Once upon a time, not that long ago, not that far away there lived a very old and wise man. He wasn't wise because of some innate super-intelligence. He was wise because of all the strange experiences that he had throughout his long life.

No one knew much about him. Everybody called him "Old Man" with respect. He arrived to our town 3 years ago. He slept all day. When the sun went down he sat outside his very modest home and started telling stories to anyone who would listen.

When I met him for the first time, I was so curious to know more about this strange man with wonderful stories. I waited for a suitable time and asked him the question which I wished to know its answer. Who are you? Where do you come from?

He smiled mysteriously in response to the question. He had an old white dog that stayed with him all day long.

"Where do I come from, you say, kid?" said the Old man. “Are you sure this is the question you want to be answered?" "You know, sometimes one has to pick his question very carefully." "My name is Sachswakwa Gwinee."

I tried to search my memory, It seems that I had heard this name before. Yes, that's right, I had seen this name in one of the encyclopedias.

I hurried out the door and ran down the street to the library. I went up to the librarian and asked where the encyclopedias were kept. She said, "Duh, we don't have those. go google what you want." Then she pointed to a row of computers at the back of the room. I went to the computers but they were all being used. Five were logged onto Facebook and the other thirty were logged onto SL. Darn!

I wrote my name on the waiting list and, while I was waiting, I went for a walk outside the library. A small door on the side of the building opened up just a little. A voice whispered to me: "You're looking for information about Sacha? Come inside."

“Why did he consider my question strange?” I asked myself, while I was following the voice. What should I do about it? I couldn't search for information about him today. If the computers are occupied by people using SL, it means that I have to wait 18 hours at least before one would be free. So, I decided to ask my friend EagleEye about him.

I met him and asked about Sachswakwa Gwinee. But he was giggling at first but at last he told me.

Gwinee was a spy following many investigatory paths about scientific experiments on teletransportation. He most certainly made the government and any federal agent lose his track for the last 10 years. A lot of people were concerned that once he learned how to teletransport, he would use it to hide or escape.

I thanked him for the information and hurried back to the library. I didn't trust this stranger's information.

The computers were still in use so I convinced one of the users to let me take his place by promising to give him 100 linden when I got online. I typed Sach's full name into the search browser and after a moment only one result appeared. I clicked it open and gasped at what I saw.

There was a image of a spiral, it was rotating. I could not take my eyes off it. I felt my body dissolving into particles. I could see the people around me looking at me and screaming. But there was nothing I could do. Then all turned black. Empty. Silent. I was without body, without matter. I was still there, but I was alone. Pure spirit.
End of Pt.1

Alianaluz Rivera (T)
ashraf Aulder
EagleEye Scorfield
Fiore Pinklady
Giovanni Tweak
Xu Beverly (CR)

Blogs about the school

This post made my day.
http://thehybridclassroom.blogspot.com/2009/10/who-waits-for-reincarnation-anymore.html

This one too.
http://swedteach.posterous.com/second-life-what-an-english-class-can-look-li

Story of Drive-Through ELF

I have written a story of the school. How it started and how it works.
Mistakes have been corrected by Alianaluz, but it's totally my point of view. What is yours? Is there more to say about the school?
It has been published as part of the IV Congress of CyberSociety 2009 (wow!)

Story of Drive-Through ELF
Homepage of the IV Congress of CyberSociety 2009
3 presentations written by Oweny about scripting in SL , designing teaching tools in SL and two examples of teaching tools.

Observers and Researchers

This is the notecard that is distributed to observers and researchers when they visit the infohub.
Sometimes researchers ask question and distribute questionnaires without authorization and without introducing themselves as researchers.
You don't have to answer them. Please tell someone at the school.

RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESEARCHERS AND OBSERVERS VISITING ESL SL (DRIVE-THROUGH-ESL)

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CONDUCT RESEARCHES, DISTRIBUTE QUESTIONNAIRES, OR CONTACT VISITORS, STUDENTS.

IF SCHOOL STAFF IS PRESENT WHEN YOU VISIT THE SCHOOL, FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.

OBSERVERS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND ONE CLASS FOR FREE.
For instructions contact the Class Runner 30 minutes before class begins or go to http://www.drive-through-esl.info/school.html, for more information.
Contact information can be found at the end of the notecard.
If you are attending a lesson you are welcome to participate in class activities. DO NOT contact the teacher or students during the lesson. For assistance during class contact the class runner in IM.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT:
* This is a private, commercial school. It is not a public place.
* By conducting a research without authorization you might be breaking International Laws about Copyright Protection, violating Terms of Use and Community Standards of Second Life.
* Your ignorance of the English language or Second Life, the general lack of understanding of the situation and context is NOT an excuse for violating these rules.
* If you don't know what is going on, introduce yourself to school staff (class Runner, Help Team) and wait for his/her answer.
* If no school staff is present, do not contact visitors. Information on how to contact school staff is noted at the end of the notecard.

People come here to work or to learn English. If you talk to someone or if someone greets you ALWAYS introduce yourself as a researcher IMMEDIATELY. Staff members could be busy, you might be interrupting their work and disturbing the school's operations. Visitors might think you are part of the school staff and give you personal information you are not authorized to collect and use.

Giovanni Tweak - owner
e-mail gt@drive-through-esl.info
Include:
Organization (University, College, School, Marketing/Advertising Agencies, other)
Research topic (be specific)
Contact info of the teacher or supervisor
Any other info or links that you think is relevant to introducing yourself and your organization.

http://www.drive-through-esl.info/

New Classes: Tuesday and Thursday at 2am PST

2 new classes this week.
Tuesday and Thursday at 2am PST. Both voice.
New classes, new times. Not exactly new teacher. Monkicat Giha has taught at the school since the text-only days up to a year ago. She's back with a new computer.

What time is 2am PST?
It's early morning in South America.
It's around lunch in Europe and North Africa and Middle East.
It's afternoon or evening in Asia.
Check what time it is for you HERE

New Classes Friday

Two new classes this week:

Friday 4am PDT, Voice, Grammar
Friday 1pm PDT, Text, Grammar

Both classes will be taught by Pinkjeans Acker. The following week classes will be at their regular time: Friday 3am (Voice) and 12pm PDT

Time change

Here we go again. Back to Standard Time.

Second Life time will change from PDT to PST next Sunday. Early in the morning the clock will go back one hour.
If the time doesn't change in your country, classes will be one hour earlier than before in your local time.
In some countries it has already changed, in others there is no time change.
For a list of what goes on country by country click here

Week 43

Winter schedule: new Classes, new times and other changes

Two more classes: Saturday and Sunday at 6am PDT.

Monday:
NEW format: 11am PDT: Business English

Tuesday: 12pm PDT: Yanto is back. Verb tenses. Text only.

Thursday: NEW class: 6am PDT: This is now a Text only class. Practical English. Recommended for beginners.

Saturday: NEW class, NEW time: Voice: VOICE. Word Games. Exercises, practice, word games. Homonyms, homophones, word roots.

Sunday: NEW time: Skype class:
Flat Mates/International news in English Reading. Pronunciation. Comprehension

Week 37

10 classes this week:

No excursion class this Friday 8am
Thursday 7am PDT Voice class in Skype
Saturday 4pm Song lyrics class

Skype classes: Wed 4pm PDT, Thu 7am PDT
Text classes: Tue 6am, Sun 8am

Classes recommended for beginners:
Tuesday, 6am PDT, Text, Seikatsu,
Wednesday, 11am PDT, Voice, Inge (Flat Mates)
Wednesday, 4pm PDT, Skype, Alianaluz (Reading, pronunciation)
Sunday, 8am PDT, Text, Alianaluz, Story Writing

Do you want to know what number a week is?
http://www.epochconverter.com/epoch/weeknumbers.php

About Story Writing class.

Story Writing class runs on Sundays at 8am PDT. It's a text-only class.

Next Story Writing class will be Sunday, 16 August.

You can read the last story here. Next time we'll pick up from there.
There is no need to read the previous installments to join Story Writing class.

ESL Group Story Writing Class Instructions


Hello, welcome to the ESL writing-a-short-story class.

Before we proceed with our activity, please click the “Local Chat” button located in the lower left corner of your screen. This will display a History of everything that has been typed today and will help you easily follow along with the class activity.

During this activity, we will write a short story as a group. Everyone will participate. Each of us will take turns composing one or two sentences at a time.

This activity will take us one hour, and we will each get a few turns as we go around in a clock-wise fashion to complete the story.

After you have typed your sentence(s) into the chat bar, type “next” so that the person to your right knows to enter his/her sentence(s) to continue the story after you.

If you are not ready to type in your contribution to the story when it is your turn, type “pass.” That will alert the next person to continue without waiting for your contribution. You may enter your writing during the next round when your turn comes up again.

After you have entered your writing into the chat bar, I will correct any errors.

You will see an * in front of the corrections. If you have any questions about the correction, please ask them.

Please do not be afraid of making any errors as the whole class is here to learn and often more is learned from an error!

Once the person in front of you has typed in his/her sentences, and I am in the process of correcting, please start preparing yours for reading.

I will alert you a few minutes before we come to the end of the story, so that the last person in the group can think of a good ending.

If you have any questions during this activity, you do not have to wait until the end of the class to ask them. Please feel free to ask questions at any time during the class.

Does anyone have any questions before we start?

Okay, let's begin!

(Teacher now writes two or three opening lines for the story.)

Content created by Petra Paster
October 2, 2007

Revision by Lylou Despres
Updated Feb 2008

Revisions by Alianaluz Rivera
Updated December 31, 2008

ESL Group Story Writing Class July 26, 2009

ESL Group Story Writing Class
July 26, 2009


Just when I thought life couldn’t get any stranger, I met Pirot, a blind old man who had an amazing gift. You couldn't tell what his gift was by looking at him; he was a short elderly man with long white hair and dark glasses that covered his vacant eyes.

He passed the gift to me and said: "Hi, little girl, do not be sad, this is for you."
I couldn't wait to open it up, but I had to go home right away.

I was astonished by this old man Pirot who made me feel like the luckiest person in the world. I had never won anything before in my life other than a little action man that came with my McDonalds Happybox.

Pirot told me to open the gift. He said that I will have time to go home later.
A time-piece was in the box, but not just a regular time-piece, with it, I could travel in the past or in the future.

I had my doubts, so I asked my grandfather about it; he was as old as the old man who gave me the gift. He told me that time machines were not a big deal. All you needed was to put time in a bottle and squeeze hard, like ketchup. The problem was coming back. This is why we don't hear much about it.

That scared me a little, because I wanted to travel into the future (or into the past) but now I was afraid that I might not be able to return to the present!
I decided to go back to the old blind man and ask him about it.

I asked him if what my grandfather said was true. He said, “Yes, you can only use it to go to one world, if you choose that one, you will lose this one.

Then I asked him if he was from another time. He didn’t say much about it. It was as if he wasn’t happy talking about it.

I decided to try the time machine. Recently, I didn't do well on my English exam and I wanted to try to pass it again. Then I went back just 5 minutes before the exam. I was in class with the others students.

I was thinking that maybe my grandfather had been to another time and had come back or maybe he came from another time. Then they called my name for the English text, just like the other time... It was eerie.

It was only then that I realized I had not taken more time to study. I was so disappointed when I failed that I didn't even check my mistakes.

The teacher asked me if I was OK because I looked so pale. I nodded "yes" and hurried out of the classroom. I headed straight for my grandfather's house.

I nodded "yes" and hurried out of the classroom. I headed straight for my grandfather's house.

I ran very fast, but it seemed that I could not reach my grandfather's house.
"Where are you my grandpa, how can I find you?"

Then I thought to myself: "Man! You have the power of time in your pockets! You shouldn’t be wondering about English exams and getting to your grandpa."

So I took the box that contained the piece of time and decided to go to December 25th, 1900 because I remembered my grandfather received a time machine like mine back then. I found my grandfather's house and watched from outside his window.

"Stop grandpa!" I cried out. He turned to me and had an astonished look on his face. That’s when I realized I was naked. My clothes had not been transported in time. He came out of the door. The neighbors came out to see what was happening as well. I guess someone had called the police.

I grabbed frantically at the button on my watch. I didn't care where it would take me. I didn't care if I could never return to the present. I just wanted to hide my naked butt from my grandpa and his neighbors! I pressed the button and wound up somewhere in the year 79,000…

Suddenly, I was in a very strange place. You could not image what it was like, but I forgot that I was still naked.

So I looked around the corner and I saw the strangest thing I had ever seen in my life. There were lots and lots of naked people with watches like mine. I didn’t know if I should stay there with other time travelers.

I recognized one of them. It was Pirot. I called him and asked him to help me.
"oh ai" typed Pirot. “Au az u zot ire?" "What?" I said? "Uat uat ?" he answered.

At this point I had no idea how to go on. It's enough" said the teacher. You've made a few mistakes. Please try to correct them. You've passes the test.”

That's when I realized that this had all been a DAYDREAM. I was in my class standing at my professor's desk with my graded paper in my hand. I was so relieved to realize that not only had I passed my text but also I had never traveled in time. But just as I was ready to put it all out of my mind, I glanced down and saw a strange watch on my wrist…

Week 29

12 Classes this week.

1 New class:
Wednesday 6am PDT. Voice. Giovanni. Reading, comprehension.

1 new time:
Story writing class (Sunday) is now at 8am PDT (it was at 12pm PDT)

4 Classes recommeneded for beginners:
Tuesday 6am PDT. Text. Seikatsu. Drive-Through ESL
Wednesday 11am PDT. Voice. Inge. Flat Mates
Wednesday 4pm PDT. Skype. Alianaluz. Reading, pronunciation, comprehension.
Thursday 10am PDT. Voice. EagleEye. Vocabulary, idioms


Please note:
Monday 4pm PDT (VOICE)
will starts at 4:10pm PDT
Wednesday 4pm PDT (SKYPE) will starts at 4:10pm PDT

Skype Classes

New day, new time for Skype class: now it's Thursday 6am PDT
READING - MIX CLASS -VOICE Flat Mates/International news in English
VOICE. Flat Mates/International news in English Reading. Pronunciation. Comprehension.
Test voice before class.
Skype required for this class.
The first class is free. If it's the first time contact the Class Runner 30 minutes before class. When you are logged in Skype contact: esl-xu-help-team


The other Skype class is
Wednesdays at 4pm PDT
VOICE. Reading, pronunciation, comprehension.
"Reading Between the Lines" During this class students will read short texts out loud for comprehension and to practice pronunciation in English.
Test voice before class.
Skype required for this class.
The first class is free. If it's the first time contact the Class Runner 30 minutes before class. When you are logged in Skype contact: danicherrie.destiny

Recommended for Beginners

Tuesday 6am PDT. Text. Seikatsu. Drive-Through ESL
Wednesday 11am PDT. Voice. Inge. Flat Mates
Thursday 10am PDT. Voice. EagleEye. Vocabulary, idioms

Voice Test


You know if voice works or not but do you know how you sound?
Fiore Pinklady, the queen of landmarks, has found this.
If you go there you can listen to how others hear you. Speak, sing, breathe, drink, smoke, sigh, move your bums on the chair, type.
Only you can listen to yourself so bring your broken microphone and see if it works.

Monday 8 June

Conversation class - TAKE 2
This time the text will have less mistakes.
There will be time for conversation.

Mon, June 8, 4pm – 5pm PDT

Teacher: Alianaluz Rivera
Class Runner: DaniCherrie Destiny - BRA

VOICE - Conversation - Dieting Submitted by emapen.

During this class we will read a text written by a student, correct it and discuss the content.
Test voice before class.
The first class is free. If it's the first time contact the Class Runner 30 minutes before class.

Limited number of seats available depending on technical conditions. Cost: 1500L$ (3.8 euro; 5.8US$; 600YEN) More classes: http://www.drive-through-esl.info/index.html

Skype classes

New day, same time for Skype class: now it's Wednesdays at 4pm PDT
Reading, pronunciation, comprehension - VOICE "Reading Between the Lines" During this class students will read short texts out loud for comprehension and to practice pronunciation in English

The other Skype class is Sunday at 6am PDT
READING - MIX CLASS -VOICE Flat Mates/International news in English

Monday, 1 June, 2009


Conversation class - NEW

Mon, June 1, 4pm – 5pm PDT

Teacher: Alianaluz Rivera
Class Runner: DaniCherrie Destiny - BRA

VOICE - Conversation - Dieting Submitted by emapen.

During this class we will read a text written by a student, correct it and discuss the content.
Test voice before class.
The first class is free. If it's the first time contact the Class Runner 30 minutes before class.

Limited number of seats available depending on technical conditions. Cost: 1500L$ (3.8 euro; 5.8US$; 600YEN) More classes: http://www.drive-through-esl.info/index.html

Monday, 11 May 2009

Teacher: Alianaluz Rivera
Class Runner: DaniCherrie Destiny - POR

VOICE - Prepositional Phrase
Test your knowledge of prepositional phrases and learn new ones. Multiple choice quiz.

9-10 May 2009

Saturday: 9 May 2009
6am PDT: Airport. Voice. Beginner Program 2/8
Short review of previous class (Café) Vocabulary and phrases related to Travel, custom, security controls. Idioms of the day. Quiz
1pm PDT: Word Games. Text. Idioms.
If you know you make a point. If you don't know you learn something.

Sunday: 10 May 2009
6am PDT: Skype class: Voice: Reading, pronunciation, comprehension. This lesson is a mix of Flat Mates and International News (Wednesday 10am PDT and Monday 11am PDT in Second Life)
12pm PDT: Story Class. Text.
During this class students will write a short story.




week 16

Beginner Program starts Saturday, April 25, at 6am PDT.
8 Classes:

1

Sat 25 Apr

Café

2

Sat 2 May

Airport

3

Sat 9 May

Hotel Reception

4

Sat 16 May

Bank

5

Sat 23 May

Hospital

6

Sat 30 May

Garage/Salon

7

Sat 6 June

Home

8

Sat 13 June

Review



3 beginner classes this week:
  • Tue 6am PDT. Text
  • Thu 11am PDT. Text
  • NEW Sat 6am PDT. Voice. BEGINNER PROGRAM. Class 1

Week 14

This week the class calendar is about half than usual.
The regular calendar will return next week.