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