Tag Archives: English language learning

Future Enterprise! English Conversation, The American Club Fall/Winter 2011

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We are now in the middle of the holidays and while I had some time I thought I’d document and share with you all this FANTASTIC project if I say so myself, by The American Club  We had a lot of fun and learning while creating and designing it. Mateo and Simone realized their future businesses in 2 and 3D utilizing virtual world technology. Basically they had to tell me every detail of what their business will look like from wall colorings to furnishings. They designed the entire buildings from outside to in and filled them with merchandise! They accomplished this by telling me everything entirely in English. So they learned a lot of new words, explored computer technology including 3D and virtual, and are now the proud owners of Podium Sports, and Free Travel Agency,
First Sketch Front

First Sketch Building Front

First Sketch Building

First Sketch Building

Once they both gave me a basic description of the shops and the designs of the buildings, I took them into Secondlife and put the bare bones buildings together. I wanted the boys to understand where I was going with this as neither of them had been exposed to the idea of virtual worlds yet. But once they saw the printed images of the buildings the concept became instantly clear (their young after all!) and the conversation truly began! Sinone thought his walls too yellow, and Mateo wanted to lose the shelves.

Picture Of Free Travel Building

Free Travel Beginning

Simone's Store Free Travel Inside View

Simone’s Store Free Travel Inside View

Podium Sports Beginning

Mateo’s Podium Sports Beginning

Over the weeks the shops started to flesh out as the boys described what they wanted to sell inside, wall decorations, seating, sale signs and discounts, all the details of what their businesses should look like. Either I’d take a printed copy on paper that we’d write all the new ideas on, or I’d bring my computer and we’d keep notes in notepad. Each time some new element was added to the buildings, or taken away.

Podium Sports Virtual Building Interior

Podium Sports Interior Midway

After a good five weeks on this project with the holidays approaching we tried to finish up. There are still many things missing, mostly in the way of posters and merchandise, Simone is missing lighting he’d requested (I couldn’t figure out how to make it fast enough!) and the outside environments were suppose to be set in the city, instead of the beach!  But here are the end results of all our English conversation and hard work!

Finsihed Virtual Building

Free Travel Agency Interior Finished

Simone's Free Travel Agency Building

Simone’s Free Travel Agency

Mateo's Podium Sports Virtual BuildingFinished

Podium Sports Finished

Mateo's Podium Sports Building Finished

Mateo’s Podium Sports!

The first 2 photos are the finished inside and front of Simone’s building and business. and the finel 2 photos are the finished interior and store front of Podium Sports, Mateo’s dream business.   They did an incredible job, Bravi! And look, Mateo even has a customer!

Happy Vacation Days to all Silly Fish! Hope they are warm and inspiring! See you all next year!

(Aside note, any teachers wanting the bare bone buildings for their own use are welcome to them, just send me an email and I’ll get them to you.)