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ESL Site Sparks International Love

English, baby! users find love while learning English

Portland, Ore. - January 30, 2008

As they navigate the dating landscape, people often think to themselves, "What if my one true love is in another country? My ideal partner probably doesn’t even speak my language…"

Until recently, that was true for Faruk Onur of Istanbul, Turkey, and Anastasiya Yeremenko of Zaparaoje, Ukraine. A computer programmer, Yeremenko, decided to learn English to further her career. And Onur, a furniture maker, decided to pick up the language for expanded cultural and cinematic opportunities.

The pair became acquainted on English, baby!, a social networking site for people learning English that is used by 600,000 people worldwide. They agreed to meet in-person while Yerekmenko was in Istanbul on business.

They talked for hours—in English, of course; it's their only common language—and a week later they held hands while walking down Istiklal Caddesi, an iconic shopping district in Istanbul. A year later they were engaged.

Word of the wedding reached English, baby!'s Portland office just in time for them to send Jason Simms, a member of the cast of actors featured in the English lessons on the site, to attend the wedding. What followed was a camcorder-captured blur of dancing, wine, giant fish, famous mosques, and one adorable and happy couple.

"More than ESL or social networking, Ebaby! has always been about people around the world connecting," says John Hayden, founder and CEO of the Portland, Oregon, based company, which has been profitable since 2003. "But for a couple to meet on our site and start a life together with English as their only common language is truly remarkable." He adds, "They also turned out to be the nicest people in the world."

Ebaby's Turkranian Wedding

And here's the page with the trailer:

Ebaby's Turkranian Wedding (Trailer)

Photos and hi-res version of the videos available upon request. The Onurs, Simms, and Hayden are available for interviews.

CONTACT INFORMATION

John Hayden, Co-founder and CEO
Tel: (888) 418-8021 x2#