Use the blog to find out what is going on at CISL and things to do in San Francisco and San Diego. You can also read about some of our students and get English practice material.
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June 5th, 2009Learning English, meeting people and having fun at CISL!
August 28th, 2010By Dianne Kuijs, The Netherlands (CISL San Diego Student)
After all the preparations, the journey to San Diego, and all the first impressions of the city, I began my lessons at Converse International School of Language (CISL) last week. Although I was already settled in San Diego, as I walked into the building of CISL I felt a little bit excited. CISL is located in the downtown area, on Broadway Avenue, and is very easy to find. I live in the student residence of Vantaggio. It is located on State Street and it only takes me 20 minutes to get to the school’s building.
My first day of class was Monday, and that day I had to take a test. This is mandatory at CISL so that you are placed in an appropriate class level. You also get information about San Diego and the school, like the computer room and the various activities offered in addition to daily lessons.
On Tuesday the lessons really started. When I arrived at school, I found out in which level and class I was placed in and shortly thereafter, the lessons began. I was placed in level 8, in a class with 6 other students, all from different countries.
I had a very kind teacher named Christine. The lessons were great and Christine really helped me with the individual questions I had. But after two days, I had a feeling that level 8 was to easy for me. Christine also thought that it would be better if I tried a higher level and told me that I had to visit Matthew, the director of CISL.
When I talked about the situation with Matthew we soon agreed that I should try the highest level, level 10. So I received new books and a form in order to attend a level 10 class the next day. I really enjoyed the lesson, and like before, I also enjoyed the students in the class and the teacher, Kristy. They were all very kind. I decided that this level was better for me, so I immediately transferred permanently.
Every morning the lessons start at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 12:40 a.m. You have a break between 10:40 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. During the break all the students talk and visit with each other. I really like talking with all the
students from different countries, and that’s how I have already met a lot
of people in such a short time.
During my lessons we do several things: we have discussions about many different topics; we improve our grammar and vocabulary; we may watch a documentary; or we will write essays. For the students that are studying for four or more weeks at CISL, they will do a presentation on a topic of their own choosing. So during the lessons you are not only improving your English but you are also learning a lot about other countries, cultures and other topics. The lessons are very interactive; in class it’s actually very cozy. When you make a mistake it’s not a problem at all and you can ask anything.
This first school week went really fast for me. My English has already improved and I’ve met a lot of new people. In addition to the lessons, I have also participated in different activities around town with other students. Most of the time school feels like an obligation, but here it’s just a lot of fun. That’s why I’m really looking forward to my upcoming weeks here at CISL!
Feeling at Home in a New City, San Diego!
August 11th, 2010By Linda Sintniklaas (CISL San Diego Student)
Arrival at San Diego International Airport
After a rollercoaster of emotions and events and 15 hours of travelling you finally arrive in America, at San Diego Airport. Wow, was what I thought, I’m in America. After all the preparations that have been made I’m finally here and it feels good immediately. In the central hall of the airport my driver is already waiting for me, he is carrying a sign with him with my name on it: Linda Sintniklaas. It was something I had always dreamed about, you can see those signs with names in movies and it made me laugh. The driver was very friendly and he immediately took my suitcase and put them in the beautiful taxi. Within 15 minutes I arrived at the Vantaggio 1736 State Street which I hope to make my home for the next 5 weeks.
“Welcome girl, how are you?!” asked the lady at the reception desk. Again, a warm welcome. After a mountain of paperwork to be signed in which I declared not to damage my room and that I would not harm my fellow students, I can go to my room: no 132. The room is beautiful, is looks neat and clean and the shower is warm. I also have at my disposal to a refrigerator, a microwave, a television, a table and chair, a sink, a closet and a balcony. But now I have to sleep, tomorrow I will go to Converse International School of Language (CISL) and I will explore Broadway. 
After a good night’s sleep and a hot shower I walk from the student residence to Broadway (only ten minutes). In between I make a stop at Pappalecco, a nice Italian café where I drink a lovely macchiato and eat a tasty croissant. The student residence is located in Little Italy, that’s a little Italian village within the city with a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops. It looks really nice and promising!
I turn left on Broadway and then I only have to walk straight ahead until I reach the Converse Language School. Again, I am greeted by a friendly guard and I walk up the stairs toward the counter. Despite the confirmation email I received from CISL I check if my registration went well and if it is right that the English classes will start on Monday. “This Monday the English lessons will start”, the friendly lady tells me that on Monday there will first be a test to see what level you are and in which class they will put you. She further said that I was more than welcome and that if I have any questions I can come and ask. She also pointed out the many beautiful sights that CISL organizes or which you can do individually.
After a few days travelling around San Diego I found that this is a city with many beautiful places and sights. The Pacific Ocean, La Jolla Beach, Coronado Beach, the San Diego Cinema, Comic Con (a festival where people get all dressed up as their favorite comic heroes), the shopping malls, San Diego Bay with the big Navy ship, fireworks at the harbor and much more. I’m enjoying my stay here and I am so glad I came.
The people are very kind and hospitable, the student residence is good and I am really looking forward to my first English lesson this Monday. I am so glad that I travelled all over the world as a 20 year old student to come here.
Yes, I really do feel at home here!
Can I Survive Language School?
August 8th, 2010
By CISL SD student, Dianne Kuijs (The Netherlands)
Do you like adventure? Do you like getting in touch with people from many different countries and cultures? Have you always wanted to learn English or wanted to improve your English? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I have the golden tip for you: English courses at the Converse International School of Language (CISL) in San Diego or San Francisco, California.
Personally, improving my English has always been a dream of mine not only because it is a “must have” when you are in business but also it can allow you to feel more confident when communicating in English.
When I spoke of this dream with my supervisor during my last internship, she told me about CISL, so I visited the site (www.cisl.edu). What struck me first about the site was that the classes have a maximum of only eight people, so you can get plenty of personal attention, a big plus in my opinion. Also I was happy to learn that students from other countries will be in the class with me. This will give me a opportunity to discover other cultures. As I continued to read the site and as I found out more and more about the CISL language school, the more excited I became.
However, before I decided to join CISL, I thought about it a lot and also discussed it with my parents. They said that if I really wanted to do this, I should go for it because it is definitely a great experience and I’ll learn a lot.
Finally, I decided to do it, so what’s the first step I took to begin my trip? Well, making a trip to America as a Dutch student is a big journey and there are many things to consider and arrange.
First I went back to the site, downloaded a form, printed it and filled it out. After doing that, I scanned the forms and emailed it to CISL. Surprisingly, this process turned out to be really easy. I was even able to book my housing on the website where I could specify exactly what kind (alone or shared) of room I wanted. CISL responded very quickly to my application; after sending the email I received a confirmation within only 2 days. I also had some questions about the residence, and, again, they replied very quickly. After I prepared everything right down to the last detail, I could finally relax especially because CISL arranged a driver to pick me up when I arrive at the San Diego airport. The only thing I had to arrange separately was my ticket, but booking that online was also very easy.
My trip includes 3 weeks in San Diego where I’ll complete a Standard English course at CISL. I’ll stay at the student residence on Vantaggio State Street for 5 weeks, so I can explore San Diego. I can’t wait to not only walk across the Broadway, enjoy the many beaches, swim in the Pacific Ocean, watch San Diego’s famous baseball team, the Padres, and go on a trip to LA where I can walk around the huge shopping malls, but, also, to finally fulfill my dream to improve my English!
Does this wonderful trip sound great to you? Do you have a similar dream to improve your English? If so, let CISL help you plan your trip and survive language school, just visit the site www.cisl.edu!
© Dianne Kuijs
Our new intern in San Francisco
July 26th, 2010
Hey,
My name is Julia, and I am staying in San Francisco for three months. At home in Berlin, Germany, I study English in order to be a High School teacher. Obviously, my English has to be very good and I am happy that I found the homepage of Converse by browsing the Web some months ago. For years, it had been my dream to spend some time in San Francisco because I had heard that it is the most liberal city in the U.S.
So I applied for an internship at Converse San Francisco and learned that I had to take a language course as well. At first, I was a little bit reluctant because I had had some bad experiences with other language schools. However, my skepticism was soon proven wrong. I was placed in the right course level, had an excellent teacher, and never had the feeling that I wasn’t being challenged. Furthermore, this was also a good way to meet new people.
Now I am finished with my language course and working at Converse part-time as an intern. I am learning a lot about the American workplace, and the staff is very friendly and constantly helps me improve my English skills. And I still have got enough time to explore the city, to participate in the great free-time activities and to have a lot of fun.
SHOPPING in San Diego, California
June 27th, 2010
By CISL San Diego student, Nicolas Sayo (France)
If you are a shopping addict or if you just like shopping, San Diego is the ideal place. There are clothes for everybody : fashionistas, bargain hunters, sportsmen, etc…
San Ysidro, 40 minutes south of San Diego by trolley, is my favorite shopping destination. San Ysidro, just across the border from Tijuana, Mexico, is a great place to shop with many factory outlet stores where you can buy casual clothes in many different fashions. The big Nike shop is a good place to start, and afterwards you can try your luck at the Aeropostale store (I bought a tee-shirt and a polo for only 39 dollars!), or the Vans store (2 tee-shirts for 15 dollars). There are other interesting shops like Tommy Hilfinger, The Gap, and the Cap New Era store. There are also lots of promotions such as “buy one product and then get 50% off of the second.” So San Ysidro is very attractive destination for people who like good clothes with low prices!
Another excellent shopping destination is the Fashion Valley Mall, a more upscale place for the shopping addict, featuring many famous designer boutiques. The prices are more expensive than San Ysidro, but less expensive than in Europe. Fashion Valley is easy to get to by trolley from downtown (20 minutes). Fashion Valley Mall is very big! Here you can find many chic labels such as Hoolister and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as electronics brands like Sony and Apple, where you can try out many products and receive advise from the sales staff. So if you go to the United States looking to buy the latest fashion collections and brands, San Diego is the place to go!
Balboa Park: a natural place in the center of San Diego
June 21st, 2010
If there is one place where one could linger for several days, it’s here: the 490 acres of Balboa Park are home to fifteen museums, an art colony, theaters, restaurants, clubhouse botany, zoo A field of “petanque” on grass and a plethora of buildings with various architectures, which blends Spanish baroque, southwestern and traditional contemporary structures of glass and steel. Situated in the center of the city it is a place where people use to rest and pass good time. There is many thing to do like visiting, it is a good experience to discover the culture of California inspire by Mexico’s traditions and architecture. This is the center historical of the city. There is also a nice zoo with touching animals. The environment is relaxing you can stay for read or discuss with friends around beautiful plants, palms… For the people who wants to do sport you can also find what you want. People use to meet for play soccer, basketball, volleyball… and others sports. Sunshine time encourages people to spend their time in this park.
VANTAGGIO: Converse student residence
June 16th, 2010
It is the place where the students normally sleep during the travel.You have a suite with everything you need (shower, microwave, fridge…). The place is very well located in Little Italy very close to downtown, the center of the city and Converse. There are more than 300 students so it is very easy to meet people from all the countries. Most of people come from Brazil, Switzerland, Korea and Belgium but there is also French, Spanish, Italian… There are a lot of things to do for students. For example if you are European or Brazilian and you like football, you can play all the days during the week in the park opposite of Vantaggio. Mexican players use to play here. It is a good opportunity for meeting people. For the people who like to go out during the night the clubs are in downtown. Besides all the evening students stay in front of the desk where there is a room where we can play billiard, beer-pong… with people who put music or mix. There is also a yard where you can smoke. So during all the night boys and girls can dance, share or do what they want. Thursday is the day where there is the most of people, the student who stays on house family come to Vantaggio and it is very crazy, so much people, it looks like a club or a real party. So if you live Vantaggio you can’t be bored, everybody can find something to do like shopping, jogging, visiting, playing sport, going out during the night… There is no better place for meeting students and enjoying his time.
by Nicolas Sayo, France
CISL LESSON OF THE MONTH: June 2010
June 7th, 2010GRAMMAR: POSSIBILITY AND SUGGESTIONS: MAY and SHOULD in Present and Past
MAY is used to express POSSIBILITY; SHOULD is used for SUGGESTIONS and recommendations. Both can be used to refer to the present/future and to the past, although the form changes a little.
• For Present and/or Future, the form is very easy – MAY or SHOULD + VERB (Do NOT use “to!”)
He MAY GO to the movies this afternoon.
That man MAY BE sick; he looks very pale.
You SHOULD FINISH the report before you go to bed.
They SHOULDN’T BOTHER him while he’s working.
• For Past Tense, use MAY HAVE or SHOULD HAVE + PARTICIPLE
I’m not sure where Dan was yesterday. He MAY HAVE GONE to the beach.
I don’t know why she hasn’t called me. She MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN MY NUMBER.
Look how tired you are! You SHOULDN’T HAVE GONE to bed so late last night!
They SHOULD HAVE LISTENED to your advice; now they’re in a lot of trouble.
A. Change these sentences to the Past Tense:
1. You shouldn’t let the children do that!
2. Ilse may be too tired to go shopping.
3. Should she play tennis with that bad knee?
4. They shouldn’t drive the car without checking the oil.
5. I may be wrong.
B. Make a suggestion (More than one answer may be possible but be careful of the tense!)
Example: John stayed up till 2:00 A.M. He shouldn’t have stayed up so late OR He should have gone to bed earlier.
1. I ate too much pizza.
2. He wants to get a good grade on this report.
3. My brother bought a used car without taking it to a mechanic first.
4. You try to pet every strange dog you see on the street.
C. Give a possible explanation for these situations. (Again, more than one answer is possible, but watch the tense!)
Example: My daughter isn’t happy in her school. She may not like her teacher.
1. Mary didn’t come to work yesterday. __________________________________
2. No one likes that restaurant. ________________________________________
3. The dog started barking at 3:00 this morning.____________________________
4. He won’t return my calls! ___________________________________________
5. Look at all the water in the street! _____________________________________
VOCABULARY: ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN!
1. slip (V&N) Lose your balance, because of ice, snow, water, or anything slippery (like a banana peel!) on the street or floor. Mikey stepped in the water on the bathroom floor, slipped, and almost fell down.
2. trip (V) To step on something on the floor and almost lose your balance. I tripped over the cat in the dark.
3. stumble (V&N) The same as TRIP. While hiking, I stumbled over a rock and twisted my ankle.
4. walk/run/dance etc. into (V) To bump (or crash!) something by accident. They got too excited and danced right into the wall! .
5. Drop (V) When you are holding something, and you let it fall by accident. Oops! He dropped the Stradivarius violin out of the 10th floor window.
********************
TOP THREE MOVIES IN U.S. THIS WEEK (Reviews Compiled by Rottentomatoes.com):
AVATAR
Avatar is nearly a visual masterpiece.
It revels in the archetypal broadness of its story, hoping to become a pre-existing classic, even as it unfolds for the first time. For the most part, it works. Some of the dialog is dull and the attempts at humor are frequently embarrassing…but this is overwhelmed by the film’s emotional impact (the Na’Vi are as expressive as anything put on the screen since the original King Kong rampaged through New York). Avatar is a fine, if flawed, film, one that will remain in memory for its artistic and technical achievements.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
Combine Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy (1999) with Disney’s Aladdin and you have the story, the plot and the action. A sacred object, the Dagger of Time, must be returned to its rightful place or the world will fall to ruin. This is a special dagger which has the ability to rewind time, conveniently enough for only one minute. Does it rewind time everywhere? Never mind. This isn’t the sort of film to inspire even shallow thoughts.
This is a forgettable entertainment that might be worth a matinee if you can’t think of anything else to do… laundry, for example.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
It’s by some distance director Tim Burton’s most disappointing outing since Planet Of The Apes.
Alice In Wonderland may look fantastic – even if the 3D comes across as disappointingly flat after Avatar’s immersive depth – but there’s little else going for it. A complete lack of story and the lack of key characters and moments from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland provide little sustenance for heart or brain– it’s emotionally cold, utterly predictable and there’s never any sense of peril.
ANSWERS:
A.
1. You shouldn’t have let the children do that!
2. Ilse may have been too tired to go shopping.
3. Should she have played tennis with that bad knee?
4. They shouldn’t have driven the car without checking the oil.
5. I may have been wrong.
B.
1. You should have eaten less pizza.
2. He should do more research.
3. He should have taken it to a good mechanic.
4. You shouldn’t go near strange dogs!
C.
1. She may have been sick.
2. The service may be bad.
3. The dog may have heard strange noises.
4. He may be angry at you.
5. A pipe may have broken.
The CISL Lesson of the Month is written by Pam Mondragon.
CISL LESSON OF THE MONTH: APRIL 2010
April 7th, 2010Astrology and Psychology
“Scorpio: You shouldn’t waste your time worrying – today is a new day! Some new financial opportunities should come your way this week, so you must get organized. You ought not to make any big new purchases unless you have to. And you had better pay attention to a friend’s advice!”
“Why do so many people believe in horoscopes and the zodiac? Can horoscopes really tell us what we should do with our lives? Psychologists say that reading our horoscopes can be fun, but we ought not to use them to try to predict the future. They say that the language used in most horoscopes is so general that it could fit anyone’s life. One man was close to buying his dream house but missed his chance because his horoscope said, ‘You had better wait till the full moon passes before you make any big purchases!’ By the time the full moon had passed, it was too late. Someone else had bought the house.”
Part 1: GRAMMAR – EXPRESSING NECESSITY and ADVICE
As you can see from the words highlighted in the above reading, we use modal verbs to talk about NECESSITY and ADVICE: should, ought to, have to, must and had better are the most common. You can say something is necessary or advisable in a very soft way by using should or ought to. Have to, must and had better are all much stronger.
- You should check with your doctor before you try that exercise program.
- He ought to* look for another job.
- We have to* finish this report by Friday.
- They must be here by 3:00 or the plane will leave without them!
- You had better clean up that mess right now!
*Note that these two modals need TO. The others do not.
Note also the negatives: should not, ought not to, must not, had better not. The only one that is different is have to. The negative is don’t / doesn’t /didn’t have to.
- You should not worry so much.
- They ought not to take so much luggage with them.
- You don’t have to go to work if you feel really sick.
- He must not do that again or he’ll lose his job.
- You had better not try to pet that strange dog!
The questions are easy, except that have to is different again:
- Should she try the driving test again?
- Ought he to eat so much?
- Must I pay the traffic ticket this week?
- Had you better keep your passport in a safe place?
- Do you have to leave so soon?
Exercise 1: Use the best modal verb in the following sentences.
- You probably _________________get 8 hours of sleep each night.
- She ______________pay that speeding ticket or she could lose her license!
- I can’t go out tonight; I __________________study for an exam.
- They ______________not swim during this thunderstorm; they could be struck by lightning!
- Do you think I _______________try that new restaurant?
Part 2: VOCABULARY
Exercise 2: Look in the Astrology and Psychology reading selection and find synonyms for the following words or phrases:
- perfect, ideal ___________________
- suggestions ____________________
- anything you buy________________
- chance________________________
- describe something that you believe will happen in the future________________
ANSWERS:
Exercise 1: 1. should, ought to 2. must, had better 3. have to, must 4. had better, must 5. should, ought to
Exercise 2: 1. dream 2. advice 3. purchase 4. opportunity 5. predict
CISL San Francisco – blog entry by Isabelle (France, Premier Course)
March 19th, 2010To Wanda, “I’m sorry, I haven’t done my homework”… What is my excuse today? After three days, I’m still feeling jetlagged or maybe I should look for another explanation of being tired. As a matter of fact, I attend class all day long and in the evening I run to meet Bill and participate in the very diverse activities he proposes. So when could I find time to do my homework?