The business world is full of idioms to describe finance. Rather than saying “the company is having financial problems” or “the company is not making money,” the business world uses inventive idioms to express financial woe. The following list includes some of the many sayings for money problems in English. Hopefully you will only use these...
Category: <span>Adult English Courses</span>
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FCE, CAE, IELTS, or TOEFL? How to Choose the Right Proficiency Exam
These days, there are many exams that test your English proficiency. CISL is proud to offer test preparation courses for the CAE, FCE, IELTS, and TOEFL exams. Which test is perfect for you? Read on to learn a little more about each test. How to Choose the Right Proficiency Exam Before you decide on exam,...
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Improving your listening skills with Amy Cuddy’s “Your body language shapes who are you”
The Internet is a wonderful place for ESL students. Those who are looking for intriguing listening activities have access to countless videos, podcasts, and lessons. The website TED is a particularly excellent resource for speeches on many topics, but one that really sticks out for us is Amy Cuddy’s talk titled “Your Body Language Shapes...
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TOEFL Reading Practice + The Origin of the California Flag
From the happy people to the stunning beaches to the incredible mountains, deserts, vineyards, and forests, we know one thing: California is a place of beauty. Along with the Hollywood sign and the Golden Gate Bride, there is one thing that is an icon of California: its flag. The flag is of interest to many because...
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Business English: CV or Resume?
Resume . . . or CV? Students are often confused about the definitions of both of these documents, and students often have questions regarding when it is appropriate to use each. What is a CV? CV stands for “Curriculum Vitæ,” which means “course of life” in Latin. This document is very detailed, and can...
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TOEFL Listening Practice + Ocean-Inspired Art
If you are taking the TOEFL exam soon, we recommend that you spend as much time as possible listening to English speeches, shows, and presentations. A good way to improve your English listening skills is to listen to a wide variety of topics: the TOEFL listening is always presented within an academic setting, but the...
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Happy hours in SD and SF + Writing a CAE Review
There is a reason they put the word “happy” in “happy hour”: grabbing a drink (for a discounted price) while the sun is still out is a great thing! Have you checked out some of the best happy hours in San Diego and San Francisco? The key to a good happy hour is, of course,...
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Business English: Beginning an email
How do you begin a professional email in English? This is a question that many CISL students ask us. The answer is not a simple one: the way you begin an email depends on many factors. Do you know the person you are addressing? How well do you know this person? Or, maybe you do...
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My Experiences as a Volunteer in San Francisco
by Roman (Germany), CISL San Francisco student After three months in San Francisco it is time for me to go back home to my normal life. But before returning to Germany, I want to look back to an amazing summer in California. I started with a language course of four weeks at CISL in the...
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IELTS Writing Part 1 and Part 2 Sample Prompts + SD Museum of Art’s King Ramsesses
During the month of February, the San Diego Museum of Art will be hosting Out of Egypt: an exhibit featuring a carved quartzite sculpture depicting Ramesses II. The pharaoh’s name and royal titles are inscribed in hieroglyphs on the statue and say “Ramesses, beloved of Amun…The Victorious Bull…King of Upper and Lower Egypt…The son of Ra.” Balboa...