English uses two important punctuation marks: the colon and the semicolon. colon : semicolon ; What’s the difference, and when do we use them? Read on to find out information on using the colon and semicolon in English. Using the Colon and Semicolon in English COLON : Use 1: Headings and Descriptive Titles Examples: “Punctuation...
Over 700,000 international students will come to the U.S. this year to study at an American college or university, and many will enter these institutions through programs like CISL’s Pathway Program, which provides academic English classes that prepare students for the rigorous American university setting. Why choose to study at an American university? Here are just...
Spring is here! As we move into the warmer months, we are taking a look at expressions that use the word MARCH. These are excellent expressions to use when describing people, so take note of their use and try to incorporate them into an upcoming Cambridge FCE or CAE exam, your IELTS exam, or TOEFL...
Life changed with the invention of technology like the internet and smartphones, but what many do not realize is that language also changed as a result! The development of new technologies means that we are always adding new words to our language: at times, the spelling, capitalization, and correct grammatical usage are points of confusion for...
The business world is full of idioms, expressions, and metaphors. Some are quite useful, but others have become so overused that they have lost their meaning and are now considered by many to be cliché. If you are working in an English business environment, you will probably hear the vocabulary below; therefore, it is important...
This year, we have an extra day in February . . . but with just 29 days in total, February is still the shortest month of the year. In honor of this exceptionally short month, we are looking at some business related idioms in English. Idioms with “short” to come up short Definition: to be deficient;...
Phrasal verbs: they’re everywhere! These pesky verb + participle combinations find their way into everything . . . even business correspondence. Prepare yourself for the business world with these phrasal verbs that are commonly used before, during, and after meetings. Business English Phrasal Verbs for Meetings Note: some of these phrasal verbs have several meanings....
Happy New Year to our CISL students! Do you have a resolution for 2016 to improve your English skills? If so, we have the perfect lesson to implement your new resolution: practice CAE and FCE Use of English Part II with these quotes about the New Year! Before you begin, make sure that you understand...
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” -Arthur Ashe If you are planning to take the TOEFL exam, it is important that you understand the test format and its many question types. Today we are focusing on the Writing Section of the TOEFL exam and looking at the...
We all work hard, but do you know how to express this in English? The following expressions are incredibly helpful for the ESL classroom and the English-speaking workplace. These are useful expressions to know if you are going to interview in English, but also great to use when talking about how much you study! Expressions...
