Are you taking the CAE Exam soon? If so, then you know how difficult Part 2 of the Listening Module can be. In Part 2, students listen to a monologue and complete a gap-fill exercise. The best way to improve your score in this section is to practice as much as possible. For an entertaining way to...
As an English language student, you probably already know that the English language is FULL of phrasal verbs! Some are very casual, while others are appropriate (and necessary) in Business English. Do you know these useful Business English phrasal verbs? Most are used nearly every day by English speakers. Phrasal Verbs for Business English Call...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
