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...
Category: English Courses in California
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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...
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Business Terms Every English Student Needs to Know
CISL’s Premier English Program is an excellent way to improve your business English skills, but even non-business students can take advantage of these business-related idioms and phrasal verbs. Do you use these terms in your speech? As you can see from the articles that are linked after each word or phrase, these are expressions that...
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CAE Reading and Use of English: Part 2 Tips and Practice Tests
Are you taking the Cambridge CAE or FCE test soon? Enjoy our tips and practice tests for Part 2 of the Reading and Use of English. CAE Reading and Use of English: Part 2 Tips and Practice Tests Format of Reading and Use of English Part 2 You will read a paragraph, but the paragraph...
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CAE Reading and Use of English Test Part 1: Tips and Practice Tests
The Cambridge CAE Reading and Use of English Test, Part 1 is an activity based on vocabulary. The best way to practice for this portion of the test is to read as much as possible and take practice tests to understand the strategies Cambridge ESOL uses. For additional practice, take this Reading and Use of...
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IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 Tips
Don’t stress about IELTS: master it! Follow these IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 tips to feel confident about your IELTS Speaking Test. IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 Tips Overview of the IELTS Speaking Part 2 Format Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test works in the following way: You are given a card, which has your prompt....
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Improving your IELTS, CAE, FCE, and TOEFL writing scores: thesis with predictors
Whether you are taking the IELTS, CAE, FCE, or TOEFL exam, you will be asked to write some form of essay or response. The writing assignment could be about a number of topics (and written in a number of styles), but there is one thing all writing prompts should have: a good thesis statement. Writing a...
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Changes to the Cambridge CAE Exam in 2015
CISL has been offering Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) and First Certificate in English (FCE) courses for years, and has seen countless students pass the exam through the guidance of our competent staff. After years of the same testing format for the CAE exam, we are excited to see some changes to the test...
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Writing Tips for the IELTS Essay
Are you taking the IELTS exam soon? Writing is an important aspect of the test: be sure you know these writing tips for the IELTS essay. Writing Tips for the IELTS Essay Choose a position, and stick with it In the IELTS essay, you are typically asked to choose a position. Sometimes, it is...
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Cambridge CAE tips: Writing an Essay
For over 20 years, CISL has provided intensive classes to prepare our students for the Cambridge exams. We can’t think of a better place than California to study for (and take) the Cambridge tests! If you are taking the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English exam, you must write an essay for the first part of...