Are you interested in gaining work experience in English? With CISL’s Career English Program, students first attend classes to gain the English skills they need in the business environment. During this time, students work closely with the Career English Coordinator to find a company that meets their interests and career goals. After interviewing (in English!) students...
Category: English Courses in California
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Five Academic Vocabulary Words to Impress your Professor
Are you thinking about attending university in the U.S.? CISL offers students the Academic Year Abroad Program, where students first attend CISL classes and perfect their English before taking one semester of classes at community college, and Academic Pathways, where students attend college or university directly after CISL (without taking the TOEFL). After this...
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Using the Colon and Semicolon in English
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...
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Choosing University Abroad: The Advantages of a U.S. College Degree
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...
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Expressions with “march” + proficiency test speaking practice
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...
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Technology Vocabulary (+ a TOEFL Writing Question 2 Prompt)
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...
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Overused Business English Vocab to know (yet avoid)
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...
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Business English: Idioms with “short”
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;...
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Business English: Phrasal Verbs for Meetings
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....
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Famous New Year’s Quotes + Cambridge ESOL Use of English Part II Practice
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...