Last month we provided some top tips for mastering the first part of the Cambridge CAE and FCE exams. Today, we are looking at Part 2 of the exam and providing some tips on preparing for this section. Preparing for Part 2 of the Cambridge CAE and FCE Exams Overview of Cambridge CAE and FCE Speaking...
Category: Learning English
Post
Learning about Homographs
In June our Grammar Lesson of the Month was about Homophones. You might remember that homophones are words with the same sound but different spellings. Some examples include: here/hear their/their/they’re your/you’re In September, we are looking at another category of English words that have something in common: homographs. Homographs are words with the same spellings...
Post
Practicing collocations with “make” and “do”
Earlier this month, we published an article on August’s Grammar Lesson of the Month: collocations with “make” and “do”. Today we are practicing them with a few sentences. Need to refresh your memory? Go back and read our post on collocations before trying to complete the sentences below. DO your best to answer them correctly! (Get...
Post
Tips for preparing for the Cambridge CAE and FCE speaking tests
Many CISL San Diego and CISL San Francisco students are preparing for the Cambridge University Certificate of Advanced English or First Certificate of English tests. CISL has some tips to help our students prepare for this part of the exam. CISL San Diego and CISL San Francisco are both official Cambridge Exam Centers. Elements of...
Post
Collocations with “make” and “do”
August’s Grammar Lesson of the Month is Collocations! What are collocations? Collocations are two words that go together. For example, when you go home after class, you have homework. You say “I have to DO my homework.” This is the verb that is always used with “homework”. When you get up in the morning,...
Post
Practicing the Present Perfect Progressive
July’s Grammar Lesson of the Month is the Present Perfect Progressive (also called the Present Perfect Continuous). We will refer to this tense as “Progressive” and as “Continuous” in this post. Today we are practicing this tense by correcting the following sentences. Each of them has a mistake. If you need to refresh yourself on...
Post
American vs. British English
Many CISL students are curious about the differences in American and British English. Although the two languages are quite similar, there are definitely some vocabulary words that are completely different and can create some confusion! Can you guess which of these words are British and which are American English? Lorry/Truck Chips/French fries Crisps/Potato Chips...
Post
English Wedding Vocabulary
It is wedding season! Spring and summer months are the most popular for marriages, and we think it is the perfect time for some ESL wedding vocabulary. Do you know the following words? bride: the woman getting married groom: the man getting married bridesmaids: the women who stand with the bride (close friends and...
Post
Mastering the Present Perfect Progressive
What have you been doing lately? Have you been working out? Have you been studying? Have you been sleeping well? July’s Grammar Lesson of the Month is the Present Perfect Progressive (also called the Present Perfect Continuous). Today we are reviewing the tense and one of the most common questions our students have when...
Post
Water idioms
Summer is here! Although some argue that it is always summer in California, today marks the official first day of summer. Since we know that our students will be spending the next few months at the beach, we are celebrating with some water-related idioms. Enjoy! A fish out of water: a person who is...