Sales and Marketing Vocabulary for English Learners
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Sales and Marketing Vocabulary for English Learners

CISL is proud to offer students our Career English program, where students master business English and communication skills before spending time in an American company. Past students have experienced architecture, marketing, event planning, and even real estate through CISL! One of the most requested areas of interest for students is sales and marketing. Do you know...

YouTube Vocabulary + Awesome Videos of SD
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YouTube Vocabulary + Awesome Videos of SD

We can’t hide our excitement for San Diego. The stunning beaches, the sunny skies, the gorgeous Downtown, the trendy neighborhoods and the charming seaside towns . . . there’s a little of everything for everyone in SD! Just when we think we can’t get any more excited, we see beautiful footage of San Diego on...

Academic English: Writing a Paragraph + CISL’s EAP and Pathway
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Academic English: Writing a Paragraph + CISL’s EAP and Pathway

Are you an international student preparing to attend college in the United States? With CISL’s Pathway Program, students first attend CISL’s English for Academic Purposes Program and master the academic English skills necessary to succeed in the rigorous American classroom. Students then transfer to one of CISL’s esteemed Pathway Partner schools, such as Palomar College...

English for Engineers: Vocabulary for Dimensions
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English for Engineers: Vocabulary for Dimensions

English is quickly becoming the language of engineering, which is why CISL now offers the English for Engineers program. With this program, Upper Intermediate and Advanced students learn the skills necessary to help them succeed in an English speaking Engineering environment. Among other things, students learn: Language related to engineering (such as design, procedures, and...

English Tenses Used in Interviews
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English Tenses Used in Interviews

Interviews are always stressful, but they can be incredibly stressful when you are expected to speak in your non-native language. Before your next job interview, make sure that you master the English tenses used in interviews. English Tenses Used in Interviews The Simple Present Use the Simple Present to talk about general truths or states....

Exam Prep Writing: Beginning an Essay with an Effective Hook
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Exam Prep Writing: Beginning an Essay with an Effective Hook

Many writers (both native English speakers and English learners) agree that beginning the college essay is often the most difficult part. For English proficiency exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge FCE and CAE, this is certainly the case! Take a look at this sample TOEFL Agree/Disagree statement. How would you begin an essay? (For tips...

Christmas Pop Songs + Holiday Vocabulary
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Christmas Pop Songs + Holiday Vocabulary

The holiday season is here, and with it comes the traditions of this time of year: drinking eggnog, giving gifts, hanging stocking by the fireplace, ice skating, and of course decorating the tree! Another holiday tradition? Famous pop stars often produce a Christmas or holiday-themed album. Sometimes the songs are old favorites remade to fit...

Nicknames for Santa + the Origin of the Word “Nickname”
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Nicknames for Santa + the Origin of the Word “Nickname”

The holiday season means delicious foods, celebrations, decorations, and the appearance of a strange man in a red suit who flies through the air with eight reindeer. Christmas is indeed a strange holiday! To celebrate, we are taking a look at this iconic figure, Santa Claus, and his many nicknames. The name “Santa Claus” is...

Grammar Lesson of the Month: Irregular Verbs in Christmas poetry
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Grammar Lesson of the Month: Irregular Verbs in Christmas poetry

One of the most difficult aspects of learning English is the language’s irregular verbs. These verbs make it tough for students to correctly use grammatical structures that require a past tense or past participle verb, such as the Simple Past, the Present Perfect, or the Passive. Students spend hours practicing long irregular English verb lists,...

Novels for ESL Students + “Page” Idioms
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Novels for ESL Students + “Page” Idioms

What is one of the best ways to study English on your own? Read! CISL students often ask what novels they can read to improve their language skills. CISL teachers put together a list of some of their favorite books to read and teach. Try some of these and see how quickly your reading and...