If you ask a Californian, they will tell you that Northern California and Southern California are different worlds. Because California is such a large state, it is split by different climates, different cultures, and (of course) different language. Do you know the difference between Northern California and Southern California slang? While it is difficult to...
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...
What is trendy, serves delicious drinks, and is hidden? A speakeasy! Speakeasies are hidden bars, and they have become very popular in San Diego and San Francisco. To enter them, you must know someone who can make you a reservation, and the entrances are often hidden. Speakeasies are a fun way to spend an evening...
San Diego and San Francisco are incredible places to study English, and each city offers so many exciting activities that sometimes, it is hard to leave! But the mountains, beaches, charming towns, gorgeous nature, and fast-paced cities of California beckon. CISL students often take road trips while studying in SD or SF, and part of the...
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,...
San Diego and San Francisco both have impressive metro and bus systems . . . but do you know the correct phrasal verbs for buses, trains, metros, and subways? Get on, get off, get in: we agree with our students when they say that there are way too many phrasal verbs for public transportation! Not to...
English learners often feel frustrated with the Passive Voice because it has so many forms. Rather than looking at each form, we suggest learning the forms based on context: what can we use each type of the Passive Voice to express? Today on the CISL Blog, we are looking at three forms of the Passive that...
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,...
Are you studying English at CISL San Diego this year? If so, we have some recommendations for your list of 2015 resolutions: things you absolutely must do while living in SD! How many of these have you done? Five New Year’s Resolutions for CISL SD Students 1. Two words: American brunch It’s not scrambled eggs...
