Why would ANYONE want to visit the hottest place in North America . . . especially when it has the name “Death” in it? Death Valley’s name might sound a little morbid, but the scenery certainly is not: in fact, Death Valley is a place commonly visited by CISL students. But how do you get there?...
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...
Even before or after class, there are many opportunities for us to increase our English skills. How many of these daily activities are you doing? Try one or two and notice how much quicker your English improves! 1. Change your phone and social media accounts to English. How many times a day do you access sites...
Have you ever wondered what winter is like in California? The CISL Junior Program in San Francisco offers students the chance to experience a month in one of California’s most iconic cities, and we pack the student schedule with a tremendous amount of activities! The following list describes a typical week for students during the Winter 2016 program....
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...
Are you interested in improving your English outside of the CISL classroom? Listen to Serial, the most downloaded podcast to date! This podcast, which is about a real-life crime committed in 1999 in the United States, is an excellent (and fascinating) way to practice your English listening skills. Read our overview of the podcast to...
