What to buy your host family for Christmas
Today on the CISL Blog, we are answering a question we often receive from our students: “What should I buy my host family for Christmas?” Giving gifts can be rewarding and fun, but it can also be...
View ArticleRent a car in SF with “Getaround!” It’s so easy!
By Cornelia Ineichen, CISL SF Student Usually, as a student in a foreign country, you don’t own a car there. Of course, San Francisco offers a lot of possibilities with public transport, taxis etc....
View ArticleFive New Year’s Resolutions for CISL SD Students
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...
View ArticlePhrasal Verbs with “GET” for Public Transportation + SD and SF Public...
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...
View ArticleCISL Jr. Program Activities for Winter 2016
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...
View ArticleGrammar lesson of the month: using the Imperative voice for giving directions
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,...
View ArticleNorthern California vs. Southern California slang
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,...
View ArticleCA English Student Life: Vocab for Wine Tasting
Most picture Napa when they think of California’s world-famous, award-winning wines, but the entire state’s coast is filled with wineries that students living in both San Diego and San Francisco have...
View ArticleFun, sun, and sightseeing: what to expect as a CISL Winter Jr Program student...
What is life like for a CISL San Diego Junior Program student? Three words come to mind: adventurous, fun, and busy! CISL organizes after-school activities for its Junior Program students every day of...
View ArticleHow to volunteer while studying English in California + vocabulary for...
Volunteering is a great way to help those in need and become involved in your community. For an English learner, it also offers an excellent opportunity to practice speaking English! Perhaps this is...
View ArticleThe 5 best San Francisco Instagram accounts
Are you an Instagram lover? With over 400 million users worldwide, who isn’t??? Instagram is an excellent way to connect with people from your community (and learn a little more about your new...
View ArticleGrammar Lesson of the Month: The Modal “MUST” + 5 Things CISL Students Must...
A New Year means New Year’s Resolutions: do you have any for 2016? When you are studying English in San Diego or San Francisco, there are so many fun resolutions to make! For January’s Grammar Lesson...
View ArticleFive Things You Never Knew About Americans and the USA
Do you enjoy helping people, love pizza, and possibly have some British heritage? Then you just might be American! Perhaps it’s not that simple, but these five facts about the USA and Americans (as...
View ArticleGrammar Lesson of the Month: Three Word Phrasal Verbs + Things to Look...
It’s Phrasal Verb February! To “celebrate,” we are taking a look at three-word phrasal verbs that are commonly used in English. What is a three-word phrasal verb? To understand, we must first look at...
View ArticleHaircut Vocabulary + Hair Salons in SF
If you’re studying English in San Francisco for more than a few weeks, you are probably going to need a haircut! Many people have close relationships with their hair stylist, and going to a new person...
View ArticleLanguage classes and love: newlyweds visit CISL, where they met!
CISL students don’t just receive the language skills needed to succeed: sometimes, they also find love! Recently, former CISL San Diego students Ho-jun and Eunyoung (both from Korea) stopped by...
View ArticleWhat to pack for CISL’s awesome Berkeley Juniors Program
Spring is nearly here, which means that summer is around the corner . . . and so are our CISL Junior Programs! Are you coming to California to study English at one of our camps for teens, like our...
View ArticleChoosing 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,...
View ArticleCareer English student success: Antonio’s experience with an SD real estate...
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...
View Article5 ways to unwind in SD + words for relaxing
After a long day of studying English at CISL, you need to relax a little . . . and the laid-back California culture is perfect for doing so! Here are some suggestions for ways to unwind: but first,...
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