Founded in

1972

School Size

Medium

Internet

Internet and free Wi-fi

Location

Market Street

Standard English Course

The Standard English Course offers an integrated general English curriculum, in order to develop your English communication skills effectively.

The course not only focuses on your General English skills improvement, but also will develop your confidence communicating in English outside of the classroom. That way, you can continue to use and improve your English even after you leave the school.

Each class unit presents a wide variety of conversational activities: discussion, listening comprehension, idiomatic expression and role-playing, as well as reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing exercises.

Intensive English Course

In addition to the General English curriculum, the additional lessons in the Intensive Course curriculum provide further opportunities to focus on specific areas of need.

In the afternoon the student will receive classes focusing on specific areas such as:

• Pronunciation
• Vocabulary development
• Writing skills and idiomatic expressions
• Discussion on Current events

Business English Course

This program is suitable for students who want to develop necessary communication skills for an international business environment.

In addition to the General English curriculum in the morning the student will receive Business English classes that focus on:

• Making introdutions
• Business vocabulary
• Business etiquette
• Business issues
• Telephone skills
• Negotiating skills
• Meetings and presentation skills
• E-mail, letters and correspondence
• Plus additional areas specific to international business

Combination Course

In addition to the General English curriculum the additional private lessons provide a more customized program tailored to suit the specific goals and needs of each student.

In the morning, you will take part in the General English classes in a small group (max of 8 students/class). Each class unit presents a wide variety of conversational activities: discussion, listening comprehension, idiomatic expression and role-playing, as well as reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing exercises.

In the afternoon, you will receive private lessons for either 5 or 10 lessons per week. Private lessons are the most effective method of language learning as the focus is entirely on the individual's specific needs. Private lessons ensure that you make the maximum progress quickly. The teacher's attention is focused entirely on you. Here are some example of the private lesson curriculum:

• Business conversation practices (i.e. small talk, socializing, phone calls etc.)
• Interview preparation
• Making presentations
• Accent reduction
• Specific exam preparation

Cambridge Preparation Course

Many companies throughout the world accept Cambridge Exam results as proof of your ability to communicate successfully both in written and spoken English.

CISL offers an intensive preparation program for FCE (First Certificate in English ) and CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) examinations. You can take the official exam at the end of your course when you are well prepared to achieve your best result.

TOEFL Preparation Course

The TOEFL examination is recognized throughout the world by universities and businesses as a measure of English proficiency. It is also required by most U.S. colleges and universities for the admission of international students.

CISL offers a specific TOEFL preparation program that helps students to develop the skills needed to do well in the exam.

Practice tests will be given during the course so that students can see their progress and can detect specific areas that need to be improved before the exam date.

One-to-One Course

Private lessons are the most effective method of language learning as the focus is entirely on the individual's specific needs.

Private lessons ensure that you make the maximum progress quickly. The teacher's attention is focused entirely on you.

Prior to your arrival, students will be asked to fill out an English Placement Test and/or Needs Analysis sheet. Also, on the first day, the Academic Manager will conduct a brief test (i.e. oral interview and listening comprehension) to determine your English proficiency level before starting the lessons.

Your Learning program will be set with the language Instructor(s) on the first day to determine specific language goals. You and your instructor will decide together what strategies and assessment methods will be used to reach your objectives.

All CISL's instructors are qualified and experienced to determine the best approach for a customized lesson that will be relevant and challenging for you.

Tutorial Programs 1:1

Premier English courses are designed for ambitious learners, executives, and professionals.

Tutorial lessons (private lessons) are the most effective method of language learning as they allow the focus to be on the student's exact needs, career objectives and prefered learning style.

Quatorial Programs 1:4

The Quatorial programs are based on a balanced practice of various language skills in group of up to 4 participants: building vocbulary and spoken language skills, improving analysis of written texts, coaching in writing letters, emails, reports, and giving presentations.

Masterclass (12 students maximum)

This class allows for a guided self-learning and provides extra support to help students with difficult linguistic points. The teacher, in charge of a maximum of a 12 clients, sets learning projects which he/she monitors on a one-on-one basis for five to ten minutes at a time. The teacher thus acts as a catalyst for individual study, encouraging learner autonomy.

Spoken Performance Workshop (12 students maximum)

This forum for successful oral communication builds confidence in fluency across a range of contexts and functions after specific "warm-up" activities involving pronunciation, vocal control for tone and other elements of spoken language. In this session, the teacher acts as a prompter and evaluator.

Host family

Staying with an American host family is the best way to develop your day-to-day conversational English skills. It helps you to practise new English expressions and phrases along with what you learnt in the classroom.

In order to maximize the opportunities for speaking the language, CISL has a policy of never allowing two students of the same mother tongue to stay with any one host family.

Each student has a private bedroom. Meals are included, either breakfast only or breakfast and dinner, 7 days per week.

Host families are carefully selected and monitored according to strict criteria established by CISL. Homes must be comfortable, the families welcoming and, most importantly, CISL host families are genuinely interested in receiving students and helping them to develop fluency in English.

Ansonia Residence

The Ansonia Residence is ideally located just 3 blocks away from the school.  It is a great place to meet other like-minded International students in the city.  

Students live on the upper floors of the building while the lower floors are occupied by an International youth hostal. Residents can join in with the tours, activities and parties which take place at the hostal below.

Sheldon Hotel

The Sheldon Hotel is conveniently located two blocks away from San Francisco's famous Union Square. It offers the perfect environment for international students looking for both short and long term stays.

The building is in close proximity to all public transportation and centrally located near the main attractions of Downtown San Francisco. CISL San Francisco is only a 10 minute walk away.