2009 Lsi San Diego Showbook

Language Studies International, San Diego Showbook 2009

Learn and live the language

TABLE OF CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION LSI SAN DIEGO Experience San Diego In and Around the City Inside LSI San Diego Reasons for Choosing LSI San Diego Overview Facilities and Neighborhood

LSI COURSES Most Popular Courses at LSI • International School Year • LSI Intensive 30 • LSI Standard 20 Mini Group 9 Day Compact One to One Cambridge Exam Preparation English for Business TOEFL and TOEIC

STUDENTS’ ARRIVAL Orientation Day Welcome First Day Schedule

LSI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARRIVAL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER • • • •

San Diego International Airport Airport Transfer Taxi Bus

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION • • • • • • •

Public Transit Fares Coaster and Amtrak Bus Coronado Ferry Bicycle Car

ACCOMMODATION Homestay Program, Hotels , Residence Hotels, and shared Apartments

INTRODUCTION San Diego is a beautiful coastal city located in Southern California just 20 minutes from Mexico. It is known for its warm climate that remains moderate throughout the year. Seascapes, beaches, mountains, and deserts make up the varied landscape of this area, making San Diego one of the premier vacation destinations for people worldwide. San Diego is a very easy-going city with spectacular scenery and many entertainment possibilities.

Voted as having the second most perfect weather in the world and with a multitude of outdoor adventure opportunities, San Diego is definitely one of many people’s favorite places to visit. It is also nice that while you are out enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather you can feel comfortable knowing that you are in the safest big city in the United States.

With seventy miles of beaches and plenty of sun to enjoy it in, “America’s Finest City” is sure to be a place you will remember for years to come!

EXPERIENCE SAN DIEGO San Diegans are always out trying to find things to see and to do. Since we are just south of Hollywood in Los Angeles, the acting and performing in San Diego theatres is fabulous! There are also many opportunities to see sporting events such as the Thunderboat Regatta at Mission Bay or Supercross at Qualcomm Stadium.

There are many great places to visit in the area, including Balboa Park that is just a short walk from the heart of downtown and LSI. Full of museums, gardens, artist colonies, fountains, walking trails, architecture, and gorgeous views of the San Diego Harbor and downtown area, this park is known as one of the favorite spots for both locals and visitors alike. While visiting the park, many people enjoy stopping by the world famous San Diego Zoo. Known for its lush foliage, unique and rare inhabitants, and number of animal species, the zoo is truly a site to see! It is a wonderful place to walk around and take pictures.

there provide tons of winter entertainment in the form of skiing, snowboarding, and tubing during the months of October through March.

Attending concerts and festivals are some of the favorite activities of San Diegans, and it is never hard to find some of your favorite artists playing in town. There are popular yearly festivals to go to as well, such as Street Scene, a three-day concert series.

One of the world’s largest salt lakes is located near San Diego as well. Known as the Salton Sea, it is famous for its tilapia fishing and the sand dunes that surround the area. Many people enjoy riding four-wheelers or motorbikes through this world famous sandy area known as Ocotillo Wells.

IN AND AROUND SAN DIEGO The city of San Diego has much to offer its visitors. Since the weather is so nice, there is a wide variety of outdoor activities that people can participate in. There are few other cities in the world where you can go surfing on the beach or golfing at Torrey Pines and within an hour or two be in the mountains snowboarding or skiing. It is certainly a unique place to visit! Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Beach….there are so many to choose from! Head to Mission Beach for some beach volleyball and a ride on the wooden rollercoaster or take some friends to La Jolla Cove for a picnic along the rocky shore and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. If mountains and deserts are what you prefer, you can visit Cuyamaca State Park in eastern San Diego County for hiking and mountain biking. You can also go to the gold mining town of Julian to enjoy some of their famous apple pie! North of San Diego there are many opportunities as well. Los Angeles is only 2 1/2 hours away, so you can go there to visit Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and the Santa Monica Pier. The mountains just east of

With the variety of activities and landscapes that San Diego has to choose from you there is always some sort of adventure that you can enjoy.

INSIDE LSI SAN DIEGO

OVERVIEW QUALITY The curriculum, weekly schedules and expert teaching are all focused on meeting the needs of students and executives.

REASONS FOR CHOOSING LSI SAN DIEGO •

Flexibility: LSI is large enough to offer program options and small enough to care for each student.

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Multi-cultural: In 2008 we welcomed students from 30 countries across Asia, Europe, S. America and the Middle East. This benefits every student.

LOCATION LSI is conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Diego and is an easy walk from dining, entertainment, shopping, major transportation routes, and many major attractions.

Nationality Mix

RANGE AND FLEXIBILITY

Europe

Asia

South America

North America

Middle East

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Value for money: The goal of LSI is simply to provide students with the best value possible. We do this by tailoring programs to our students needs.

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Progress: We help students to identify their weaker skills and then support their improvement.

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Confidence building: We use a variety of tools to help the students practice everyday language.

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Location: We are in the centre of town.

Between the range of courses we offer and the flexible weekly schedules we provide, we are confident that LSI can meet the needs of any student or business executive. In addition, LSI Berkeley and LSI Boston follow the same program. This makes it easy to study at either of these schools without any additional fees. LSI New York is on the same program as well, but students may need to pay additional fees since their pricing is different.

ASSESSMENT During their first morning at LSI, students are welcomed before being assessed in their current skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. Following this session, our Director of Studies will create a “Personal Study Plan” with each long-term student before placing them into the class level which will give them the most benefit. Regular review of project work, weekly test results, and personal attention all help to improve students’ English skills.

Teacher development is very important at LSI. Training sessions are held regularly to ensure that teachers know the most recent trends in TESOL.

MULTIPLE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS LSI has many different accommodation options available to students. Students may choose between homestay, hotel rooms, residence hotels, or shared apartments. All accommodation options are carefully selected to ensure their quality and safety.

INTERNATIONAL ATMOSPHERE We have had students from 31 countries this year. Studying at LSI gives students a wonderful chance to interact not only with Americans, but also with professionals and other students from around the world. Because of this interaction, students develop a better understanding of other cultures and learn more about themselves and each other.

STAFF AND TEACHERS Students will find our staff friendly, supportive, helpful, and happy to listen. Every teacher at LSI is fully qualified, experienced, and professional.

ACTIVITIES The LSI program includes a busy calendar of social activities for students to enjoy in their free time. Whether students would like to go camping and hiking or cave kayaking and scuba diving, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Students will find many chances to meet new friends and practice their English skills at the same time.

CERTIFICATE Upon the successful completion of their course, students receive our “Certificate of Completion”. Signed by the School Director and the Director of Studies, it indicates the students’ English level, as well as the duration of their program.

INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES LSI’s goal in our general English classes is to give students the opportunity to practice their English. To make the learning process enjoyable, we use a range of multi-media tools with a variety of teaching techniques. LSI wants to give students the chance to learn English in the practical way so that they can confidently use these skills in the future.

lunch, or enjoy some time with friends. Up-to-date audio/visual equipment, software, and learning materials all help our teachers to deliver lessons that are challenging, creative, and practical for the future. Please note that, as is true of all public buildings in California, there is no smoking allowed in the building. We ask that students please step outside and at least 20 feet away from all building entries in order to smoke. Balboa Park, which is only a five-minute walk from LSI, is a wonderful place for students to relax and unwind. The San Diego Harbor, which is fifteen minutes away, is also a nice place to sit or walk and enjoy the beautiful San Diego scenery. Also, minutes away from LSI is Little Italy, where students can go to study in a café or eat some wonderful Italian food.

FACILITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD

LSI

LSI COURSES “FLEXIBLE AND TAILORED” LSI San Diego is only a short walk from the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego. There are many comfortable and unique restaurants, cafes, clubs, and shops to visit there, especially in Horton Plaza. The Sante Fe Transit Station is just minutes away, and there are many different bus stops along Broadway, the main street in downtown. The trolley stops in many places a few blocks up from Broadway. This offers easy access to other areas of the city and to LSI. LSI can be found on the third floor of a modern office building in downtown San Diego on Fifth Avenue. We offer free Internet service to students and are WiFi capable. We also have Skype on all 10 of the computers in our Student Computer Lab. Our classrooms are all decorated brightly, and we have a comfortable Student Lounge with a microwave, hot pot, refrigerator, and toaster where students can relax, eat

LSI offers a range of quality programs for any need and any schedule. For example: We offer both intensive and semi-intensive programs. We provide courses from one week to 48 weeks. Whether students need General English, Business English, or preparation programs for Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE, or BEC, TOEFL, or TOEIC exams, we offer it. Executives looking for tailored English for Business classes should look no further than LSI. LSI provides the answer!

MULTI-CENTRE COURSE: Students are welcome to share

MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS AT LSI SAN DIEGO • LSI INTENSIVE 30:

their time between LSI San Diego, LSI Berkeley, LSI Boston, and/or LSI New York (where additional costs apply).

EXECUTIVE COURSE

LSI invites students to select as many weeks as they need from 1 to 48 weeks. As a result, this 30 lesson per week program is perfect for students who want the same afternoon options as the ISY 30 but need less than 24 weeks study.

9 Day Compact

• LSI STANDARD 20:

This is Ideal for students who have very specific needs that they would like LSI to concentrate on.

This 20 lesson per week program follows the same morning schedule as the ISY 30 and Intensive 30. As a semi-intensive course, this is perfect for students who need integrated skill without afternoon classes.

• INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL YEAR (ISY) PROGRAMS: LSI understands that students want a quality program that offers flexibility and value for money. The fact that over 20% of our students return to LSI or refer their friends shows how good this program is. The discounted ISY program is ONLY available for 24, 30, 36, and 48-week programs. To help students design a full time English program targeting their individual needs, LSI has included a “Personal Study Plan”. ¾

“Personal Study Plan” – Available to long-term, full time Intensive 30 and ISY 30 students.

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Afternoon options – Include Everyday English, Vocabulary Building, Business English, Exam Preparation, and others, depending on the time of year.

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Exam preparation – include Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE, and BEC Vantage & higher, TOEFL & TOEIC programs.

Example: A typical “Personal Study Plan” might look like the one below. LSI will help students to build their plan.

This executive program is for all those with exacting language needs that must be met quickly. One-to-One

English for Business Intermediate to Advanced Levels 10 lessons per week as an afternoon elective course, following a cycle of 12 weeks, each one dealing with a specific area of business (e.g. leadership, marketing, negotiating, team building, etc.). Each of these business areas will be practiced with special focus on speaking and listening skills. Also available as a morning Mini Group course of 20 lessons per week for 1-4 weeks.

CAMBRIDGE EXAM PREPARATION 30 lessons per week Intermediate to Advanced Levels The Cambridge programs cover a wide range of academic and vocational topics, including examinations specially designed for the international market. LSI San Diego offers preparatory courses for the Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE, and BEC exams, which are internationally recognized as standards of

competency in English. The programs last up to twelve weeks and combine theory with practical skills.

TOEIC (TEST OF ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION) Pre-Intermediate to Advanced TOEIC measures the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. It may be used when applying for jobs or for entry into certain international study programs. In this course, students join morning classes for integrated skills and attend afternoon electives chosen in consultation with the Director of Studies.

LSI Level / Exam Equivalency Chart Class Level

Skill Level

IELTS

Cambridge Level PBT

TOEFL CBT iBT

TOEIC

106

Advanced

9+

CPE

105

Post-Inter.

9

CPE

670

293

120

920

104

Upper-Inter.

8.5 - 8

CAE

635

272

110

905

104

Upper-Inter.

7.5 - 7

CAE

600

250

100

810

103

Inter.

6.5 - 6

FCE

530

197

71

660

103

Inter.

5.5 - 5

FCE

460

140

48

520

102

Pre-Inter.

4.5 - 4

PET

400

97

32

380

102

Pre-Inter.

3.5 - 3

PET

101

Elem.

2.5 - 2

KET

101

Beginner

1.5 - 1

KET

220

TABLE OF APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS:

TOEFL (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 10 lessons per week - Intermediate to Advanced This class can be either the afternoon portion of an Intensive 30 course, or the ISY 30 program. TOEFL is a standard test for entry to colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The class prepares students for four components of the examination. Students entering this course will join morning classes for integrated skills, and then attend classes each afternoon (Monday through Thursday) specifically for TOEFL iBT instruction.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL YEAR 20 & 30 Beginner to Intermediate Levels (Also see Page 9) Designed to meet the needs of tomorrow's international professionals, this course lasts 24, 30, 36 or 48 weeks. This course is comprised of 20 or 30 lessons per week and gives students the chance to build a very solid foundation in English. It also provides the opportunity to study a variety of electives, including our preparation courses for Cambridge, TOEFL and TOEIC exams, or the English for Business course. The key word in this program is flexibility, accomplished by creating students’ “Personal Study Plans”. Here is a testimonial from one of our recent graduates: “I loved my classes, the classrooms, and the fact that we all learned a lot! Classes were very interesting, and the lessons were varied and personal. I really enjoyed lessons with my teacher, and all of my classmates were really nice!” (Christoph P., Switzerland)

ORIENTATION DAY Welcome! On the first day of school, new students will be evaluated for level placement and given an overview of our programs. From the results of the placement test and oral evaluation given before the orientation, students are placed into the appropriate level for them. In the classroom, teachers use a communicative approach to teach English. The students develop language skills which they can use in the situations they find themselves in while living in San Diego.

LSI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

LSI organizes social events during the week as well as many weekend tours and excursions. These activities give students the chance to appreciate other cultures within the ‘LSI family’. In 2008, we welcomed 31 nationalities. The entire curriculum is structured to follow a progression from level to level. New skills are introduced, while existing skills are reinforced through listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST DAY 9:10 am: Welcome, introduction of staff, and registration takes place. 9:30 am – 10:50 am: Placement test 10:50 am – 11:10 am: Break 11:10 am – 12:50 pm: Orientation 12:50 pm – 1:50 pm: Lunch 1:50 pm – 4:05 pm: Standard 20 students are free to explore the city. 1:50 pm – 4:05 pm: Intensive 30 students will begin the afternoon portion of their course.

Activities include trips to the theatre, cinema, musicals, concerts, museums, art galleries, sporting events, and amusement parks. Weekend trips include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and many more. Some of the tourist venues within 20 minutes of LSI San Diego are as follows: the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Balboa Park, Padres baseball at Petco Park, Seaport Village, San Diego Harbor, Old Town National Park, Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego beaches, La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, Birch’s Aquarium, Chargers football at Qualcomm Stadium, the Gaslamp District, Horton Plaza, and much more!

representative. Please advise students to look carefully for a sign with his/her name on it. If for some reason the student does not see our representative, he/she should wait in the Baggage Claim area until the representative is located.

TAXI Taking a taxi in San Diego is very safe and simple. Outside of each airport terminal there will be taxis waiting to transport passengers to their destinations. The approximate cost per trip is $20 to $60.

BUS

ARRIVAL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT After exiting the plane, students should simply proceed to the Baggage Claim Area to pick up their bags from the baggage carousel corresponding to their flight number. If their flight had a connection, they will have already gone through customs and immigration at the airport in the US city.

The San Diego bus system offers transportation from each airport terminal. There are signs marked with a bus symbol that say MTS Bus Stop on them where people can stand and wait for the bus. The average cost per trip is $2.25. See the next page for more information.

From the airport, there are three ways for students to reach their host family, residence hotel, or hotel.

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSIT San Diego’s transit system includes city buses, the trolley, and the Coaster (to name a few).

FARES

AIRPORT TRANSFER If the student has booked an airport transfer, and LSI has received accurate flight arrival information with the name of the airline, flight number, and arrival time at least one week prior to arrival, LSI will arrange for the student to be met at the Baggage Claim by an LSI

Each trip costs approximately $2.25 cash. Students can purchase one-day tickets, four-day tickets, or one-month tickets. If passengers pay cash for a ticket they can transfer between the bus and the trolley using the Transfer Ticket, for an additional fee. Passengers must get a transfer where they first pay their fare.

BUS/ TROLLEY Bus and trolley routes cover the entire San Diego area, making it easy to reach major attractions and destinations. The average cost per ride is $2.25, and

exact change is required. Buses and trolleys can both accommodate bicycles at no additional charge. If you must change from one bus to another in order to reach your destination, it is possible to get a Transfer Ticket in order to save money. You can plan your trip beforehand by visiting www.sdcommute.com.

Coronado. It departs from the Broadway Pier every hour on the hour from 9 am to 9 pm and on Friday and Saturday at 10 pm. From Coronado, it departs every hour on the half-hour from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm and on Friday and Saturday at 10:30 pm. The trip takes about 10 minutes and costs $2.75 per one-way trip. Bicycles may also be taken on the ferry for an additional cost of $0.50.

CAR There are many car rental agencies in San Diego where short or long-term economy rentals are available.

THE COASTER The Coaster is the name San Diegans use for the train system that runs up the coast from San Diego to Oceanside. It is available every day of the week except Sunday and costs roughly $4.00 to $5.50 one-way. One-trip, two-trip, and ten-trip tickets may be purchased at any station; monthly passes are available at the Transit Store in downtown San Diego. North of Oceanside, the train system becomes Metrolink. This is a separate company that offers travel on every day of the week throughout Los Angeles. Fares may vary depending on where you want to go.

AMTRAK Amtrak is a national train service company that offers transportation between San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as throughout the country. The trains run daily and prices vary depending on where you are traveling to and from.

BICYCLE

Renters must be at least 25 years old (21 at some agencies) and have a valid driver's license and major credit card. Remember that driving laws in California may differ from the ones in your home country. Please be aware of these differences and make sure that you feel comfortable with them before renting a car.

ACCOMMODATION All of LSI San Diego's accommodations are carefully selected to ensure that they meet our quality standards.

HOMESTAY PROGRAM

Many people, including some of our teachers and students, commute to school by bike. It is economical and sometimes faster than any other means of transportation. You can even bike part of the way and then take the bus and/or trolley part of the way. Bicycles can be purchased either new or used throughout the city. Many people love to ride their bikes around Balboa Park or the San Diego Harbor after school in order to relax and keep fit.

CORONADO FERRY The Coronado Ferry runs from the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego to the Coronado Ferry Landing in

The majority of students who attend classes at LSI San Diego choose to live with American host families during

their stay. The greatest advantage of a homestay experience is the opportunity to communicate and interact with Americans outside of the classroom. Our hosts provide a comfortable private room, completely furnished with all the amenities of a home. We offer two types of homestay to our students: a half-board program that includes breakfast and dinner and a bed and breakfast program that includes breakfast only. Hosts are within 50 minutes commute of LSI San Diego by public transportation. Our Homestay Coordinator carefully selects all host families to ensure that each student’s stay will be comfortable, enjoyable and that students will be made to feel at home and safe. Our families’ homes range in size from condominiums to larger homes. Americans are very good about welcoming students in as a part of their family, so students should not be surprised if their host encourages them to join them in the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Most hosts will involve students in menu selection and some hosts are able to accommodate special dietary requirements.

HOTELS AND RESIDENCE HOTELS We also have a selection of hotels and residence hotels available, as well as some shared apartments . Please contact LSI San Diego for more information.

Thank you for choosing LSI San Diego!

Language Studies International LSI San Diego 1706 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor San Diego, CA 92101 United States Tel: (619) 234-2881 Fax: (619) 234-2883 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.LSI-America.com or www.LSI.edu

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