2009 Showbook Berkeley

Language Studies International, Berkeley Showbook 2009

Learn and live the language

TABLE OF CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION TO LSI BERKELEY Experience Berkeley In and Around Berkeley Inside LSI Berkeley Reasons for Choosing LSI Berkeley Facilities and Neighborhood

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

STUDENTS’ ARRIVAL Orientation Day Welcome First Day Schedule

LSI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARRIVAL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER • • • •

San Francisco International Airport Airport Transfer Bart Fares

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION • • • • •

Public Transit Amtrak Bus Bicycle Car

ACCOMMODATION Homestay Program, Student Residences, Hotels.

INTRODUCTION Scenic overlooks include the view of the San Francisco Bay and the hills of Grizzly Peak. Acres of regional parks are also available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Berkeley, home of the first University of California campus, is a colorful and friendly student-oriented city that lies just across the bay from San Francisco. Located in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area affords a wealth of famous attractions and tourist sites. Berkeley itself has beautiful parks, great restaurants and shopping, and the attractions of San Francisco are just a short bus or train ride away. To the North and West is the Gold Country, where gold was discovered in 1849, and the Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks are just a few hours drive away.

As a college town, Berkeley has everything to meet your needs when you need to study or take a break for some R&R!

With the University of California-Berkeley among the United States’ most liberal universities, the city is not short of diversity and freethinking minds! Berkeley is historically known for respecting diversity and challenging close-minded people to broaden their opinions.

Activists maintain a strong presence in the city. Their causes range, as do their forms of self-expression. Exposure to a variety of cultures and ways of thinking will give you insight into how much of a melting pot Berkeley truly is.

There are plenty of adventures to be had in Berkeley. Locals are known for their open selfexpression and diverse approach to having a good time! Downtown hosts a variety of theatrical performances, demonstrations, and student activities.

Berkeley residents support a wide variety of eclectic tastes and opinions. This Peace Wall is a product of locals’ efforts to promote harmony both at home and abroad.

As you explore, visit one of the many wonderful restaurants or cafes sprawled throughout the city. You are sure to find something that matches your taste.

IN AND AROUND BERKELEY Cafes and restaurants offer cuisines and atmospheres to serve the range of tastes that gather in this city. With venues for quiet study, a caffeine jolt, or get together with friends, local eateries cater to all of your student needs. The Daily Californian, the local student-run newspaper, connects the public to local happenings and news, relevant to the community. Published Monday through Friday, the newspaper retains its importance both for its media coverage and history as the first independent campus paper in the country. The Best of Berkeley is an extension of this paper and serves as a city guide and local arts website. In the immediate area one can enjoy such attractions as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, the artist community of Sausalito and Alcatraz Island. The Bay Area is also the home of Silicon Valley, heart of the computer industry as well as many biomedical companies. Within a few hours drive there is also the famous California Wine Country, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach as well as Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.

Traveling is made easy by the variety of public transportation available in the city. From Berkeley, you can take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to San Francisco. In less than 30 minutes, you will arrive in the heart of San Francisco. Once there, the city’s famous cable cars will handle all the hills for you as you do your sightseeing!

INSIDE LSI BERKELEY Confidence building: We use a variety of tools to help the students practice everyday language. Location: We are in the center of town.

REASONS FOR CHOOSING LSI BERKELEY Flexibility: LSI is large enough to offer program options and small enough to care for each student. Multi-cultural: In 2008 we welcomed students from 30 countries across Asia, Europe, South and North Americas and the Middle East. This benefits every student.

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

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

LOCATION LSI is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Berkeley and is an easy walk from the University of California at Berkeley, California’s top ranking public university. Dining, entertainment, shopping, major transportation routes, and many major attractions are also easily accessible from our Center Street location.

RANGE AND FLEXIBILITY 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 San Diego 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.

INTERNATIONAL ATMOSPHERE We have had students from 30 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.

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.

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. 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, student residences or hotels. All accommodation options are carefully selected to ensure their quality and safety.

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 multimedia 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.

ACTIVITIES The LSI program includes a busy calendar of social activities for students to enjoy in their free time. The city abounds with restaurants, cinemas, cafes, and bookshops, thanks to its large student population from UC-Berkeley and the BART provides easy access to many Bay Area attractions. Visits to places such as the Wine Country and the Monterey Peninsula are easily arranged. Students will find many chances to meet new friends and practice their English skills at the same time.

FACILITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD LSI Berkeley is only a short walk from the UC-Berkeley campus. There is a range of activities in the downtown area. Local establishments include many comfortable and unique restaurants, cafes, pubs, and boutiques. One of two downtown stops on the BART, “Downtown Berkeley” is a 2-minute walk from LSI. Busses stop along Shattuck Avenue, the main street in downtown. For access to the Bay Area, the BART is available. LSI’s main office can be found on the second floor of a modern twostory office building on Center Street. We offer free Internet service to students and are Wi-Fi capable. 14 computers are in our Student Computer Labs.

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.

Students have access to a microwave, refrigerator, and toaster oven in our kitchen and can bring food to the atrium to eat. 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.

LSI COURSES “FLEXIBLE AND TAILORED” LSI offers a range of quality programs for any need and any schedule. For example: We offer both intensive and semiintensive programs. We provide courses from one week to 48 weeks. Whether students need General English, Business English, or preparation programs for TOEFL or TOEIC exams, we offer it.

Please note that, as is true of all public buildings in California, there is no smoking allowed in the building. As of 2008 there is no smoking allowed in downtown Berkeley.

Executives looking for tailored English for Business classes should look no further than LSI. LSI provides the answer!

MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS AT LSI BERKELEY LSI INTENSIVE 30 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.

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

LSI STANDARD 20

EXECUTIVE COURSES

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 Elementary to Intermediate Levels. 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”.

ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS Intermediate to Advanced Levels. This class can be the afternoon portion of either an Intensive 30 course, or the ISY 30 program. 10 lessons per week 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.

MULTI-CENTRE COURSE:

MINI GROUP Intermediate to Advanced Levels. English for Business or Professional People. This Intensive seminar includes general grammar and skills with a focus on negotiations, presentations and meetings relevant in business and non-business situations. This program is 30 lessons per week and is limited to 5 students.

ONE-TO-ONE This is ideal for students who have very specific needs that they would like LSI to concentrate on.

9-DAY COMPACT This executive program is for all those with exacting language needs that must be met quickly.

LSI EXAM PREPARATION COURSES

TOEFL (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

CAMBRIDGE EXAM PREPARATION 10 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 Berkeley offers preparatory courses for the Cambridge FCE, CAE, 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) 10 lessons per week - Intermediate to Advanced Levels.

10 lessons per week - Intermediate to Advanced Levels This class can be the afternoon portion of either 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.

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.

TABLE OF APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS: 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

100

Beginner

1.5 - 1

KET

220

ORIENTATION DAY

LSI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

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 Berkeley. 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 30 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.

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 – 4:00 pm: Standard 20 students are free to explore the city. 1:50 pm – 4:00 pm: Intensive 30 students will begin the afternoon portion of their course.

Activities include trips to museums, concerts, dance festivals, world music festivals, baseball games, soccer, other sporting events, and seasonal activities for holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. Additionally, there are party nights and dinners, pub crawls, walks, visits to markets, and wine tastings locally.

ARRIVAL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER

FARES

SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT (SFO)

BART tickets are like debit cards and deduct based on mileage traveled. Therefore, weekly or monthly passes are not available. All BART stations sell tickets through automatic ticket machines that accept nickels, dimes and quarters as well as $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills. Credit cards may be used at all stations in select machines. The BART covers the entire Bay Area and both affordable and accommodating. Trip Planners and Fare Calculators are available at http://www.bart.gov/, the BART website.

INTERNATIONAL

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

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 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. Additional fees may apply for early/late arrival & out of county destinations.

BART (BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT) The BART has a bus available for transport from the SFO to the nearest BART station. Students can ride the BART from San Francisco to the Downtown Berkeley stop, one block away from LSI-Berkeley. The cost is minimal and the location is convenient for easy transfer.

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSIT Berkeley’s transit system includes city buses and the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).

AMTRAK Amtrak is a national train service company that offers transportation across the United States. Its Capitol Corridor route runs from San Jose to Auburn with many stops in between, Berkeley among them. The trains run daily and prices vary depending on where you are traveling. For accessibility information, call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

BUS

ACCOMMODATION

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District is the largest bus-only transportation agency in the United States.

All of LSI Berkeley’s accommodations are carefully selected to ensure that they meet our quality standards.

AC Transit buses connect with nine other public and private bus systems, 21 BART stations, six Amtrak stations, and three ferry terminals. With a 364 square mile service area, AC Transit includes service to Berkeley/Richmond and downtown San Francisco via the Bay Bridge, among other Bay Area cities.

HOMESTAY

BICYCLE 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 BART part of the way. Bicycles can be purchased either new or used throughout the city. Many people love to ride their bikes downtown after school in order to relax and keep fit.

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

The majority of students who attend classes at LSI Berkeley 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 Berkeley 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.

Thank you for choosing LSI Berkeley!

STUDENT RESIDENCES Student Residences are more suitable for an independent student, who is looking for clean, basic accommodation at an economic price.

LANGUAGE STUDIES INTERNATIONAL LSI BERKELEY 2015 Center Street Berkeley, CA 94704

All students must be 18+ unless otherwise noted. For most options students can book through LSI or directly with the residence.

Tel: 510 841-4695 Fax: 510 841-3015 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.LSI-America.com or www.LSI.edu

--- Accredited --The best advantage of that option is to live with other students from all over the world and share your experience and culture, as well as practice language.

HOTELS We also have a selection of hotels available. Please contact LSI Berkeley for more information.

--- Member ---

We hope to see you soon!