2009 LSI San Diego Showbook

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Language Studies International, San Diego Showbook 2009

Learn and livethe language


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TABLE OF CONTENTS:INTRODUCTIONLSISAN DIEGOExperience San DiegoIn and Around the CityInside LSI San DiegoReasons for Choosing LSI San DiegoOverviewFacilities and Neighborhood

LSICOURSESMost Popular Courses at LSI

International School Year

LSI Intensive 30

LSI Standard 20

Mini Group9 Day CompactOne to OneCambridge Exam PreparationEnglish for BusinessTOEFL and TOEIC

STUDENTSARRIVALOrientation DayWelcomeFirst Day ScheduleLSISOCIAL ACTIVITIESARRIVAL AND AIRPORT TRANSFER San Diego International Airport

Airport Transfer

Taxi Bus

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION Public Transit

Fares

Coaster and Amtrak

Bus

Coronado Ferry

Bicycle

Car

ACCOMMODATIONHomestay Program, Hotels , Residence Hotels, and shared Apartments


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INTRODUCTIONSan Diego is a beautiful coastal city located in SouthernCalifornia just 20 minutes from Mexico. It is known forits warm climate that remains moderate throughout the

year. Seascapes, beaches, mountains, and desertsmake up the varied landscape of this area, making SanDiego one of the premier vacation destinations forpeople worldwide.San Diego is a very easy-going city with spectacularscenery and many entertainment possibilities.

There are many great places to visit in the area,including Balboa Park that is just a short walk from theheart of downtown and LSI. Full of museums, gardens,artist colonies, fountains, walking trails, architecture,and gorgeous views of the San Diego Harbor anddowntown area, this park is known as one of the favoritespots for both locals and visitors alike.

While visiting the park, many people enjoy stopping bythe world famous San Diego Zoo. Known for its lushfoliage, unique and rare inhabitants, and number ofanimal species, the zoo is truly a site to see! It is awonderful place to walk around and take pictures.

Voted as having the second most perfect weather in the world and with a multitude of outdoor adventureopportunities, San Diego is definitely one of manypeoples favorite places to visit.

It is also nice that while you are out enjoying thebeautiful San Diego weather you can feel comfortableknowing that you are in the safest big city in the UnitedStates.

With seventy miles of beaches and plenty of sun to enjoyit in, Americas Finest City is sure to be a place you willremember for years to come!

EXPERIENCE SAN DIEGO

San Diegans are always out trying to find things to seeand to do. Since we are just southof Hollywood in LosAngeles, the acting and performing in San Diegotheatres is fabulous! There are also many opportunitiesto see sporting events such as the Thunderboat Regatta

at Mission Bay or Supercross at Qualcomm Stadium.


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Attending concerts and festivals are some of the favoriteactivities of San Diegans, and it is never hard to findsome of your favorite artists playing in town. There arepopular yearly festivals to go to as well, such as StreetScene, a three-day concert series.

IN ANDAROUND SAN DIEGO The city of San Diego has much to offer its visitors.Since the weather is so nice, there is a wide variety ofoutdoor activities that people can participate in. Thereare few other cities in the world where you can go surfingon the beach or golfing at Torrey Pines and within anhour or two be in the mountains snowboarding or skiing.It is certainly a unique place to visit!

Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, PacificBeach, La Jolla Beach.there are so many to choosefrom! Head to Mission Beach for some beach volleyballand a ride on the wooden rollercoaster or take somefriends to La Jolla Cove for a picnic along the rocky shoreand watch the waves crash against the cliffs.

If mountains and deserts are what you prefer, you canvisit Cuyamaca State Park in eastern San Diego County

for hiking and mountain biking. You can also go to thegold mining town of Julian to enjoy some of their famousapple pie!

North of San Diego there are many opportunities as well.Los Angeles is only 2 1/2 hours away, so you can gothere to visit Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland,and the Santa Monica Pier. The mountains just east of

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

One of the worlds largest salt lakes is located near SanDiego as well. Known as the Salton Sea, it is famous forits tilapia fishing and the sand dunes that surround thearea. Many people enjoy riding four-wheelers ormotorbikes through this world famous sandy area known

as Ocotillo Wells.

With the variety of activities and landscapes that San

Diego has to choose from you there is always some sortof adventure that you can enjoy.


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ASSESSMENT

During their first morning at LSI, students are welcomedbefore being assessed in their current skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. Following thissession, our Director of Studies will create a Personal

Study Plan with each long-term student before placingthem into the class level which will give them the mostbenefit. Regular review of project work, weekly testresults, and personal attention all help to improvestudents English skills.

INTERNATIONALATMOSPHERE

We have had students from 31 countries this year.Studying at LSI gives students a wonderful chance tointeract not only with Americans, but also withprofessionals and other students from around the world.

Because of this interaction, students develop a better

understanding of other cultures and learn more aboutthemselves and each other.

STAFF ANDTEACHERS

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. Trainingsessions are held regularly to ensure that teachers knowthe most recent trends in TESOL.

MULTIPLEACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

LSI has many different accommodation optionsavailable to students. Students may choose betweenhomestay, hotel rooms, residence hotels, or sharedapartments. All accommodation options are carefullyselected to ensure their quality and safety.

ACTIVITIES

The LSI program includes a busy calendar of socialactivities for students to enjoy in their free time.Whether students would like to go camping and hikingor cave kayaking and scuba diving, there are plenty ofactivities to choose from. Students will find manychances to meet new friends and practice their Englishskills at the same time.


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MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS AT LSISAN DIEGO LSIINTENSIVE 30:

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

LSISTANDARD 20: This 20 lesson per week program follows the samemorning schedule as the ISY 30 and Intensive 30. As asemi-intensive course, this is perfect for students whoneed integrated skill without afternoon classes.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLYEAR (ISY) PROGRAMS:LSI understands that students want a quality program thatoffers flexibility and value for money.

The fact that over 20% of our students return to LSI or refertheir 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 timeEnglish program targeting their individual needs, LSI hasincluded a Personal Study Plan.

Personal Study Plan Available to long-term, fulltime Intensive 30 and ISY 30 students.

Afternoon options Include Everyday English,Vocabulary Building, Business English, ExamPreparation, and others, depending on the time ofyear.

Exam preparation include Cambridge FCE, CAE,CPE, and BEC Vantage & higher, TOEFL & TOEICprograms.

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

MULTI-CENTRE COURSE:Students are welcome to sharetheir time between LSI San Diego, LSI Berkeley, LSIBoston, and/or LSI New York (where additional costsapply).

EXECUTIVE COURSE9 Day CompactThis executive program is for all those with exactinglanguage needs that must be met quickly.

One-to-OneThis is Ideal for students who have very specific needsthat they would like LSI to concentrate on.

English for BusinessIntermediate to Advanced Levels10 lessons per week as an afternoon elective course,following a cycle of 12 weeks, each one dealing with aspecific area of business (e.g. leadership, marketing,negotiating, team building, etc.). Each of thesebusiness areas will be practiced with special focus onspeaking and listening skills. Also available as amorning Mini Group course of 20 lessons per week for

1-4 weeks.

CAMBRIDGE EXAM PREPARATION30 lessons per week

Intermediate to Advanced Levels The Cambridge programs cover a wide range ofacademic and vocational topics, includingexaminations specially designed for the internationalmarket. LSI San Diego offers preparatory courses forthe Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE, and BEC exams, whichare internationally recognized as standards of


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

TOEIC(TEST OF ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONALCOMMUNICATION)Pre-Intermediate to Advanced

TOEIC measures the everyday English skillsof people working in an internationalenvironment. It may be used when applyingfor jobs or for entry into certain internationalstudy programs.In this course, students joinmorning classes for integrated skills andattend afternoon electives chosen inconsultation with the Director of Studies.

TOEFL(TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)10 lessons per week - Intermediate to Advanced

This class can be either the afternoon portion of anIntensive 30 course, or the ISY 30 program.

TOEFL is a standard test for entry to colleges anduniversities throughout the United States and Canada.

The class prepares students for four components of theexamination. Students entering this course will joinmorning classes for integrated skills, and then attendclasses each afternoon (Monday through Thursday)specifically for TOEFL iBT instruction.

TABLE OF APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN ENGLISHLANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS:

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL YEAR 20&30Beginner to Intermediate Levels (Also see Page 9)

Designed to meet the needs of tomorrow's internationalprofessionals, 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 solidfoundation in English. It also provides the opportunity tostudy a variety of electives, including our preparationcourses for Cambridge, TOEFL and TOEIC exams, or theEnglish for Business course. The key word in thisprogram is flexibility, accomplished by creatingstudents 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)

LSI Level / Exam Equivalency ChartClassLevel Skill Level IELTS

CambridgeLevel TOEFL TOEIC

PBT CBT iBT

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 220

101 Elem. 2.5 - 2 KET

101 Beginner 1.5 - 1 KET


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ORIENTATION DAYWelcome!

On the first day of school, new students will beevaluated for level placement and given an overview ofour programs.From the results of the placement test and oralevaluation given before the orientation, students areplaced into the appropriate level for them.In the classroom, teachers use a communicativeapproach to teach English. The students developlanguage skills which they can use in the situations theyfind themselves in while living in San Diego.

The entire curriculum is structured to follow aprogression from level to level. New skills are introduced, while existing skills are reinforced through listening,

speaking, reading, and writing.

OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST DAY9:10 am: Welcome, introduction of staff, andregistration 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 toexplore the city.

1:50 pm 4:05 pm: Intensive 30 students will beginthe afternoon portion of their course.

LSISOCIALACTIVITIES

LSI organizes social events during the week as well asmany weekend tours and excursions. These activitiesgive students the chance to appreciate other cultures within the LSI family. In 2008, we welcomed 31nationalities.

Activities include trips to the theatre, cinema, musicals,concerts, museums, art galleries, sporting events, andamusement parks. Weekend trips include Los Angeles,

Las Vegas, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and manymore.

Some of the tourist venues within 20 minutes of LSI SanDiego 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, Birchs Aquarium, Chargersfootball at Qualcomm Stadium, the Gaslamp District,Horton Plaza, and much more!


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ARRIVAL ANDAIRPORTTRANSFER

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTAfter exiting the plane, students should simply proceedto the Baggage Claim Area to pick up their bags fromthe baggage carousel corresponding to their flightnumber. If their flight had a connection, they will havealready gone through customs and immigration at theairport in the US city.

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

AIRPORT TRANSFERIf the student has booked an airport transfer, and LSIhas received accurate flight arrival information with thename of the airline, flight number, and arrival time atleast one week prior to arrival, LSI will arrange for thestudent to be met at the Baggage Claim by an LSI

representative.

Please advise students to look carefully for a sign withhis/her name on it. If for some reason the studentdoes not see our representative, he/she should wait inthe Baggage Claim area until the representative islocated.

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 The San Diego bus system offers transportation fromeach airport terminal. There are signs marked with abus symbol that say MTS Bus Stop on them wherepeople can stand and wait for the bus. The average costper trip is $2.25. See the next page for moreinformation.

GENERALTRANSPORTATION

PUBLIC TRANSITSan Diegos transit system includes city buses, thetrolley, and the Coaster (to name a few).

FARESEach trip costs approximately $2.25 cash. Studentscan purchase one-day tickets, four-day tickets, orone-month tickets. If passengers pay cash for a ticketthey can transfer between the bus and the trolley usingthe Transfer Ticket, for an additional fee.Passengers must get a transfer where they first paytheir fare.

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


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exact change is required. Buses and trolleys can bothaccommodate bicycles at no additional charge. If youmust change from one bus to another in order to reachyour destination, it is possible to get a Transfer Ticket inorder to save money. You can plan your trip

beforehand by visitingwww.sdcommute.com.

THE COASTER The Coaster is the name San Diegans use for the trainsystem that runs up the coast from San Diego to

Oceanside. It is available every day of the week exceptSunday and costs roughly $4.00 to $5.50 one-way.One-trip, two-trip, and ten-trip tickets may be purchasedat any station; monthly passes are available at the Transit Store in downtown San Diego. North ofOceanside, the train system becomes Metrolink. This isa separate company that offers travel on every day of the week throughout Los Angeles. Fares may varydepending on where you want to go.

AMTRAK Amtrak is a national train service company that offers

transportation between San Diego and Los Angeles, aswell as throughout the country. The trains run daily andprices vary depending on where you are traveling to andfrom.

BICYCLEMany people, including some of our teachers andstudents, commute to school by bike. It is economicaland sometimes faster than any other means oftransportation. You can even bike part of the way andthen 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 BalboaParkor theSan Diego Harbor after school in order to relaxand keep fit.

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

Coronado. It departs from the Broadway Pier every houron the hour from 9 am to 9 pm and on Friday andSaturday at 10 pm. From Coronado, it departs everyhour on the half-hour from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm and onFriday and Saturday at 10:30 pm. The trip takes about

10 minutes and costs $2.75 per one-way trip. Bicyclesmay also be taken on the ferry for an additional cost of$0.50.

CARThere are many car rental agencies in San Diego whereshort or long-term economy rentals are available.

Renters must be at least 25 years old (21 at someagencies) and have a valid driver's license and majorcredit card.Remember that driving laws in California may differ fromthe ones in your home country. Please be aware of thesedifferences and make sure that you feel comfortablewith them before renting a car.

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

HOMESTAY PROGRAM

The majority of students who attend classes at LSI SanDiego choose to live with American host families during
http://www.sdcommute.com/http://www.sdcommute.com/


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their stay. The greatest advantage of a homestayexperience is the opportunity to communicate andinteract 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: ahalf-board program that includes breakfast and dinnerand a bed and breakfast program that includesbreakfast only.

Hosts are within 50 minutes commute of LSI San Diegoby public transportation. Our Homestay Coordinatorcarefully selects all host families to ensure that eachstudents stay will becomfortable, enjoyable and thatstudents will be made to feel at home and safe.

Our families homes range in size from condominiums tolarger homes.

Americans are very good about welcoming students inas a part of their family, so students should not besurprised if their host encourages them to join them inthe kitchen to prepare a meal.

Most hosts will involve students in menu selection andsome hosts are able to accommodate special dietaryrequirements.

HOTELS AND RESIDENCE HOTELSWe also have a selection of hotels and residence hotelsavailable, as well as some shared apartments . Pleasecontact LSI San Diego for more information.


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Thank you for choosing LSISan Diego!

Language Studies InternationalLSI San Diego1706 Fifth Avenue, 3rd FloorSan Diego, CA 92101United States

Tel: (619) 234-2881Fax: (619) 234-2883E-mail: [email protected] site:www.LSI-America.com orwww.LSI.edu

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Documents

2009 LSI San Diego Showbook