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.

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
Attending concerts and festivals are some of the favorite as Ocotillo Wells.
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.

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 With the variety of activities and landscapes that San
hour or two be in the mountains snowboarding or skiing. Diego has to choose from you there is always some sort
It is certainly a unique place to visit! of adventure that you can enjoy.

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
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.

• Multi-cultural: In 2008 we welcomed students from

30 countries across Asia, Europe, S. America and
the Middle East. This benefits every student.
LOCATION
Nationality Mix
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.

RANGE AND FLEXIBILITY

Between the range of courses we offer and the flexible
weekly schedules we provide, we are confident that LSI
Europe Asia South America North America Middle East 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
• Value for money: The goal of LSI is simply to provide schools without any additional fees. LSI New York is on
students with the best value possible. We do this by the same program as well, but students may need to pay
tailoring programs to our students needs. additional fees since their pricing is different.

• Progress: We help students to identify their weaker

skills and then support their improvement.

• Confidence building: We use a variety of tools to

help the students practice everyday language.

• Location: We are in the centre of town.

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.
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.
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.
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.
FACILITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD
LSI
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
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.
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 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!

MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS AT LSI SAN DIEGO
• 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.
• LSI STANDARD 20:
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.
¾ Afternoon options – Include Everyday English,
Vocabulary Building, Business English, Exam
Preparation, and others, depending on the time of
year.
¾ 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.
MULTI-CENTRE COURSE: Students are welcome to share
their time between LSI San Diego, LSI Berkeley, LSI
Boston, and/or LSI New York (where additional costs
apply).
EXECUTIVE COURSE
9 Day Compact
This executive program is for all those with exacting
language needs that must be met quickly.
One-to-One
This is Ideal for students who have very specific needs
that they would like LSI to concentrate on.
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.

LSI Level / Exam Equivalency Chart

TOEIC (TEST OF ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL Class Cambridge
COMMUNICATION) Level Skill Level IELTS Level TOEFL TOEIC
PBT CBT iBT
Pre-Intermediate to Advanced
106 Advanced 9+ CPE
TOEIC measures the everyday English skills 105 Post-Inter. 9 CPE 670 293 120 920
of people working in an international 104 Upper-Inter. 8.5 - 8 CAE 635 272 110 905
environment. It may be used when applying 104 Upper-Inter. 7.5 - 7 CAE 600 250 100 810
for jobs or for entry into certain international
103 Inter. 6.5 - 6 FCE 530 197 71 660
study programs. In this course, students join
103 Inter. 5.5 - 5 FCE 460 140 48 520
morning classes for integrated skills and
102 Pre-Inter. 4.5 - 4 PET 400 97 32 380
attend afternoon electives chosen in
consultation with the Director of Studies. 102 Pre-Inter. 3.5 - 3 PET 220
101 Elem. 2.5 - 2 KET
101 Beginner 1.5 - 1 KET

TABLE OF APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN ENGLISH

LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS:

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL YEAR 20 & 30

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.
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! LSI SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
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 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.

Activities include trips to the theatre, cinema, musicals,

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.
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!

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.
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.
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 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.
GENERAL TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC TRANSIT
San Diego’s transit system includes city buses, the
trolley, and the Coaster (to name a few).
FARES
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 Renters must be at least 25 years old (21 at some
Oceanside, the train system becomes Metrolink. This is agencies) and have a valid driver's license and major
a separate company that offers travel on every day of the credit card.
week throughout Los Angeles. Fares may vary Remember that driving laws in California may differ from
depending on where you want to go. the ones in your home country. Please be aware of these
differences and make sure that you feel comfortable
AMTRAK
with them before renting a car.
Amtrak is a national train service company that offers
transportation between San Diego and Los Angeles, as ACCOMMODATION
well as throughout the country. The trains run daily and
prices vary depending on where you are traveling to and All of LSI San Diego's accommodations are carefully
from. selected to ensure that they meet our quality standards.
BICYCLE 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 The majority of students who attend classes at LSI San
downtown San Diego to the Coronado Ferry Landing in 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: san@lsi.edu
Web site: www.LSI-America.com or www.LSI.edu

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