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Soccer is coming to San Diego

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017

Adding to San Diego’s already existing attractions, it now appears that major soccer league is coming. NASL (the North American Soccer League) have just announced the setting up of a new club in the city ready for the 2018 season. Initially the team will play at the University of San Diego. However plans are afoot to build a purpose built stadium complex. The city will be home to NASL’s 10th club, following  the recent addition of  the San Francisco Deltas. Find out more about the new club.

LSI San Diego plans to add trips to the soccer matches to our 2018 leisure programme for our students. Alongside our famous beaches the soccer will be yet another fun thing to do during a stay with LSI.

Soccer coming to San Diego

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Thank You to LSI Brisbane

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017

Hello everyone! My name is Adriano Felix and I come from Brazil. I’d like to tell you about my time at LSI.

Six years ago I was a student at LSI Brisbane and I gotta say that it was one of the best experiences ever! The staff were so helpful and kind. Considering that I couldn’t speak a word of English, it was a hard job for them. They really made me feel like I was in the right place and such an amazing atmosphere.  I would say that  it was at LSI that I met some of my best friends. I was really living the dream!

I’ve never taken the opportunity to thank  the people who helped me along the way. Especially as they made my days easier while studying there. I don’t even know if they are still working there but I would like to say a big thanks to David, Sandy, Chris and the whole LSI crew.

After studying at LSI Brisbane I decided to stay a bit longer in Australia, and guess what? I met my wife, a beautiful Australian woman. Yet another reason to say thank you to LSI. IT’s down to LSI that I was able to speak to her and even more, I convinced her to marry me . Now we are living in Brasil and waiting for our first baby. Perhaps I should stop here, but really the whole point of this message was to say a huge thanks to you guys, and keep doing it right!

Thanks to LSI Brisbane - Adriano with wife

 

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World Student Day in Canada

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017

Every year Languages Canada holds a ‘World Student Day’. The event celebrates the international student community in Canada and the contributions they make to Canadian education, culture and economy.

This year the event took place on  July 7th in 14 cities right across Canada. Over 7000 international language students, from all over the world,  attended and took part.  Games, music, shows and all kind of entertainments were  organised by the language schools who were invited to set up tables at each event.

World Student Day in Vancouver

At the Vancouver event, LSI set up our own table and almost 200 of our students took part. At our table, we offered fellow students the chance to play the LSI Flip Cup game. Suggested by one of our students, it involved flipping plastic cups. Many LSI volunteers were on hand to explain the rules and to supply the cups. Lucky contestants who managed to flip the cup successfully received a small chewy reward. Despite the simplicity of the game, this fun, high paced game proved highly popular!

World Student Day in Canada , LSI Flip Cup Game

Over for this year, our thoughts turn to next year. Any suggestions for new games ideas are always welcome!

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Direct Flights from Zurich to San Diego

Thursday, July 6th, 2017

Edelweiss, Switzerland’s leading leisure airline, are now offering direct flights to San Diego. Great news for our Swiss students studying or planning to study at our amazing school in this popular Californian city.

Zurich to San Diego Flights

Flights will be non-stop, flying between San Diego and Zurich twice a week from June to September. The new route marks the first direct flight between the two cities.  Flight time is just 12 hours!

In addition, there are  also three direct flights a week from Zurich to Vancouver. Another opportunity for Swiss students at  LSI Vancouver to benefit.  Flight time is even quicker at just under 11 hours. Flights between Vancouver and Zurich are offered from June to September.

For more details about dates and prices about both these locations  visit the Edelweiss website.

Edelweiss flights between Zurich and San Diego

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Swedish Swallows Return to LSI Zurich

Thursday, July 6th, 2017

The return of swallows to northern skies is usually taken as one of the first signs of summer. At LSI Zurich our swallows return in June every year and they come from Sweden!

For over 15 years LSI Zurich have been hosting Swedish students from STAFFANGYMNASIET, a grammar school in Söderhamn, about 180km north of Uppsala. LSI Zurich director, Ian Cryer met up with the group over lunchtime sandwiches to find out what they thought about the classes and their overall experience with us.

Swedish Swallows at LSI Zurich - Swedish group over lunch

First, how did they find the teaching at LSI? It seems the students were both surprised and challenged by their classes. Apparently teaching in their Swedish school focuses on language recognition, not production. So whilst many of the group could read and understand complex texts, they still had difficulty speaking full sentences. The LSI approach of presenting language items, practising them, then moving on to free production was new and enjoyable. It meant our having to adapt by relocating some of them into lower level classes and their having to adapt by stepping up to the plate.

Only two of the students chose to stay with host families this year. The rest found furnished flats in the Sihlcity area of town about 20 minutes tram ride away from school. While missing out on the built-in language practice that living with a host family provides, they appreciated the independence. This was, after all, their first adventure abroad without adult supervision. Not that they weren’t checked up on! During the second week, their school principal and two other members of staff came by to visit. They sat in lessons with their students, recorded feedback and before leaving we discussed how the programme can be fine-tuned next year to make it even more successful.

All in all, a positive experience for everyone involved. We look forward to welcoming more Swedish swallows in June 2018.

LSI Zurich welcomes our Swedish swallows

 

 

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University Pathway with Berkeley City College

Monday, July 3rd, 2017

LSI is now able to offer our students a great new University pathways partner. This opportunity is open to students with a high level of English who have completed an intensive course with us. Once LSI students have matched these criteria they can then transfer to Berkeley City College (BCC). Luckily BCC is conveniently located just across the street from LSI Berkeley!

Berkeley City College

Berkeley City College is a highly respected community college. Students can complete the first two years of their undergraduate college credit, working towards their four year Bachelor’s Degree.  Once the student completes their program at BCC they can then apply to state universities throughout the USA. As students will have already done two years at BCC they will need to do just two more to complete the four year  degree.

This new pathway partner is a great new addition to our growing lists of partners. More information can be found on our website.

 

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LSI London Hampstead Receives Special Visitors

Saturday, June 10th, 2017

At LSI, we love to receive visits from past students. One recent visit at LSI London Hampstead was extra special though. Akiyo and Takashi Yoshinaga were returning to the school after 29 years!

Akiyo and Takashi have more reason than most to remember the school fondly. This was the place where they first met in March 1988 as young students eager to explore the world. At 23, Takashi had just finished his degree in Japan and Akiyo, only 21, was still in her second year. Both viewed the opportunity to study English abroad as part of the common rites of passage that so many of their contemporaries pursued whilst at university.

In 1990, two years after returning to Japan, Akiyo and Takashi got married, and in 1992 they moved to New York for work. This is currently where they live with their two sons. Akiyo works as a music teacher and having completed an MBA, Takashi now runs his own company.

 

AKiyo and Takashi on the steps of LSI London Hampstead

 

We asked Akiyo and Takashi what they remembered about the school and what has changed.

Takashi: “The school was quite small back then, probably around 40 students, of which 95% were Japanese. We made so many close friends and when we returned to Japan we stayed in touch with them. The teachers were very good but of course the classrooms were a lot more basic back then. Looking around the school now, I can see how everything is far more high tech these days. There seems to be far more facilities and the classrooms are definitely more colourful. From the outside though, the school still looks much the same – the imposing façade and of course the lovely back garden.“

Akiyo: “Hampstead has changed too. When we studied here, there wasn’t really much to do at lunchtimes. It was quite a sleepy place. There weren’t many shops and only one pub that I remember. It’s so different now – so many shops, restaurants and bars.“

Akiyo also remarked on the changes in London over the decades. “You can still see the lovely old, historic buildings but now parts of London have the tall skyscrapers we are used to in New York. The weather also seems to be better – we’ve even seen some sunshine!”

It was lovely to see Akiyo and Takashi at LSI London Hampstead. We hope they don’t leave it so long for their next visit!

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Immunization Requirements in Boston

Friday, June 2nd, 2017

If you are planning to study in Boston, you will need to know about the following changes.  Due to a recent outbreak of mumps, the local authorities are tightening up on existing regulations regarding vaccinations. To be allowed to study at any language school in the Boston area, you will need to prove you have had the vaccines in question.

Which Vaccines will you need?

You will need to have received these 5 key vaccines: Tdap, Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella and Meningoococcal.  You will also need to provide proof of these immunizations.

For more details contact LSI Boston.

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New Summer Teenager Programme in London

Thursday, May 18th, 2017

LSI’s English programmes for junior and teenagers have become increasingly popular. Alongside our already established programmes in Vancouver, Toronto, Boston, New York, San Diego, Berkeley, Cambridge and Brighton, we will be operating a second junior programme in London this summer. We will continue to run our highly successful programme English for teenagers in London Hampstead (for ages 12 to 17) and our English for juniors programme (for ages 7 to 1 1). In addition, we are now offering a programme for teenagers (13 to 17 years) in Ealing, West London.

English for Teenagers in London Ealing

This summer the programme will take place at Ealing Green College just 10 minutes walk from Ealing Broadway Station. Ealing is a pretty, family-oriented, residential area of London, full of cafes, shops and parks. Located in Zone 3, it takes just 20 minutes to reach central London by tube.  The College overlooks Ealing’s main park, Walpole Park, and has an onsite canteen. Throughout the building students have access to the free WiFi.

English for teenagers in London Ealing

In line with our other programmes, students will receive 20 lessons of English language tuition, accommodation and activities. Accommodation is offered in twin rooms on a full board basis with local families. In most cases students will be hosted by families who live within walking distance of the college. Often students will be staying The programme also includes afternoon activities, an evening activity and a full day excursion at the weekend.

The programme will run between 26th June and 4th August. Students can book up to 4 weeks on the course. Students will have a placement test on their first day and then placed in a class appropriate to their level. On leaving, each student will also receive a and end of course certificate.

English for teenagers in London - images of Ealing

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Finding Love at LSI Auckland

Sunday, May 14th, 2017

Many LSI students form deep and lasting friendships with fellow students, often travelling the world to visit each other once their studies are over. We’ve also had several LSI marriages over the years. We love to hear these stories, and none has put a bigger, collective smile on our face than the recent marriage of Maryam and Jonathan.

LSI wedding for LSI Auckland students Jonathan and Maryam

Jonathan and Maryam

Our story begins with Jonathan Serna Solórzano. Jonathan arrived at LSI Auckland in January 2016. His aim was to improve his English for his job as an engineer in Colombia. Immediately he impressed his teachers with conscientious approach to his studies. In March, Maryam Widmann joined the school. Back in her native Germany she worked in healthcare and was enrolled at LSI Auckland to take the CAE exam. Maryam and Jonathan found themselves in the same advanced class and over 4 months their love blossomed. Love did not distract Maryam from her studies though and she achieved an excellent result in her exams.

Brad Roberts, the academic director in Auckland, remembers the couple with affection.”From my point of view, you couldn’t meet two lovelier students. Both were conscientious, hard-working language learners, and they brought a certain joie de vivre to their lessons and the school. It makes sense that they should end up together, both good, decent folk with wonderful senses of humour. Their teachers fill with pride when we think of them finding love at our school, although the occasional snog in the five-minute breaks was sometimes a bit odd to witness. Oh, to be young and in love! We wish Maryam and Jonathan all the best for their bright future.”

The happy couple have since tied the knot in Germany in front of family and friends, including fellow LSI students. Everyone at LSI Auckland wish Jonathan and Maryam a happy life together!

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