Dreams Do Come True - The Beauty Of Learning English In The South Of England

With grateful thanks to http://ispu.ru/node/15684

Top Places To Visit In The South Of England During Your Language Stay

In January we had some lovely Russian students who came to stay and learn with us here in Portsmouth. On their return they wrote their feelings about their experiences (in Russian) and it was posted on their website.  Very very kindly, they have translated into English what was said. We are incredibly grateful for the kind words and for the translation - as seen below. 

Dreams Come True

Students of Ivanovo State Power Engineering University (Ivanovo, Russia) share their impressions about the trip to LSI, Portsmouth (Language Specialists International), the United Kingdom.

It is the sixth year when a group of students of Ivanovo State Power Engineering University (ISPU) and other Ivanovo universities has returned from LSI. ISPU is the official representative of LSI in the region and it annually organizes a two-week trip for students and teachers to LSI.

It should be noted that during this visit the cooperation agreement between ISPU and LSI was extended for the next three years, which means that other students and teachers will have the opportunity to visit this language school.

Irina Ermakova (associate professor, Intensive English Learning Department, ISPU, group leader):

I would like to start by saying that on board the plane to London I encountered Irina Lutsenko, a graduate of our university, who now works as a flight attendant in Aeroflot Company (Russian Airlines). Irina also studied at LSI a few years ago and told me that every single time she arrived in London she remembered her trip to Portsmouth. She said, “That experience (by the way that was my first trip abroad) urged me to travel around the world and get to know new countries and cultures. Thanks to LSI, I learnt a lot and got an invaluable experience immersing in the native speakers’ environment. The company I am working for now has strict requirements for the English language skills. Therefore, I can say for sure that LSI played an important role in the way my career is developing now.”

We were really impressed with professionalism of the teachers who taught us modern everyday English, continuous acquaintance with the UK culture (at LSI, in a host family, using public transport and just strolling along the streets, not to mention sightseeing of Portsmouth, London and Oxford). We had a good opportunity to see how traditions and customs of our country differ from others (students from more than 60 countries study at LSI)... “The luggage” of our impressions and received knowledge certainly exceeded all the Customs’ norms. We are sure that these impressions and knowledge will not only serve as an incentive for further English study, but it will also help to believe that dreams do come true.

Big Ben, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Pauls Cathedral, Covent Gardens, Hyde Park and Abbey Road - With grateful thanks to http://ispu.ru/node/15684

Here are some students’ impressions about the trip we would like to share with you.

Sofya Gruzdeva:

I was lucky enough to visit such an amazing country as the United Kingdom. We began preparing for the trip three months in advance in order to gather all the documents for the UK Visa Centre. Thanks to the professors of Intensive English Learning Department there were no difficulties in doing it and all the efforts were worth it. I think I was lucky to live with an Indian family and a roommate who was a student from Japan. I was enlisted in B2 level group where I got acquainted with the guys from Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Those classes with fantastic teachers will never be forgotten. No time to be bored! I also got an opportunity to visit London and go sightseeing: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and many other attractions. Portsmouth made an indelible impression on me as well. It`s a very cozy, quiet, small city with wonderful people and incredibly beautiful streets and buildings. I would be extremely happy to be back to Britain and study at LSI.

Sabrin and Iasmin Al-Taiasne:

It`s already the third time we have been to Portsmouth. Many people ask us why we go to Portsmouth, they think that our English is perfect. Yes, our English is really good enough and we are no longer surprised by separate hot and cold water taps or ‘invertedly’ placed bus stops. But, England is constantly amazing us and each time we come here, we learn something new. Both the host family and LSI help us to be immersed into the culture of the country. Here we are taught vocabulary that native speakers of English use in everyday life. You can easily talk with LSI teachers about things that have surprised you and share your impressions with them. Captivating lessons boost your desire to learn English. Here you can have a talk on various topics with guys from other countries, play educational games and just have a cup of coffee to restore your energy after difficult grammar lessons. The city itself is stunning. On the one hand, Portsmouth is a quiet, calm and clean city, but on the other it is incredibly lively. Everything here is within walking distance: shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc. It takes just 15 minutes to get to the coast where you can breathe fresh sea air. These things urge us to come back again and again.

Ilia Denisov:

Although it was my second trip to Portsmouth and I knew almost all particularities of the educational process and leisure, I got a lot of impressions. There were two Swiss men, a Bulgarian, a Spaniard and a student from Saudi Arabia in my group and, by the way, I still keep in touch with some of them. As for the teachers, they are real professionals with their individual approach to students, that’s why the lessons were neither hard nor tedious. I spent my free time walking around the city and hanging out in local pubs. To sum it up, if you visit England and spend at least two weeks at LSI, you will improve your English skills, find new friends from all over the world, get experience of coping with challenges, and enrich your knowledge about other cultures. 

Iuliia Vasileva:

First of all, I want to thank ISPU for the opportunity to spend the best winter holidays in my life! I hope that cooperation between LSI and ISPU will continue from year to year. I have already visited the United Kingdom twice in a similar program but I should admit that this trip turned out to be the best! I had a nice and friendly host family, great teachers and an incredible opportunity to practice my English with foreign students! The lessons were so intensive and gripping, the teachers didn’t let you get bored. I am happy I participated in this program and I do want to return! I nurse the hope that I would visit LSI again!

Daria Chistova:

My first attempts of translating the documents for the UK Visa Centre were a good experience. When we had overcome all travel formalities and procedures, our group of 11 people headed for Portsmouth. On the first day we took an exam which helped properly identify our level of English. I found myself in the group taught by a young teacher named Kate. The lessons were top level! Everyone in my group was very friendly and communication with new friends and practice of English were a great joy!

My hostess treated me kindly and we are still in touch with her by communicating in social networks. I enjoyed the cuisine, the nature, the architecture and the attitude of the British to us.

My childhood dream was to visit London and it came true. We spent two and a half days to explore this city. I will never forget Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Royal Observatory, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, subway trips and nighttime strolls.

I received new knowledge at LSI that will definitely be useful for studying at my university. I hope that I will get a chance to return to this beautiful place.

Maria Ponamareva:

The trip to Portsmouth was magnificent! I really liked LSI, especially those creative lessons! I got a good practice. My English family was wonderful. We were talking for hours touching upon all sorts of topics. I set a goal to visit this place next year. Having once been at LSI you will inevitably wish to get there again.

Many grateful thanks for translating this for us to Irina Ermakova

Ivanovo State Power Engineering University.

This is a condensed translated version of the original article seen here: http://ispu.ru/node/15684

What is the Best Thing about England? We Asked, Our Students Told Us.

I Love England Because

As a teacher, when you ask students questions you often have an idea what they will answer, but more times than not, they will come up with something completely unexpected. For the last month or so we have run a little ‘campaign’ on Facebook where once a week we have asked our students what was their favourite thing about certain areas, for example, the best thing about Sundays, favourite place in Portsmouth and why they were learning English, that sort of thing. We made it easy, they just had to answer with one word. Some great answers came back. Someone said you need the English language in the same way you need a passport (which of course isn't just one word ;-). To the question about Sundays? The best things were; sleeping, leisure, relaxing, shopping!

The post that we got the most answers to was the question 'What is the best thing about England?'. The responses were so varied and really interesting. At the top of the list were LSI Portsmouth (thank you ;-), Portsmouth, the People and well ‘everything’. 

Then we came to a wide variety of things, politics, history, culture, language, London and all the changes that are happening at the moment. 

This really appears to go to show that the reasons we think people come to England might not necessarily be the actual reasons, or maybe the reasons they have stated as being their favourite they have discovered as the best things since coming here. Whichever it is, it is good to know that England has so many good reasons to visit.  Can you add any?

(For privacy’s sake we blanked out the names and pictures of those writing – if you want to see the actual post then please visit our Facebook page.)

The Best Things About Business English

Main Differences Between General English And Executive English Courses

Business English? What is it?

I was asked this morning what Business English is? ‘What is the difference between Business English and ordinary English?’ they asked.

Well, that is a really interesting question, which a lot of people have different opinions about. (This is after all just an opinion blog). To answer this question a little better, it might be easier to compare the differences between the General English and Business English courses that we run here at LSI Portsmouth.

Firstly as a language school in England, the basics are the same for all our students. They are immersed in an English environment, where they have to use their English, whether they like it or not. The benefit of this cannot be underestimated. Seeing and hearing the language spoken all around every day is such a boost to anyone’s language learning. No leaving the classroom and reverting back to your own language here, you have to use what you have learned and more, and you will see it and hear it all around you, the street signs, on the radio, on the TV, in the shops, there is no getting away from learning English while you are here.

Socialising with other students is also the same whatever type of course you do. You may choose to stick with people on the same type of course as you, but you will still more than likely be talking to other students from all over the world, you will hear different accents, different viewpoints and have a greater cultural awareness from this simple and fun fact.
        

Our Executive Course Students socialising
in the Executive coffee lounge

Very often the students, both General and Executive, stay with a homestay. Here there is a slight difference; those on our general English course will stay with a standard homestay, while those on a Business English course will tend to stay with an Executive homestay, families who offer high levels of comfort and convenience (all have broadband wifi and are within walking distance of LSI); most of our homestays are current or retired professionals

When you learn general English you look at grammar, structures; tenses and word order etc., vocabulary, and pronunciation. You would also look at the typical functional language that you would need in an everyday situation, like buying a train ticket, shopping, maybe going to the hairdresser? Of course, there are skills that are necessary as well like listening, understanding fast speech, being able to read a newspaper or social media.

The students who study General English are very often studying it for pleasure or possibly because they want to have a better level of English for now or in the future, but not necessarily for any specific purpose. They may have taken time out of a course and often stay with us for an extended period, often for a month or two at least, sometimes up to a year.

By contrast, most of the students who come and study on our Executive or Business English courses are working people. Of course, this makes life a bit more difficult to take months away from, so their courses are much shorter and are concentrated, more intensive. They have a wide range of grammar, skills and functions fitted into their one or two weeks.  On average our Executive students stay with us for two weeks, some for shorter some for longer.

Of course, the basics are still needed as above, so the grammar and structure, the pronunciation and the skills are the same, but your course would be focussed on the specific field you were in.

For example, a Journalist would want to look at different writing styles, the terminology in their field, whether it is newspapers, magazines, social media or broadcast journalism. The type of language that is specific to that area. A broadcast journalist would probably have practice speaking English in a broadcasting role-play, maybe being filmed so as to be able to discuss this after, looking for ways to improve. An Export manager though would look at the language of transport and distribution logistics, export documentation, possibly the language of customs requirements and tariffs. They might look at the functional language of telephoning to give and receive information, speak at length in detail, negotiate a contract or email writing.

        

A small group on the Business English Course
practising 'meetings' language.

In order for our students who are on the Executive English courses to have a tailored course, specific to their requirements, they would generally have a one to one teacher for part of the day, so their exact needs were analysed and met. Maybe for a part of the day they would join a small group of similar level and needs business students. At LSI Portsmouth the small group element of the business course comprises no more than four similar level students, each with similar requirements. The benefit of studying with a few other students is being able to hear other accents, and hear other opinions, but not be intimidated when trying out new elements of the language. The added benefit of a small group is that there is plenty of opportunity to speak. In the smaller group lessons the students will practice the function language, for example leading and having a meeting. This is then very close to a real life situation for many of them, with a variety of different accents to understand.

Over the last 35 years here, we have managed to perfect our courses that deal with corporate English, and our feedback from our students to the question ‘What would you change about the course?’ nine times out of ten says ‘Nothing’.

So, in short, what is the difference between a Business English course and a General English course? A Business English course will be tailored to be specific to what the student needs in a work situation, in order to be able to communicate easier in a corporate environment, whereas a general English course is more to raise the general level of English used in everyday life. If you are a working person? Then the Business English course is probably exactly what you need ;-)

British Culture - The Great British Breakfast

The Full English Breakfast

You’re in the UK. You get up in the morning. You’re hungry. So, what do you have for breakfast? Well a full English breakfast of course!* Whether you’re a meat eater or a vegetarian there’s no better way to start the day than to have this sort of breakfast. Whilst it’s not a good idea to have it every day, having it once or twice while you’re here is fine and it does set you up for the day. But what exactly does this substantial dish consist of?

As mentioned above you can have a breakfast which comes with meat or not. Both types normally have some or even all of the following: fried eggs, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and hashed browns. The meat version will also include bacon, sausages and possibly black pudding. This last food is not a pudding at all but is the British variation on ‘blood sausage’! The vegetarian dish will substitute meat sausages for vegetarian ones. Occasionally the breakfast will come with another very British food, bubble and squeak. This is a dish made from left over mashed potatoes and cabbage which has been combined and then fried. Accompanying this very full plate will be toast and butter, washed down with lots of tea or coffee.

The popularity of this dish means that many cafes, restaurants and pubs will offer a full English breakfast (it’s also simply called a ‘full English’ or a ‘fry up’) up to and including lunch time and some will even offer it as an all-day meal. Trendy cafes will offer ‘artisanal’ versions of the dish. If however you wish to get the full British experience, try to find a ‘greasy spoon’. This is not as the name suggests a very dirty piece of cutlery but instead a cheap cafe or restaurant which specialises in fried food.

Many eateries today will have a full English breakfast on their menu and normally at a very competitive price. Most places will also offer alternatives to the ‘full’ meal with just a few of the main ingredients. In some you can ask for your eggs to be cooked in a particular way: fried, scrambled or poached.

Whichever way you choose to have your full English breakfast, enjoy it!

*You can also get a ‘full Welsh’, a ‘full Scottish’ and a ‘full Irish’. There are regional variations as to what you will find on your plate, though the main ingredients are mostly the same.

Sorry I'm British - How to be Polite When you are in England

British Culture - Politeness

Two people try to go through a door at the same time. One says to the other “After you”. The other says “No, after you”. The first person says “No, really after you”. And so it goes on. In another scene two people are in a restaurant and one wishes to use the salt but it is out of reach. They say to their companion “Excuse me, but could you pass me the salt? … Thank you so much”. A few minutes later the second person will say exactly the same thing! Why? The reasons why the British are, on the whole, considered to be polite are probably lost in history. Whatever the reasons for it, being polite is an important part of British culture. 

Working out how to be polite and the subtleties of it are not easy, but watching how it is done is important if you wish to adapt to British culture. While nearly all languages have words for ‘thank you’ and ‘please’, changes in how languages are used, partly as a result of social media, mean that these words are not as commonly used as before. In British culture, particularly in certain situations such as going into a shop, a café, a pub, buying a ticket etc., it is seen as impolite to forget to use these expressions. Forgetting to say ‘please’ when ordering will probably result in the waiters/waitresses taking a lot longer to serve you!

Even signs and other public notices and announcements in this country can be polite. For example, you might hear in the London Underground ‘Please mind the gap’ or while walking you might see a sign which says ‘Please pick up after your dog’.

Quite often the British will go to great lengths to avoid saying the word ‘No’. Instead they might say ‘I’d prefer not to’ or ‘Not really’ or slightly misleadingly ‘I’m fine, thanks’! What can be more of an issue is when you ask a British person the question ‘How are you?’ and not wanting to be too enthusiastic with their answer the British person will reply ‘Not bad’ or ‘Quite good’, while as many other nationalities might have said ‘Very well’ or ‘Fine, thanks’.

Though not strictly speaking an example of politeness, how the British deal with silence in a public setting can be related to it. So for example, if you are having a meal with British people and there is a pause in the conversation, the British feel that it would be rude for the silence to go on for too long so they will start asking you as many questions as possible, even if they have already been asked before!

But perhaps the best example of politeness is when one person treads on the foot of another person by accident. The second person apologises for having their foot trodden upon! Now that really is being polite!

We Wish You Luck As We Wave You Goodbye

We are really sad to say goodbye to two of our stalwart teachers who have been teaching offsite for years now.  Two of the nicest people you could ever meet and both fantastic teachers.  Rich (left) is off to pastures new in Italy with his family, to live a life with a bit more sun and Tom (right) is off to the East (not quite sure if it's the Far or Middle ;-) - again for more sun.

They will leave a huge gap that will be very difficult to fill. Tom will be leaving two gaps as he is the drummer in the LSI band 'The Uncountables' (which includes Will Munro, Lewis Richards and Alan Daysh).
So ... big hugs to you both, we shed a virtual tear at your leaving.  In the spirit of the military, we have quoted a really old song at the end for you. Thank you for such fantastic work!

Rich and Tom

 

Cliff (course manager) Rich and Tom

Till we meet again lads!

As the words from Gracie Fields song go:

Wish Me Luck (as you wave me goodbye) (1939)

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye 

Cheerio, here I go, on my way

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye

Not a tear, but a cheer, make it gay

Give me a smile I can keep all the while 

In my heart while I'm away

'Till we meet once again you and I 

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye

Rich and Tom

An Almost Fullproof Way To Successfully Study English In The UK

How to Study English In The UK

If you really want to improve your English level, one of the best things you can do is study English in the UK where you can be surrounded by the language all the time. As well as being lots of fun, studying English in England offers the opportunity to make progress with your language quickly and to push yourself to the next stage in your language learning. However, if you decide to invest in this sort of course, it is important to make sure that you get the most out of it. So here are some tips to help you make your course is as rewarding as possible:

1. Try to stay with a host family. Most English schools offer a variety of accommodation and at first you may think that staying in a hotel or your own flat will be more comfortable. But host families are definitely the best way to make sure you continue to learn and improve your English after school as well as at school. They also offer you a chance to get to know British culture and find out how British families live. If the school is accredited by the British Council, they also have to make sure that their host families meet certain standards so you can be confident that the family will make you feel comfortable and welcome. It can often feel like a real home from home.

2. Find out about the social activities organised by your school and take part in as many as possible. They offer a great way to get to know other international students and offer a relaxing environment to chat with people. As well as short activities after school, some schools also organise trips to other cities around the UK. This means you can see other towns and cities and get to know the country a bit better. English schools in the south of England, for example, often offer trips to London, Brighton, Bath, Bournemouth, Oxford, Portsmouth and Salisbury.

3. Make the most of the English media. In your own country it may be difficult or expensive to get English newspapers, magazine and TV Channels. When studying in the UK though, you have easy access to all of these things. Find a magazine about your interests, buy a daily newspaper every few days, watch a bit of English TV, go to the cinema, listen to some English radio. All of these things can help you to make further progress with your language.

4. If you are staying for more than a few weeks, think about joining a local sports club. It means you can keep up your fitness level and also means you can meet English people with similar interests to you. English courses in Hampshire, for example, can often organise golf, football, horse-riding, sailing and walking – all popular activities in this area.

So if you decide to study English in the UK, make sure you remember these tips in order to make your experience as useful and enjoyable as possible!

Victorious 2017 - THE Music Festival in Portsmouth.

Improve your English and have a blast at THE music festival in Portsmouth  

What could be better than fabulous music, being by the seaside and the added opportunity to improve your English?  If you are planning on booking a course in the summer, and you like the bands on this poster (or even the ones on the poster below for the Friday), then maybe plan to book your English course for August!  The links to the website to buy your tickets are at the end of this blog.

Why You'll Love Learning English in Portsmouth

Why You'll Love Learning English in Portsmouth

Recently we made a little video in which our students explained why they liked LSI Portsmouth.  In this new video our wonderful students give their honest opinions on what they think about the city itself, talking about the seafront, the people and the size. Definitely worth watching!! 

It’s never easy trying to decide where to study your English, which city to stay in. Do you want a lively city with lots of shopping? Are you looking for a place with exciting nightlife? Do you prefer the countryside or do you want to be on the coast by the sea?  We know we are biased, but we have to say the South of England is probably the best option. 

There are benefits to all the above options.  London has a lot to offer, with museums, world-renowned shopping and exciting nightlife. But of course, a big anonymous city isn’t for everyone. 

The students in our video above all chose to come to Portsmouth and listening to the reasons why it is clear that a smaller city was more to their liking.  When you are studying there is already a lot to concentrate on. 

If you have decided to stay for a few months to study your English, then it is great to have things to keep you occupied at the weekend, it isn’t ALL about studying English.  That’s one of the great things about Portsmouth, it is so central to so many things. Because we are in Hampshire, and we are on the coast we have access to so many things to do and see. If you decide to learn English in Hampshire, there are many benefits. From Portsmouth we are about an hour away from London by train, about the same from Bath, Brighton and Winchester, which are all really interesting to visit for different reasons.  Our social programme organises trips to all these places and many more at the weekend.

One of the advantages of staying in Portsmouth, which quite a few of the students above mentioned is that Portsmouth city is not huge, it’s a very manageably sized city. It’s easy to get your bearings and understand where everything is quite quickly. Obviously, we have some streets where all the houses look the same, and it can get a little confusing at first, but you soon learn how to tell the difference ;-)  

Being by the sea really gives the city a sense of freedom.  Looking out over the Solent gives a real sense of complete liberty, breathing in the sea air, knowing you are right on the edge of the country.  Whether the weather is good or bad there is always something to see. On a sunny day, so many people go for a stroll or even a paddle (the brave ones swim). When it’s grey and misty, people wrap up and still go for a walk.  It is really lovely to look over to the Isle of Wight and know that it is just 10 minutes by hovercraft to visit such a beautiful place.

So, if you want to study English in a great environment, be able to visit so many of the historic and beautiful places that Hampshire and the surrounds have to offer, be close to the sea, Portsmouth could well be the best choice.

Golf the Game of Kings - The Game That Brings People Together

When Three Generations Play Together - The Game of Kings

With thanks to Phil Thorne for the photos

Golf is one of those games you either love or hate. It is one of those games that either fills you with excitement or sends you to sleep.  Here at LSI Portsmouth, we seem to have quite a few of the first camp; those who really love the game. The wonderful thing about golf, whatever your other feelings about it, is that it seems to bring the generations together.  There are not that many past times where you can find over 40 years of age between the youngest and oldest, with people who are still meeting each other as equals.

In the pictures above you can see Terry Thorne our lovely buildings manager, Alan Daysh one of our fab teachers and the delightful Melinda Vontobel who works with us as an Intern at the moment, they all went out for a day of golf very recently.

Melinda, as the youngest, came to LSI Portsmouth as an English student in October and is now working with us as an intern. As it is a little unusual to find such a young person who plays golf (and so well) we asked her to write a few words.  This is what she has to say:

‘I started playing golf when I was 9 years old. My parents played Golf before me and because of my sister, I finally started to play golf as well. My handicap is 0.4 and my best score up to now was 7 under par on a golf course in Switzerland. I did a sports apprenticeship which allowed me to practise next to my school every afternoon. I played every weekend, national as well as international tournaments. Unfortunately, I had to reduce the amount of time I was able to play due to my studies. Now I am an intern at LSI until the beginning of June. It is very nice to go out on the golf course with Terry and Alan from LSI Portsmouth and play.’

There are differing accounts as to the origins of the game, however, most seem to agree that modern golf was documented in a 1457 act of the Scottish Parliament, where King James II of Scotland prohibited the playing of ‘gowf’ as it was a distraction from the military practice of archery. A little more interesting is that after Mary Queen of Scots’ husband was murdered in 1567, George Buchanan wrote that she had been playing ‘sports that were clearly unsuitable to women’ – we’re not sure Melinda would agree ;-)

At LSI Portsmouth, we understand that in the world of business communication, in the corporate world, golf has a very important place. We know that for professionals, the golf course is where relationships are built, where deals are made and ideas are discussed.  We also know that English has a very important role in this, which is why we offer our students the opportunity to combine playing golf with improving their communication skills in English. What better way to have fun and combine practicing your professional English than on the golf course?  In Portsmouth, we are very lucky because we are very well placed for playing golf. As we are located on England’s beautiful South Coast, we are surrounded by some of the United Kingdom’s most renowned golf courses. 

Whether on the Solent coast or around the South Downs, the scenery is fabulous. Of course, we can’t guarantee the weather, but we can guarantee fun and you can be sure of a totally English speaking environment along with the perfect opportunity to combine the game you love, golf, with practising your Business or Social English.

So, if you are looking to improve your professional English, learn corporate English, network with other professionals from around the world, or just upgrade your everyday English and play golf, LSI Portsmouth has exactly the combination for you.

In addition to this, stay with an English host family, and you can have the complete immersive experience, combining a business English course, good company, a game of golf, fun and improving skills necessary for the workplace.

Click here to see brochure

For more details of a combined Professional English course with golf, see the brochure above or click here

The Simplest Ways To Make The Best Of English For Business Communication

How To Learn English For Business Communication 

We all know that there are so many Business English courses to choose from out there but how do you know that you are getting the best course available? Here are some ways to help you differentiate.

The first point is to make sure that the language school specialises in corporate English training. This means that you will be with professionals from different companies and countries who are your contemporaries. A good sign is to ask for a list of their clients and see how many names you recognise.

Another key to a successful business English course is that it is adapted to your professional needs. As an example, if you are a project manager who needs English for managing international teams, you will need English for meetings, English for presentations or English for negotiations; you will need exposures to different accents; you will need the intercultural awareness and soft skills to manage these international teams effectively. By analysing your needs before the business English course starts, and then during it and being able to react quickly and flexibly to those needs, the course will be adapted to your corporate English needs.

A company is only as good as its employees so look at the business English trainers at the centre: they should not just have teaching qualifications but real experience in the business world. A good corporate English trainer can put your language practice in contexts that you will recognise from your job – and this will make your course far more effective.

Finally, ask your friends, colleagues and HR personnel – have they done a business English course? What did they think was effective? A personal recommendation is worth its weight in gold, as we would say in English ;-) At LSI Portsmouth, we are happy to welcome many students who have been recommended to us as well as to welcome so many friends of friends; this creates a very unique atmosphere, professional but warm.

LSI Portsmouth is happy to provide potential clients with references from some of the biggest companies in the world who have chosen us as their preferred supplier for business English courses. They have chosen us because our experience in corporate English training over more than 30 years have made us one of the market leaders. Come and see why J

Our Fame has Spread - Portsmouth is well and truly on the Map

We were recently contacted by the company that made the video below because they loved some of the clips in our Portsmouth - A Day in Four Minutes video and wanted permission to use them.
The video they have made is to promote Portsmouth as a destination by Heart Radio and British Rail.
For fun; watch the first clip and then watch our video and see how many clips they have used from our video (there are quite a lot).

Video from Heart Radio and British Rail

Direct Link

Video from LSI Portsmouth

Direct Link

Why Our Students Love LSI Portsmouth

We asked our students what they thought of LSI Portsmouth and why they come here - and it sounds like they don't like LSI Portsmouth - they LOVE it! Do have a watch, it's really lovely.  

Thanks to both Melinda and Nicole who helped with the filming.
Look our for our next one about why students love Portsmouth.

Our Brand New Social Hub - the Place to be!

Welcome to our new Social Hub!

Until very recently Belle, our Social Programme Organiser, had her office on the third floor next to the Study Centre. It was good for our students, but we couldn’t help feeling that she might be better in the Student Lounge.

The Student Lounge is the busiest and liveliest area of the school. You can find a pool table, tennis table, piano, television and dining area. Most of our students spend their coffee breaks and lunch time there, talking to each other, enjoying a coffee or lunch and signing up to social activities.

We thought that Belle should be there too, so she can always be available for the students. In her new office you can come and pay for weekend trips, get help booking your own excursions or just come in for a friendly chat and a cup of tea. We call this area ‘The Social Hub’!

In the new Social Hub you can also find Nati and Diane, who are available to help the students with accommodation issues and anything to do with their homestay. It’s a very useful space and is always busy! There is also a small meeting area, if students need to discuss plans or itineraries with Belle and the office is too crowded. It’s a really nice area to relax with a cup of tea and listen to some music!

All the students have commented on how great the new social space is! We think it’s fantastic too, and we know that Belle, Diane and Nati are extremely happy in their new home!! 

We think the new Social Hub makes it easy for students to ask questions, sign up for more activities, and feel more relaxed and comfortable, what do you think?

Belle

8 Easy Ways To Improve English Speaking Without Even Thinking About It

How to Improve English Speaking

You are learning English, and you know it will help you in the future when you study or travel, possibly even if you plan to go to university or get a job. Many people however, do not realise how much effort is required to master a language.

It is not difficult to learn the basics of English quite quickly, but how to actually improve your English speaking does take some effort or at the very least some ingenuity.

Learning a language can either be a dull activity or a fun activity, and it isn’t always easy to know how to improve English speaking.

When you attend an English course to learn English in England, It is very easy just to go to school, come home and do your homework and then speak to your friends in your own language, you can put your ‘language learning’ away for the night. What you need are creative ideas which incorporate the language into your everyday life.

We asked our teachers for some ideas of how you could continue to improve your English speaking while you are studying in England or when you go back home. Of course the most obvious one is to use every opportunity you can find to speak English when you are at school; with your classmates, in class, during practices and during the breaks, but have a look at the following ideas and see if these can help you.

1. English conversation groups are always a great opportunity to practice your speaking. LSI Portsmouth runs a group every Tuesday after school in a local café. But if your school doesn’t have a group, why not start one yourself? Or if you would prefer to go to one that is already established, have a look in shop windows for notices, or in the local library, they often advertise there. In your own country try and find some other people who are also trying to improve their English, and start your own little group. It really doesn’t matter about level that is the wonderful thing, everyone can join in.

2. Ted Talks are a great way of improving your listening skills. But not only that, because you can see the tape script, you can also practice repeating what the speaker says. We recommend you find a talk with a subject that interests you. Before you click the link, try and imagine the language that will come up. Click open the tape script tab. Look through for any new vocabulary, and then go back and listen to the talk. Another fun exercise is to then try and read aloud the script at the same speed and time as the speaker.

Matt the teacher recently did a little video explaining how to use TED talks to help with your English.
For more TED talks:www.TED.com/talks

(to see more tips from our teachers click this link )

3. Keep a diary. It is only for you, no-one else ever has to read it, but keep it in English. You will be amazed when you look back, many month from now, how much your English has improved. Try and record yourself reading from your diary (maybe on your phone) and see if your pronunciation is the same as you imagine.

4. Send Postcards. Try and make sure you have the address of some English speaking people. Your host family possibly, definitely the school you have been studying in, some of your classmates? When you leave make sure you send them postcards! Everyone sends emails now, or posts on Facebook, so it is quite unusual to receive a postcard. Maybe before you write your postcard, try saying aloud what you plan to write.

5. Shopping Lists. Shopping lists are always a good idea, they stop you spending money on things you hadn’t planned to buy ;-) Try writing your shopping lists in English, this will show you where some of your missing vocabulary is.

6. English Forums. There are so many places online that have forums. Try ‘Groups’ on Facebook. Find a subject that interests you and join the group and then try and post your opinions in English. Don’t be surprised if you have to start defending your idea, but that will help you build your argument – never a bad thing.

7. Leave Comments. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Instagram etc all of these are called ‘social’ media because you are supposed to interact with them. Try and leave an English comment somewhere at least once a day.

8. Watch films. Another great way to improve your English speaking; If you have Netflix or similar, you can turn on the subtitles. Why not try and be one of the characters, and read aloud their part, maybe get a friend to read another characters part? It is not easy and you have to be very fast, but it is fun and it will speed up your reading and speaking.

English speaking takes a lot of practice to get your mouth to move in the right way quick enough, so make sure you use some of these tips to give yourself the best chance of getting better.

LSI Has a Heart - The Shoe Box Appeal

Shoe Box Appeal

Christmas is usually thought of us a special time spent with family and friends, however, for homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless it can be particularly isolating and lonely.


This Christmas the staff at LSI Portsmouth decided to support The Society of St James’ Shoebox Appeal. LSI staff filled shoeboxes with small gifts such as warm clothing items, toiletries and food and wrapped them up to be given to homeless people across the city to show them love and support.


We managed to donate a total of 31 shoeboxes of gifts which were all gratefully received by the staff of the All Saints Hostel run by The Society of St James.

Thank you to everyone who donated!

Update May 2017.  LSI Portsmouth had a bake off last month (April) and managed to raise another £168 (because we are all greedy lol). Hopefully, there will be another one very soon. 

BRAND NEW - New Logo for 2017

LSI Portsmouth has decided to start the New Year with a new-look logo, just to refresh our brand image a little as we begin 2017.

So – why, you may ask, have we decided to do this? Well, firstly many of our students and also agency partners around the world having been telling us for some time that our old logo 

was old-fashioned and needed to change and that 3-dimensional logos are something rarely used these days if you want to appear modern. So, we wanted to appear as modern as we feel we are! Also, in the marketing world, experts often repeat the mantra that you should refresh your brand and image at least every 5 years or run the risk of not appearing current and up-to-date.

We realised we had two options if we were going to do this:

1. To get a totally new logo with no connection to our past in look or image

2. To base a new logo on the past logo, but change it in certain aspects

So we took advice from agencies and other schools and asked for tips and also contacts for who might be good at taking a fresh look at our logo. We were pointed towards a website where many designers would take your brief – what you were trying to achieve, who your business is, what the core values and ethos of the school is, etc. – and then create logos in competition with each other and the one you pick is paid once you’ve made your decision. Although there were many very nice designs, we didn’t feel that any of them was quite what we were looking for.

We then asked two companies who are already working with us and have done nice design work for us already to have a try and one of them came up with different colour versions of what would eventually become our new logo for 2017 – this one:

What we understood that we wanted to do through the process was to actually build on the past, not break with it, so this informed the final decision. LSI Portsmouth has a long and well-known history and also had a recognisable image, whether people liked the logo or not. So we wanted to keep that connection to the past, not say we are entirely different, but to show that we are evolving over time, modernising if you like, not rejecting the past entirely. I think it’s important to know not just where you want to go, but also where you’ve come from and to incorporate that thinking was the final inspiration for the decisions we took.

With a new logo and also a new website, which is coming soon in 2017, we hope to attract more potential students and clients to our website and to encourage more people to come and study at LSI Portsmouth. These days, in times of increased competition and tougher market conditions for attracting students to come and study in the UK, it’s not enough to be a great school, which I know we are, we have to get people to know about us and be attracted to finding out more about us in the first place. A rebrand and new website will, we hope, put many more students in touch with us, who will then want to book a course with us.

The new logo we have chosen will, we hope, connect those that have known us a long time with our long-standing reputation, but also show we are moving forward, not standing still. We retain that symbolic link in our logo with speech marks to encapsulate in essence what it is we do, which is facilitate better communication. At least – that’s what we hope we do, amongst many other things. We hope you like it! Please ‘like’ it below if you do J’

Best wishes to you all

Andrew and the team at LSI Portsmouth

Come and Work with us in 2017 - New Teaching Positions available

It's 2017 and we are ready to hit the ground running.  We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced and qualified new teachers to join us for this new and exciting year.
More details here

We really want to hear from people with great organisational and communication skills, who love working in a team, who are flexible and good with time management.  They will also love social media and be keen to engage with and contribute to LSI Portsmouth's social media presence.  In return we offer opportunities for professional development in a brilliant environment on the south coast of England.

Happy New Year - 2017

It's Holiday Time