English in Los Angeles - Santa Monica

Los Angeles / Santa Monica

The unique city of Los Angeles (also known as “L.A.”), is the second largest city in the US next to New York. The ‘City of Angels’ has a booming cultural and arts scene, giving it a dynamic and individual identity. Not only is it the centre of the US’ film and music industry, but it’s also a huge business and trade quarter. This city really does have it all!

If you’re looking for entertainment, Venice Beach has some of the city’s best performers that crowds flock to go see or go on a hike up to the Hollywood sign. Take your pick from restaurants, bars, live music venues & rooftop views from seaside pubs. It’s safe to say you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Sea, sand and sun are all part of the lifestyle – and its ideal location in the Sun Belt keeps the temperature warm all year round meaning that you can enjoy lounging in the sun and benefit from its 340 days of sunshine a year.

Santa Monica is known as the ‘pearl of Los Angeles’ and is without a doubt one of the most European areas in the country. Located right next to the ocean, the pier is one of the beach’s many highlights. Dip your toes into the ocean and experience a culture unlike any other.

EC Los Angeles is located just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront and the spectacular beach of Santa Monica. The nearby Pier attracts the locals and tourists alike with its famous funfair that’s held all year round. 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica’s main shopping street, is just around the corner. What more could you ask for?

EC is accredited by ACCET and English USA.

School facilities include:

Modern infrastructure
22 bright, spacious classrooms
SmartBoards
IT suite with 30 computers
Free WiFi access throughout the centre
Student Resource Centre
Excellent library facilities
Self-study room

VIP Service – The Orange Carpet Experience

EC welcomes you with their orange carpet

Before your arrival: access to the online platform of EC to prepare for your stay
A warm welcome upon your arrival at the airport of station
A warm welcome in the residence or in your host family
A welcome activity on Sunday to meet the other students
On the first day of course: a VIP reception at the school
A presentation of all members of the EC team

Now you’re ready to learn!

Language courses: the basics

One lesson duration: 45 minutes
Number of students per class: 15 maximum (average 12)
Timetable: Classes take place in the morning and/or afternoon
Placement test: on the first day of the course
Certificate of participation at the end of the stay
Free access to the EC-Online platform up to 12 weeks after the end of the courses
Regular evaluation of progress (oral test every week, written test every 6 weeks)
The teachers are qualified to teach their mother tongue to foreigners

20 lessons per week

4 lessons a day will give you a practical understanding of the English language and take you all the way to fluency. See your confidence improve as EC trains you in all four communication skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Language level: all levels

24 lessons per week

The ideal course to get your English where you want it to be, fast. Includes 20 lessons of General English with an additional 4 lessons of General English per week.

You will improve all four English language skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening – and develop your ability to speak the English of the everyday life.

Language level: all levels

30 lessons per week

The ideal course to get your English where you want it to be, fast. Includes the above General English classes, and also allows you to personalise your course by taking an additional 10 lessons per week across a wide selection of electives (see the choices below).:

Write Now
Media Studies
The Language of Music
Film Studies
Global Citizenship
Comparative Culture & Communication
Basic English Writing
Academic Techniques in Practice (writing assignments, taking notes and preparing presentations)
Get Talking
And many more!

Language level: all levels

24 lessons per week

EC’s English for Work course will allow you to improve your English fluency and empower you with the language, knowledge and skills to confidently deal with a variety of business issues. Every week you will take 24 lessons: 20 lessons of General English and 4 lessons of Business English.

Business Skills:

Expressing personal opinions
Making suggestions
Presenting case studies
Problem solving

Business Focus – 4 tailored lessons :

Negotiating contracts
Management and HR
Branding and promotional strategies
Project management
Business ethics and CSR

Specific business techniques such as business English on the phone and interview skills are also covered.

Language level: Lower Intermediate to Advanced

EC follows a ‘Communicative Method’ syllabus, which works to develop all four English language skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening. Special attention is paid to speaking, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

To give an engaging and relevant framework to learning these skills, each lesson will focus on a specific topic, which will vary from current affairs to everyday issues. Your professional and friendly teachers will select topics that create interest, discussion and debate in the class, allowing you to develop your confidence both in speaking and listening throughout your stay, in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

The teaching materials EC uses are specially designed by the school and realia such as newspapers, videos and other materials is also used.

As well as taking an active part in classroom discussions – the best way to improve your fluency – you will work on your language skills in small groups, pairs or individually on tasks and projects. EC’s teachers work to create a welcoming environment with mutual support among students – so you’ll feel at home while your English improves!

As an EC student, you will enjoy a calendar of various social and leisurely activities in the afternoons/evenings every week. These activities are optional and some may require a fee. All activities are subject to change and vary depending on the time of year. Activity planning can be viewed on the online EC platform.

Some of the many activities available include:

Welcome Event
Beach sports
Cycle tour of Venice Beach
Photo contest
Tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Amusement Park and Disneyland
Movie and restaurant nights
Day trips to San Francisco, Las Vegas and San Diego

Single room, shared bathroom and breakfast.

Travel time to EC: Travel time to EC takes 30-60 minutes by public transport.

Practical information:

Bedding and towel provided
Laundry: Not all households in Los Angeles own a washing machine. Some of our host families may do their laundry at a nearby laundromat. Usually, host families with a washing machine at home will let you use it for your laundry.

Optional Extra:

Half board

Features:

Single or shared bathroom
Single or shared room
No meals included
Travel time to school: 35 minutes by public transport
Located near Wilshire Boulevard in the gorgeous area of Westwood. The residence is located right next to the Westwood Park and a few steps away from Westwood Village
Deposit to be paid on arrival (see Dates & Prices tab), to be refunded at the end of your stay provided no damages are incurred

Facilities and services

Linens/towels provided
Free WiFi access
Fully-equipped shared kitchen
Common room
TV
Air conditioning
24hr security
Coin laundry facility on-site
Weekly cleaning service; please note that outside of this service, students are responsible for cleaning their rooms

Optional Extras:

Single room
Air conditioning (5€ a day, to be paid on site)
Private bathroom

Travel

Arrivals: Saturday

Departures: Saturday

If residence accommodation: Check-in: 4:00 p.m. (Saturday); Check-out: 11 a.m. (Saturday)

Arrival airport:
Los Angeles International, LAX

Airport transfers available on request (fees apply, see price list)

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

Visa Information

You might need a visa for this course. For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

EU citizens do not require a visa for stays in the United States under 90 days. However, EU nationals do require an ESTA Travel Authorization.

Do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you require any additional information.

Dates & Prices 2021

Dates 2021

Beginning of the sessions : The majority of courses start every Monday, throughout the year, unless otherwise stated below. If Monday is a public holiday, the session starts on Tuesday.

Public holidays and vacations (no courses will be given on these dates, nor made up later; no compensation will be granted): 01/01, 18/01, 15/02, 31/03, 31/05, 05/06, 06/09, 11/10, 11/11, 25/11, 26/11, 24/12, 31/12

Business English course starts every Monday for a maximum duration of 11 weeks.

Prices 2021

All taxes and registration fees included

Course - homestay accommodation - Single room, breakfast
Duration	20 lessons	24L ou business	30L
2 weeks	€ 1.975	€ 1.930	€ 2.250
3 weeks	€ 2.815	€ 2.760	€ 3.230
4 weeks	€ 3.650	€ 3.595	€ 4.205
6 weeks	€ 5.330	€ 5.255	€ 6.165
8 weeks	€ 7.010	€ 6.920	€ 8.120
12 weeks	€ 10.110	€ 9.670	€ 11.390
16 weeks	€ 13.380	€ 12.805	€ 15.090
18 weeks	€ 15.020	€ 14.375	€ 16.940
20 weeks	€ 16.650	€ 15.940	€ 18.780
24 weeks	-	€ 19.075	€ 21.075
32 weeks	-	€ 25.345	€ 28.000
36 weeks	-	€ 28.480	€ 31.465
Additional week	-	€ 790	€ 860
Accommodation supplements (per week)
Host family, single room, half board	€ 85
Double room in shared apartment	€ 85
Single room in shared apartment	€ 315
High season supplements (per week)
Course (from 1 to 12 week (s) only) (15/06-11/09)	€ 25
Family accommodation (from 13/06 to 12/09)	€ 45
Apartment accommodation (from 13/06 to 12/09)	€ 350
Other supplements
Transfer from LAX airport	€ 175
Expenses express delivery document I-20 Visa	€ 85