Discover San Diego
San Diego has been named as one of the best cities to live within the United States on more than one occasion, and has a very affordable cost of living. San Diego’s sunny climate and warm breeze, sunny skies, beautiful beaches, islands and peninsulas attract thousands of people from all over the world and enables sportsmen to practise their favourites activities all year round.
To the east, an hour’s drive from the city centre, you’ll find the alpine landscape of Mounts Laguna, and just two hours away from this impressive mountain scenery, hot winds blow through the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. San Diego caters to everyone’s tastes, and the natural beauty of the surrounding scenery will take your breath away. The icing on the cake? Mexico is located just 20 minutes south of the city.
Our partner school, CEL in San Diego is located on A Street, in the town centre, a few minutes away from Gaslamp District, Little Italy and Horton Plaza shopping mall. The school itself is renowned for its academic excellence, with numerous accreditations and subject to regular inspections.
Accreditations: CEA (Commision of English Language Accreditation), English USA
School facilities include:
- 12 modern classrooms, equipped with the latest technology (smart TVs and sound systems)
- Air-conditioned classrooms
- Free WiFi access
- Lounge room with a TV
- Outdoor patio
Language courses: the basics
- Lesson length: 45 minutes
- Number of students per class: maximum of 12 (on average 8)
- Timetable : classes are held either in the morning or the afternoon
- Placement test: the first day of classes
- Certificate of participation at the end of your stay
- Weekly evaluation of your progress
- All teachers have university qualifications (BA or MA) + special training in teaching their mother tongue as a foreign language
Each week the school organises cultural activities during the afternoons and the evenings. You are more than welcome to participate in these activities, though they are not mandatory. Some activities are free and some may require a fee. The availability and variety of these activities depend on the season.
Possible activities may include:
- Guided tour of the city on the 1st day for new arrivals
- Sports activities (beach volley, basketball, baseball, football, surfing, kayaking etc..)
- Visits to San Diego zoo, Aquarium, Museums
- Hiking in Balboa Park
- Bicycle rides along the beach
- Barbecues on the beach
- Excursions to Seaworld, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Disneyland, Legoland…
Surfing option: 2 surfing sessions x 2 afternoons per week combined with the language programme of your choice
Required surfing experience: beginner to intermediate
Shared room (with a student of a different nationality), shared bathroom, half board OR single room, shared bathroom and breakfast
Extra option: single room, half board
Distance from school: between 30 and 45 minutes by public transport (max. 60 mins)
Practical information:
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Laundry: Not all households in San Diego 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.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Features:
- Shared room with a student of a different nationality (or a single room with additional fee), shared bathroom
- No meals included
- Bathroom in each room
- TV, fridge and fan
- Travel time to school: 15 minutes on foot
- Location: in the lively area of Little Italy
Services/Facilities available:
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Fully equipped communal kitchen
- Lounge room with a billiard table
- Rooms are cleaned every 15 days. Students are responsible for keeping the rooms clean for the rest of the time.
- 24/7 reception
- $500 deposit to be paid on arrival (preferably by credit card)
Located in Pacific Beach or Mission Bay
Features:
- Single or shared room with a student of a different nationality
- Bathroom in the room
- No meals included
- Distance from school: 40 minutes by public transport
- Location: 5 minutes from the Bay (calm waters), and 20 minutes from Pacific Beach (waves)
Each apartment is equipped with:
- 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
- 1 fully equipped kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Free WiFi access
- 1 lounge with a TV
- 1 balcony
Services/Facilities available:
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Swimming pool
- Barbecue
- Gym, tennis and basketball courts
- Laundry facilities (for a fee)
- Communal rooms and bedrooms are cleaned on a weekly basis. Students are responsible for keeping their apartments clean for the rest of the time.
Travel
Day of arrival: Saturday
Day of departure: Saturday
If you are staying in a shared apartment or the residence: Check-in: after 4 pm; Check-out : before 11 am
Arrival airport :
- San Diego International, SAN
Transfers available on request (additional fee, please see ‘Dates and Prices’ tab)
Note: please do NOT buy your ticket before we have confirmed your place in the programme.
Visa Information
Do you need a visa for this programme? To find out more about visas and if you qualify, please see our page Visa information.
For people coming from the European Union: standard classes that do not exceed 90 days do not require you to obtain a student visa. ESTA will suffice for a short trip.
Please do not hesitate to contact us by mail or phone if you would like more information on this subject.
Dates & Prices 2021
Dates 2021
Session start dates:
Classes start every Monday all year round, except in the case that Monday is a holiday, in which case classes start on a Tuesday.
Bank holidays & holidays (no classes will be held on these or rescheduled – apart from 23/11, which will be rescheduled): 01/01, 18/01, 15/02, 31/05, 05/07, 06/09, 25/11, 26/11, 24/12. The school does not close during the Christmas holidays, with the exception of 25/12.
Prices 2021
All taxes and registration fees included
| Courses & Homestay, single room, breakfast OR shared room Half Board OR Residence*, shared room, no meals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 20 lessons | 24 lessons | 30 lessons |
| 2 Weeks | € 1.425 | € 1.485 | € 1.600 |
| 3 Weeks | € 1.955 | € 2.040 | € 2.215 |
| 4 Weeks | € 2.540 | € 2.655 | € 2.890 |
| 6 Weeks | € 3.710 | € 3.885 | € 4.240 |
| 8 Weeks | € 4.765 | € 5.000 | € 5.470 |
| 12 Weeks | € 7.050 | € 7.405 | € 8.105 |
| 16 Weeks | - | € 9.650 | € 10.585 |
| 18 Weeks | - | € 10.830 | € 11.885 |
| 20 Weeks | - | € 11.425 | € 12.600 |
| 24 Weeks | - | € 13.675 | € 15.080 |
| 32 Weeks | - | € 17.855 | € 19.730 |
| 36 Weeks | - | € 20.060 | € 22.170 |
| Additional Week | - | € 550 | € 610 |
| *Residence, minimum 4 weeks | |||
| Supplements - Per week | Low season | High season | |
| Homestay | |||
| Single room, breakfast | - | € 10 | |
| Shared room, half board | - | € 20 | |
| Single room, half board | € 30 | € 50 | |
| Premium, shared room, half board | € 60 | € 80 | |
| Premium, single room, half board | € 125 | € 145 | |
| Residence | |||
| Single room, no meals | € 80 | € 80 | |
| Shared Apartments | #REF! | ||
| Superior Pacific Beach, shared room, no meals | € 50 | € 70 | |
| Superior Pacific Beach, single room, no meals | € 320 | € 420 | |
| Others | |||
| Special Diet (vegan, no dairy) | € 35 | - | |
| Express shipping costs for the visa | € 75 | - | |
| Option surf (2 lessons x 2 afternoon/week) | € 165 | - | #REF! |
| Transfers - from San Diego Airport (SAN) | #REF! | ||
| One way | € 100 | ||
| Return | € 195 | € 90 | |
Prices include:
- The chosen language programme
- Accommodation with a host family, single room and breakfast included, OR shared room & half board OR in standard residence, shared room and no meals (4-week minimum)
- Course materials
- Unlimited internet access
- All taxes and school administrative fees
Prices do not include:
- Travel to San Diego and airport transfers
- Exam fees for TOEFL etc. (if applicable)
- Deposit (for residence or shared apartment)
- Visa fees
- Optional insurances
Important: A medical insurance is required to enter the United States
