San Diego

With its 5km of sandy white beach, Pacific Beach (known as “PB” by the locals) is a stunning city in southern California between Mission Bay and La Jolla. This city is a heaven for surfers and definitely represents an element of the ‘Californian dream’. What with its Cape Cod style houses in Crystal Pier and its boutiques that look right onto the Pacific ocean, this dynamic city has something for everyone. If you take a stroll down Garnet street, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the city with numerous bars, clubs & restaurants. Pacific beach is known for having the best nightlife and restaurants in all of San Diego.

The population is largely composed of students, young professionals and international travellers, giving the city a dynamic and lively atmosphere.

San Diego has been named as one of the best cities to live within the United States on more than one occasion.

Our partner school, CEL in Pacific Beach is located in the middle of town on Garnet Avenue. Only 300 metres from one of the most popular beaches in southern California, CEL is just around the corner from numerous bars, clubs and restaurants. The school is known for its academic excellence, and goes through regular evaluations to ensure it keeps its academic standard to the highest level.

Accreditations: CEA (Commision of English Language Accreditation), English USA

School facilities include:

  • 10 brightly light classrooms, equipped with the newest technology (smart TVs)
  • Air conditioned classrooms
  • Free WiFi access
  • Lounge room with a TV
  • Space to store surf boards and bikes

English Classes: General Information

  • 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

20 lessons of general English per week

  • 4 lessons a day will help you to develop the 4 fundamental language skills (speaking, writing, reading and listening). You will also develop the ability to use your English in everyday situations.
  • Classes take place from Monday – Friday from 08:45 – 12:00 or 14:15 – 17:30 (peak season only)
  • Language level: Beginners (A0) to Advanced (C2)

24 lessons of general English per week

  • This is an ideal programme if you’re looking to make fast progress. This course includes 20 lessons of general English + 4 lessons on a subject of your choice from a selection on your arrival
  • Classes are held from Monday – Friday from 08:45 – 12:00 + 2 days a week from 12:30 – 14:30 OR Monday – Friday 14:15 – 17:30 (peak season only) + 2 days a week from 12:30 – 14:30
  • Language level: Beginner (A0) to Advanced (C2)

30 lessons of general English per week

  • This is an ideal programme if you’re looking to make fast progress. This course includes 20 lessons of general English + 10 lessons on a subject of your choice from a selection on your arrival
  • Classes are held from Monday – Friday from 08:45 – 14:00 OR 12:30 – 17:30 (peak season only)
  • Language level: Beginner (A0) to Advanced (C2)

20 or 24 lessons per week

  • Classes are entirely devoted to exam preparation: sample exams will help you to become familiar with the exam format and expectations so you can acquire the specific techniques required in order to score the best possible grade.
  • The 20 lessons per week are held from Monday – Friday from 08:45 to 12:00 + 3 days from 12:30 to 14:00 or 14:15 to 17:30 + 3 days from 12:30 to 14:00 (peak season only). The 24 lessons per week are held from Monday – Friday from 08:45 to 14:00 or from 12:00 to 17:30 (peak season only).
  • Language level required: Advanced (C1)

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 may be free and some may require a fee. The availability and variety of these activities depends 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..)
  • Visit to San Diego zoo, the Aquarium, Museums
  • Hiking in Balboa Park
  • Bike rides along the beach
  • Barbecues on the beach
  • Outings to Seaworld, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Disneyland, Legoland..

Surfing option2 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

Extra option

  • Single room
  • Premium (travel time to school: maximum 35 minutes by public transport – limited availability)

Travel time to 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.

Features:

  • Shared room with a student of a different nationality
  • Bathroom in the room
  • No meals included
  • Distance from school: a 25 minute walk
  • Location: 5 minutes from the Bay (calm water), 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 beach volley courts
  • Laundry facilities (for a fee)
  • Rooms are cleaned once a week but students are responsible for keeping the apartment clean the rest of the time
  • Parking (for a fee)

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 (for a fee, please see ‘Dates and Prices 2018’ tab)

Note: 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 the 26/11, 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 the 24/12.

Prices 2021

WPCS 42.0.3
Cours & logement chez l'habitant, chambre individuelle, petit-déjeuner ou chambre partagée, demi-pension ou Résidence*, chambre partagée, sans repas
Durée20 leçons24 leçons30 leçons
2 semaines 1.460 1.520 1.640
3 semaines 2.000 2.090 2.270
4 semaines 2.600 2.720 2.960
6 semaines 3.800 3.980 4.340
8 semaines 4.880 5.120 5.600
12 semaines 7.220 7.580 8.300
16 semaines- 9.880 10.840
18 semaines- 11.090 12.170
20 semaines- 11.700 12.900
24 semaines- 14.000 15.440
32 semaines- 18.280 20.200
36 semaines- 20.540 22.700
Semaine suppl.- 565 625
*Résidence, séjour de 4 semaines
Suppléments - Par semaineBasse saisonHaute saison (26/06-14/08)
Logement chez l'habitant
Chambre individuelle, petit-déjeuner- 10
Chambre partagée, demi-pension- 20
Chambre individuelle, demi-pension 30 50
Premium, chambre partagée, demi-pension 60 80
Premium, chambre individuelle, demi-pension 130 150
Logement en résidence Standard
Chambre individuelle, sans repas 80 80
Logement en appartement partagé
Superior Pacific Beach, chambre partagée, sans repas 50 70
Superior Pacific Beach, chambre individuelle, sans repas 330 430
Autres
régime spécial (vegan, sans lactose) 35-
Frais d'envoi express pour le visa 75-
Option surf (2 leçons x 2 après-midi/semaine) 170-
Transfert - depuis l'aéroport de San Diego (SAN)
Aller 100
Aller-retour 200

Prices include:

  • The chosen language programme
  • Accommodation with a host family, shared room & half board OR in a standard apartment, 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