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
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 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
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
| Cours & logement chez l'habitant, chambre individuelle, petit-déjeuner ou chambre partagée, demi-pension ou Résidence*, chambre partagée, sans repas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Durée | 20 leçons | 24 leçons | 30 leçons |
| 2 semaines | € 1.555 | € 1.620 | € 1.750 |
| 3 semaines | € 2.135 | € 2.230 | € 2.420 |
| 4 semaines | € 2.770 | € 2.900 | € 3.155 |
| 6 semaines | € 4.050 | € 4.245 | € 4.630 |
| 8 semaines | € 5.205 | € 5.460 | € 5.970 |
| 12 semaines | € 7.700 | € 8.080 | € 8.850 |
| 16 semaines | - | € 10.535 | € 11.560 |
| 18 semaines | - | € 11.825 | € 12.975 |
| 20 semaines | - | € 12.475 | € 13.755 |
| 24 semaines | - | € 14.930 | € 16.465 |
| 32 semaines | - | € 19.490 | € 21.540 |
| 36 semaines | - | € 21.900 | € 24.205 |
| Semaine suppl. | - | € 600 | € 665 |
| *Résidence, séjour de 4 semaines | |||
| Suppléments - Par semaine | Basse saison | Haute saison (26/06-14/08) | |
| Logement chez l'habitant | |||
| Chambre individuelle, petit-déjeuner | - | € 10 | |
| Chambre partagée, demi-pension | - | € 20 | |
| Chambre individuelle, demi-pension | € 30 | € 55 | |
| Premium, chambre partagée, demi-pension | € 65 | € 85 | |
| Premium, chambre individuelle, demi-pension | € 140 | € 160 | |
| Logement en résidence Standard | |||
| Chambre individuelle, sans repas | € 85 | € 85 | |
| Logement en appartement partagé | |||
| Superior Pacific Beach, chambre partagée, sans repas | € 55 | € 75 | |
| Superior Pacific Beach, chambre individuelle, sans repas | € 350 | € 460 | |
| Autres | |||
| régime spécial (vegan, sans lactose) | € 35 | - | |
| Frais d'envoi express pour le visa | € 80 | - | |
| Option surf (2 leçons x 2 après-midi/semaine) | € 180 | - | |
| Transfert - depuis l'aéroport de San Diego (SAN) | |||
| Aller | € 105 | ||
| Aller-retour | € 215 | ||
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
