Our school is located in the heart of the city of Berkley, 30 minutes from San Francisco and only two blocks away from one of the most famous universities in the world. Among its facilities you can find large and fully equipped classrooms. In the afternoon the school organises many activities and visits. You will have the opportunity to meet friends from all over the world in a lively and multicultural environment.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by AAIEP (American Association of Intensive English Programmes), TESOL (Teachers of Speakers of Inglés to Other Languages) and NAFSA (Association for International Educators).
Berkeley, California, belongs to Alameda County in the state of California and is located right on the bay of San Francisco. It is ideal for those who want to enjoy the quiet atmosphere, the youthful and multicultural nature of a small university town just 20 minutes by train from San Francisco.
The city of Berkeley is synonymous with the university. It is a city that shines for its prestigious and recognised educational system. The hippie movement was born here in the 60s and the city still boasts an exciting artistic and creative environment.
The best time of year is the fall, when it's sunny and warm and bright days are almost 100% guaranteed. The average temperature is about 25 º C, but heat waves are not uncommon, and can reach 30 ° C. The winter is colder and rainy, with average temperatures of 10 º C. In Berkeley it never snows and temperatures rarely drop below 0 ° C.
Spring is mild, with an average temperature of 15 º C approximately. This time of year there will be a mix of rain and sunshine, occasional heat bursts at 20 º C. During the summer there is a mix of rain, sun and fog, with temperatures ranging between 10 º C and 25 º C. The days start quite overcast and cold, but it will heat up until the sun rises in splendour, and in the evening it becomes cold again when the fog starts to cover the city around 5 pm.
Want to know more about English courses in Berkeley? Enquire
Class in the morning or afternoon. The timetable in the morning is 08:45-12:00; the timetable in the afternoon is 14:15-17:30
No VISA F1 is required
Ideal for those that want to have enough time for studying and enjoying free time
The English course has a minimum duration of 2 weeks, with 3 hours of English classes per day, 5 days a week. The rest of the time is for you to do whatever you want, do other activities like sightsee, participate in social events at the school or stay with your new friends.
20 lessons per week + 7 structured study sessions. These sessions will help you to reinforce what you have learnt, and improve in the areas that you need to most, using books, language exercises online and interactive programmes.
Class in the morning and in the afternoon
F1 VISA is required
Ideal for those that want to make the most out of their stay, studying in the academy in the mornings and afternoons
The semi-intensive English course focuses on practicing the 4 main aspects of the language: reading, writing, listening and speaking. This course will help you quickly and effectively. You will also learn vocabulary and grammar, how to express yourself in formal and informal discussions, etc.
This course is a combination between the general course of 20 lessons + 8 lessons of specific skills including vocabulary, culture, etc. + 7 lessons of structured study which will help to reinforce what you have learnt and improve in the areas that you need to most, using books, language exercises online and interactve programmes.
Class in the morning and in the afternoon
F1 VISA is required
Ideal for those that want to make the most out of their stay, studying in the academy in the mornings and afternoons.
The structure is the same as the semi-intensive course, plus additional classes in the afternoons. The course focuses on the rapid and effective teaching of the language, the obejective is to reach a fluent level of English, and learning grammar and vocabulary that can be used in daily conversations.
This course is a combination between the Semi-Intensive English course + 8 specific lessons of Business English
Ideal for professionals that need to improve their English level.
The objective of the course is to learn and manage Business meetings, be fluent in written techniques and competencies to be successful in a job interview; you will learn communication techniques to participate actively in business meetings and you will improve your written skills.
The course combines 28 lessons of exam preparation + 7 lessons of structured study.
Course duration: from 4 to 16 weeks
F1 VISA is required for this course.
This course is ideal for students interested in getting their TOEFL.
The course will give you necessary skills and a level of English that you need to be prepared for the exam. The course focuses on strategies and academic skills which are necessary for the exam. You will practice reading, writing, understanding and oral expression, as well as practicing exam style questions and doing simulation tests. You will get used to the layout of the exam, the structure, practicing and improving the level of English that you need.
The school offers a variety of activities and excursions to make the most out of your stay in San Francisco and California. You will have the opportunity to meet other students from all over the world and practice your English with them and the teachers.
Theatre trips, movie nights, trips to Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Sausalito and Napa Valley, and weekend trips to places like Los Angeles, Yosemite, Monterey and Lake Tahoe are organised.
This list is just an example:
Homestay accommodation is ideal for students who want to immerse themselves in a different culture. By sharing meals with your hosts every day, you'll benefit from speaking English in relaxed, natural situations. All families are carefully selected. To get to the school, you will need to use public transport.
Availability: All year
Room Type: single or double room
School distance: 15-40 minutes by public transport
Check-in: Sunday
Check-out: Saturday
Deposit fee: No
The fastest way to get to Berkeley is to fly to San Francisco Airport.
The airlines that fly to San Francisco from Spain are:
From San Francisco Airport, there is a fast train service throughout the Bay Area (BART). You just have to catch a train to RICHMOND and get off at BERKELEY.
The Bart stops at San Francisco International Airport. Tickets cost $ 3.25.
More info on the BART website