ELS Address:
110 West A Street, Suite 275 San Diego, CA 92101
Tel.:
(619) 233-5433
Center Information
Our ELS Language Center in San Diego, California is on the Southern California coast and located next to downtown San Diego's entertainment and shopping district. Many students enjoy day trips to the beach, the world famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World®, and Mexico or spend a weekend exploring Disneyland®, Universal Studios® and Hollywood in nearby Los Angeles or Las Vegas. San Diego's very mild climate is considered by many to be the best in the United States. California's second largest city, San Diego is a metropolitan city with the charm of a small town.
Programs
Intensive English
Cost Per Session:
$1,575.00
Show Description
The ELS Intensive English Program is our most popular program of study. This program will help you significantly improve your English skills, achieve greater fluency and fully prepare you for university study in the USA.
Semi-Intensive English
Cost Per Session:
$1,210.00
Show Description
The ELS Semi-Intensive Program is ideal for students who want to learn English while also having time to visit local cities and attractions. Students take classes in the morning and have afternoons free to explore.
The Complete Prep program for the TOEFL® iBT
Cost Per Session:
$1,680.00
Show Description
ELS has developed a 12-week comprehensive Prep Program for the TOEFL® iBT that gives you the best preparation possible and the confidence you need to succeed!
The new Internet based TOEFL® iBT requires students to answer questions related to speaking, listening, reading and writing – and measures not just what you know, but how well you can express yourself and apply your knowledge. By taking the Prep Program, you will practice integrated reading and listening skills, improve writing and speaking, as well as learn test-taking strategies.
American Explorer
Cost Per Session:
$1,150.00
Show Description
If you are planning a short vacation in the USA and would like to include some English classes, our American Explorer Program is perfect for you. American Explorer is designed for tourists who would like to take some part-time English classes while spending their afternoons sightseeing and visiting local attractions. From the fast-paced excitement of New York City, to the relaxed lifestyle along the beautiful California coast, our great locations hold many opportunities for adventure.
The American Explorer Program consists of 12 levels of instruction from Beginning to Masters proficiency, with four weeks of instruction per level.
Business English
Cost Per Session:
$1,575.00
Show Description
The ELS Business English Program covers the following skills: giving presentations, participating in meetings, negotiating agreements, explaining and defending positions, and using business vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in work-related conversation.
English for Executives
Cost Per Session:
$5,195.00
Show Description
The English for Executives Program is designed for junior and mid-level professionals who want to combine general English practice along with career-specific communication training. The English for Executives Program consists of three 50-minutes interactive group lessons and three personalized, 50-minute one-to-one lessons each day in ELS group classes. The course length may be two or four weeks, beginning on any of the 26 year-round Intensive English Program start dates.
Super Intensive Plus
Cost Per Session:
$5,125.00
Show Description
For maximum results in just one week’s time, the Super Intensive Plus Program is the best choice for a busy executive. This highly rigorous course consists of 70 lessons, 50 minutes each, of combined in-class instruction and out-of-class cultural activities, generally taught from Monday through Sunday. Super Intensive Plus is ideal in preparation for an important business presentation or meeting in the United States. Due to the intensity of this program, intermediate English proficiency is highly recommended. ELS will provide assistance with accommodation arrangements.
Super Intensive English (30 lessons)
Cost Per Session:
$7,050.00
Show Description
The ELS Super Intensive English Program is the fastest way to improve English proficiency. This course combines highly concentrated, one-to-one instruction and a curriculum targeted specially to the participant’s needs. Courses are individually designed based upon level of English ability, desired language use and outcomes, and length of time available for study. This program can begin on any Monday and may last for one week to four weeks or more. The Super Intensive Program consists of either 20, 30 or 45 private, 50-minute lessons each week, taught on a Monday to Friday schedule. ELS will provide assistance with accommodation arrangements.
Additional Learning Opportunities
American Conversation Partnerships
Interested in after-class conversation and friendship with an American student? Inquire after your arrival and we can arrange time with a native speaker.
Contact America! Program
Through regularly organized activities you can practice English both in and out of the classroom with native guest speakers or American students discussing various topics.
Volunteerism Experience
ELS Language Centers offers a unique opportunity for full-time students who wish to participate in volunteer experiences at public and private, national and local organizations that provide services to adults, youth, children, elderly, handicapped and needy, or services protecting and improving the environment. Students who complete this experience will receive a certificate, which recognizes their participation.
TOEFL Testing Center
In addition to our academic TOEFL Prep Program, we offer the TOEFL exam on-site. For more information on the TOEFL test click here
Activities
ELS Activities
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Center Staff
Vince Burns
Center Director: Vince began working with international students in 1977. He has an MA in College Student Personnel Administration from Bowling Green State University. He worked for the ELS franchise in Taiwan from 1982 to 1988, as a teacher, Assistant Academic Director and as the Academic Director. He has been with ELS San Diego as Center Director since 1992. He also served ELS as a Regional Director from 1998 to 2000. In addition to his Center Director responsibilities, Vince has been the Director of Franchise Operations for the International Division of ELS since 2004. In that role, he has completed 29 inspection visits of ELS Centers in China, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Panama, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Vince, Shu-fun, his wife of 27 years, and their 2 grown children have all studied abroad and speak a second language.
Jim Scofield
Academic Director: Jim has been an ESL teacher and/or administrator since 1974. He has a BA in Linguistics from the University of Kansas and an M.Ed.in Education from San Diego State University. He has served as an officer for professional organizations TESOL, CATESOL, and NAFSA and has given 39 presentations at their annual conventions. He is a site reviewer of ESL programs for CEA, the Commission on English Language Accreditation and serves on the ELS Curriculum Advisory Board. Jim has been working for ELS San Diego for more than 30 years and has been the Academic Director since 1980.
Christine Benkner
Registrar: Christine handles all the Center bookkeeping and is also an experienced and well-qualified English teacher. Christine, a native San Diegan, has a BA in Speech Communication from San Diego State University, an M.Ed in TESOL from Temple University Japan and a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English. She taught English in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in the JET Program from 1998-2001. Christine began working for ELS in 2005. She's fluent in Japanese and just gave birth to her first child, a beautiful daughter named Sarah.
Derek Grotzinger
Student Advisor: Derek also served as the student advisor for ELS Seattle. He has enjoyed working in two different cities, experiencing life in both cities and sharing those experiences with students and showing them around. One of the best experiences of Derek’s life was studying abroad in Australia. He made lifelong friends and experienced things he will never forget and decided he wanted to take a job where he could help other people have those kinds of experiences. That’s why he loves working at ELS. One of Derek’s passions is traveling. He has been to over 20 countries and loves experiencing new cultures and trying new things. He learns something new from the students every day about their cultures. Derek is always looking to try new things, and the students at ELS keep him busy coming up with new things they want to experience.
Elizabeth Key
Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth began as a volunteer and is now one of ELS San Diego's newest employees. A graphic designer for twenty years, she has long had an international connection professionally; from clients in Europe to printers in Asia, where the majority of her designs were produced. Having grown up in a family that travels the world and speaks several languages, Elizabeth fell in love with San Diego’s multicultural flavor when she moved here five years ago. As an artist, musician and dancer, she enjoys sharing the city’s many expressions of the arts with students, as well as involving them with volunteer opportunities serving the poor and homeless.
Gabriella Archambeau
Instructor: Gabriella has been teaching at ELS since 1996. She is an accomplished instructor whose personal philosophy is to allow her students to learn as much as possible in a relaxed, enthusiastic and creative atmosphere. Recently, Gabriella set up and coordinated 2 new programs for the Center – Volunteer and Conversation Partner programs. Both are designed to get the students more involved with the community and offer a unique way for students to practice their English. Gabriella has also taught drama and creative writing classes and directed children’s productions in San Diego and Boston. She earned her degree and teaching credential in English Literature and Theatre Education in Boston. Gabriella’s current interests include playing the piano, bicycling, ethnic cooking and writing. She looks forward to traveling abroad, especially to Italy were both sets of her grandparents were born.
Marian Hart
Instructor: Marian holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from Georgia State University, and has been teaching English since 2004. In addition to teaching at ELS San Diego, she has also taught at ELS Bristol in Rhode Island, and Georgia State University. She enjoys helping students gain success and confidence in English, and she believes everyone can improve their vocabulary by reading books for fun. Come to ELS San Diego, and Marian will help you find ways to be more successful in English, too.
Jim Revak
Instructor: Jim has been with ELS since 2005 and has taught English and public speaking since 1994. He holds the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and has been certified as a TOEFL iBT instructor by the Educational Testing Service. He holds the Toastmaster Gold designation for public speaking from Toastmasters International. Jim has previously worked as a marketing research consultant and holds a master's degree in marketing from San Diego State University. In addition, he has taught music appreciation for the San Diego Opera and has a bachelor’s degree in music from Rutgers University.
Sandra Blazynski
Sandra has a BA in Journalism and French. Before becoming a teacher of English, she worked as a journalist. A teacher of “1000 questions”, she enjoys her students and takes a real interest in their lives. She has been with ELS San Diego since 2005. Sandra has lived in Europe and speaks Spanish and French. She believes that knowing other languages helps her to understand students’ challenges in learning English. Sandra offers a weekly yoga class to ELS students and is interested in politics and cooking.
Roxanne Rogers
Roxanne is a native of northern California, but has lived the majority of her adult life abroad. She lived in Germany for several years and in Scotland for over ten years where she completed a degree in Primary Education at the University of Edinburgh. She taught primary school in Scotland for many years. Subsequently she taught in bilingual primary schools in the Middle East and in Mexico where she laid the foundation for the English department at the University ‘de la Canada’ in the state of Oaxaca. She holds a TEYL and a TESOL Certificate from UC San Diego. She enjoys meeting people from all over the world while teaching English and likes to use games, music and humor in her classes.
Kristin Young
Kristin started teaching English at 19, while still a college student. Since then, she has completed her degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Spanish, and is currently finishing her Master’s degree in Special Education, with an emphasis on bilingual strategies. She also has an applied linguistics certificate from San Diego State University and spent a year teaching English in Taiwan. Kristen has a border collie named Woogie and loves cooking, eating, movies, books and roller coasters.