Spoken English: The San Francisco Experience is ideal for students who have only a short time to study and who wish to become more confident in speaking and understanding conversational English as it is used in daily life.

Classes emphasize grammar and pronunciation as well as the practice of communication skills necessary to perform appropriately in everyday situations. Many class projects and assignments actively involve students in meeting native speakers, and learning about and participating in San Francisco life.

Students work closely with each other in pairs and small groups to complete a wide variety of communication activities and, in doing so, gain the invaluable experience of meeting other students from around the world.

Our instructors are highly-qualified professionals with Master’s degrees in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or a related field. In addition, ELP instructors have an average of 19 years’ experience teaching English in the United States and abroad.

Students are assigned to one of five levels, from elementary to advanced, based on the results of the placement test given on the first day of class. Each student is placed at the level that is appropriate to his or her proficiency and that will assure the greatest opportunities for progress.

Average of 12 students

18 class hours per week

Spoken English students have approximately 18 hours of instruction per week. Communication Projects meets 15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, and the Language in Real Life class meets three hours a week from 1:10pm to 2:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Each Monday and Wednesday, from 1:10pm to 3:30pm, students are divided into conversation groups of 4 to 6 students led by native speakers of English. Students are able to practice English conversation beyond the confines of the traditional classroom.

The English language proficiency of each student is measured by standard tests (Michigan placement test at the beginning of each session and by instructors’ evaluations.

Students who receive letter grades of A, B, or C from instructors will receive Certificates of Completion at the end of each session. [Please note: ELP can issue only one certificate per student. Lost certificates cannot be reissued.]

A student who receives a grade of D or F will be placed on Academic Probation for the next ELP session. If a probationary student's academic performance does not improve, he/she will be asked to leave the program and will be considered out of status.

Students who are interested in pursuing further studies in the United States can make an appointment with our Academic Adviser. The Academic Adviser can help match a student with the American college, university, or other educational institution that best serves his/her academic needs.

The Learning Center is the English Language Program’s library, study hall, and listening laboratory. It has a reading room with a variety of books, magazines, and newspapers, a listening laboratory with tape recorders and videocassette players, and quiet study rooms in which students can do their homework. Instructors are available to give students individual help with conversation, reading, listening, grammar, and TOEFL preparation. The Learning Center is open Mondays through Fridays; hours vary from session to session.

The Computer Lab may be used by students on a drop-in basis. Students can do research on the Internet, type their assignments, or send e-mail to friends and family. Instructors sometimes reserve the Computer Lab for class use, but it is generally open from 8:00am – 9:00am, 12:00pm-1:00pm, and 2:30pm-5:00pm Mondays through Fridays (the lab closes at 4:00pm on Fridays).

The Student Activities Office at ELP plans optional cultural and recreational activities to help make the student’s English learning experience in Berkeley as enjoyable as possible. ELP-organized events include:

Ski Trip to Lake Tahoe Bike Trips across the Golden Gate Bridge

Extra fees are required for most activities. After arriving at ELP, students choose the activities they would like to participate in and they pay their fees at that time. Optional activities provide participants with an opportunity to meet students from different cultures and to practice English in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

*Activities vary seasonally and depend upon availability