Silicon Valley Intensive Program
Study English in the heart of the Silicon Valley, minutes away from Apple, Facebook and many others!
Study English
Weekly Activities
Homestay with American family
Independence
2 or more weeks, available all year
Silicon Valley
16+ years
Overview
In the Silicon Valley Intensive Program you can improve your English daily in a more suburban region of the Bay Area.
Attend daily ESL classes at an English school on the San Francisco Peninsula while living with an American host family. Joining this program is a great way to independently experience many different parts of the Bay Area, as you are mere minutes away from San Francisco while residing in the world-renowned Silicon Valley. Your school organizes weekly activities you can join and our team is available around the clock to help in any way possible.
Education
Your English education takes place inside and outside of the classroom.
Main or Intensive
Main: 9 AM - 1 PM Monday - Friday (20 lessons)
Intensive: 9 AM - 2:20 PM, Monday - Friday (25 lessons)
Levels: Beginner - Advanced
Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, Books, Kitchen, Student Lounge
Studying English at our ESL school is an incredibly exciting experience. Before you start class you will undergo a brief level test. Based on your results you will then be placed in a class that fits to your level and goals. Your classes focus on the many different aspects of learning English, from reading, to listening, to writing all the way to conversation and beyond. School is also a great place to make friends with people from many different countries and all walks of life. There is literally no better way to improve your English while making connections that will benefit you for a lifetime. English course provided by Language Pacifica.
Accommodation
All Accommodations are personally visited and approved before your arrival.
Homestay
Location: Within 10 - 15 mile radius of San Mateo
Meals: Half Board and weekend lunches
Transportation: No more than 60 minutes from school by public transportation
All of our host families are kind and caring people who live in comfortable homes in safe neighborhoods within a 10-mile radius of the school, and accessible by no more than 60 minutes door-to-door of public transportation. The school director personally interviews all hosts. Living with a host family is a unique experience, because it involves you in the day-to-day ongoings and traditions of a typical American family.
Activities
Explore California through regular activities and events.
Weekly Activity Packet
Types of Activities: Movies, music events, hiking, volleyball, bowling, picnics etc.
Your school offers weekly activity suggestions, which you may join together with your classmates. Along with this, our team is always happy to help you plan independent trips and activities. There are a lot of cheap and even free things to do in the Bay Area and thanks to its great public transportation system and the many international students, you’ll surely always have something going on.
Other Information
How to join
1. Submit your information
2. Receive & sign Application Form
3. Receive Invoice & transfer payment
4. Obtain Visa and flight tickets
5. Prepare and come to the USA
Support
We are by your side from the moment you decide to join our programs until we drop you back off at the airport at the end of your program and beyond. This program is very independent in its nature - we allow you complete autonomy in every way. If you do happen to need a helping hand with anything, we are available and happy to help around the clock. When necessary a team member will even be able to meet up with you. Since we know the Bay Area like the back of our hand, we’ll gladly assist you with anything concerning local questions or plans.
Requirements
The program requires you to be at least 16 years old and have a high level of independence. For visa requirements, see below.
Airfare & Visa
The main program version only requires an ESTA or B2 Visitor Visa, depending on where you are from. The Intensive option requires an F1 Student Visa. We will help you in obtaining your visa and your airfare.
Health Insurance
Health Insurance is provided through our partner, “International Student Insurance”. If you have any questions about the insurance, please contact us. Important: Upon request the health insurance can be adapted to your or your child’s individual needs (for an extra fee).
The San Francisco Bay Area
A Unique Place
What makes the Bay Area absolutely unique its diversity in inventions, lifestyles, events and most importantly cultures. It is the type of place where you can't walk down the street without hearing another language, making it easy to meet people from other countries and not only broaden your horizons but make friends from around the world. This diversity has allowed the Bay Area to be just as open-minded and forward-thinking in their world views as they are in their achievements in business and technology. This is why you will get to see all the newest inventions, trends and movements right here first. They Bay Area is a place where no idea is too crazy and no person too foreign - coming here will feel like coming home.
Things To Do And See
The Bay Area is a truly unique place. Despite its high population, it has a suburban feel to it, no matter where you are, which is mostly due to the many plazas, shops, parks and natural habitats found all over. The warm & comfortable temperatures all year and an easy-to-use public transportation system make exploring the Bay Area a real joy. It’s widely known for its cultural diversity, world-famous sights and of course the Silicon Valley, where companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Tesla and countless are headquartered. There are a lot of great things to do and see here, including:
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Exploring its many and diverse restaurants (There are more than 3,500 restaurants open in San Francisco alone)
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Pursuing physical activities on your own or in one of the many public clubs (such as hiking, swimming, riding a bike, yoga and countless more) in beautiful parks, sports facilities and even downtowns
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Exploring its countless beautiful sights (e.g. the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lake Merritt, Half Moon Bay, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Napa and the many world-renowned companies like Google, Apple and many more)
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Enjoying the Bay Area like a local with its many “Hidden Gems” - charming, quaint restaurants, parks, coffee shops, drum circles and other local highlights, that all represent different stories & cultures and are by far the best way to explore the Bay Area’s real lifestyle
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Taking trips to farther away destinations, like Santa Cruz, the 17 Mile Drive, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Napa and Los Angeles. We’re happy to help you rent a car or simply drive you there ourselves depending on the program.
Trailer
Not what you're looking for?
Questions? Concerns? Requests? Just want to get to know us? Let's meet on Skype (or FaceTime) when you are free. Just send us a short message with your Skype (or FaceTime) account information via our contact page. We're looking forward to meeting you!
$655 USD
From
per week
Wks
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
+1
Main
$1,370
$2,040
$2,700
$3,350
$3,990
$4,620
$5,240
$655/wk
Intensive
$1,460
$2,175
$2,880
$3,575
$4,260
$4,935
$5,600
$700/wk
Main: 20 lessons/wk | Intensive: 25 lessons/wk
All prices include:
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School tuition
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Single room in homestay
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Weekly school activities & suggestions by us
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Half Board (and weekend lunches)
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Course certificate upon completion
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24/7 Support by our team for any plans, questions or problems (finding a doctor, obtaining a Driver’s License, changing your course etc.)
Optional Upgrades:
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Airport transfer (one-way): $99
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Airport transfer (both ways): $159
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Online Preparatory Workshop: $95
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Health Insurance
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14 - 29 years: $25/week
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30 - 39 years: $28/week
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40 - 49 years: $33/week
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50 - 59 years: $40/week
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Other fees to plan for:
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Airfare (can be included)
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Visa Fees (~$360)
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Money for shopping & activities
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International transfer fee: $45 (once)
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School Registration fee: $95 (once)
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School Materials fee: $95 (once)
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Homestay Placement fee: $100 (once)
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Transportation to & from school (~$15 per day with public transportation)
The fee includes taxes.
Get A Free Quote
3 Good Reasons...
...to join this program
1. We provide local support for any requests or problems, such as finding a doctor, changing your course or anything else
2. Thanks to our vast knowledge of the Bay Area, we’ll help you explore the best attractions and events
3. Upon request we will assist you in transferring to a local college or university after your course
The entire program is organized, hosted and overseen by the Universal Studies team.
Prices and Inclusions last updated 10/13/19.
Universal Studies is a member of the International Education Consultants Association (IECA).