Conversation & Fluency

This program will offer in-person classes in Winter 2021, with a hybrid model of instruction.

Who should take this course?

Students who would like to focus on conversation, fluency-building, and American culture topics will benefit from the Conversation and Fluency program. In addition to structured lessons in grammar and vocabulary development, students will have many opportunities to interact with other international students and UC San Diego Conversation Leaders who are native English speakers and members of the community. Two cultural field trips, plus presentations made by guest speakers are integrated into the classroom experience. For a less intensive conversation program, try our 10-hour per week Conversation Program. High-beginner to advanced levels of English proficiency are welcome to take this program. A student’s English proficiency is determined during orientation at the time the student arrives at UC San Diego English Language Institute (ELI). Students who would like a fully live-online Conversation and Fluency program should check out our Online ESL Courses page for more information.

Dates

2021 Dates

• January 11 - February 5
• February 1 - 26
• March 1-25:  CLOSED
• July 6 - 30 (July 5 is a holiday)
• August 2 - 27
• August 30 - September 24

View a complete list of all program dates.

Program Schedule

• Monday – Friday
• 20 or 15 hours per week
• Schedule varies depending on English level

Cost (in U.S. dollars)

• Application Fee: $150 (nonrefundable)
• FedEx fee: $50 (optional, but recommended)*
• Full-time Tuition:  $2,000 (20 hours per week / 80 hours total)
• Part-time Tuition:  $1,800 (15 hours per week / 60 hours total)**
• International Student Service Fee: $175
• UC San Diego Extension medical insurance: $180
• Books/Materials: Approximately $150-175 (Payment CANNOT be made in advance. Books and materials must be purchased upon arrival at UC San Diego.)

*The Fedex fee is not necessary for the part-time program.
**The part-time program does not qualify for the form I-20.

Advisory About Variable Enrollments

Enrollment numbers in our Academic, Conversation, and Conversation and Fluency programs vary greatly from month to month. If our placement tests indicate that your English proficiency level does not permit placement in the original 4-week program class, we may place you in 4 weeks of study in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program, or we may provide a combination of classes and individual tutoring to ensure a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. Alternatively, we may decide to place all 4-week program students in level-appropriate classes in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program in order to provide a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. When this happens the students’ 4-week program will have the features described for the new 4- or 8-week program, not the features described for the original program. The tuition and fees for the students’ 4-week program enrollment will remain the same.