Converse International School of Languages
San Diego
Quality English school in San Diego, California since 1972. CISL is known for small class sizes and student activities.
IELTS Course Starting April 20, 2026! Sign up today! Please contact info@cisl.edu
Converse International School of Languages (CISL) has been a leading English school in San Diego since 1972. America’s Finest City is known for its beautiful weather, expansive beaches, and laid back Southern California culture, but locals know that San Diego is so much more: the area’s natural parks, museums, delicious restaurants, numerous sporting events, and year-round festivals make SD a cultural hub for those lucky enough to live or visit. What makes San Diego so special? Each of San Diego’s unique neighborhoods has something to offer. Fashion mavens flock to the malls in Mission Valley, beach-lovers choose between any of the city’s gorgeous beaches, nature fanatics enjoy hiking along the sea and in the area’s local parks, and urbanites take pleasure in areas like trendy East Village, exciting Downtown Gaslamp, hipster North Park and upscale Little Italy. Each of these areas is well connected with local transit, making it easy to explore them all! Our English school is located on Broadway Street in Downtown San Diego, in the city’s historic Gaslamp District. The school’s modern facilities and bright classrooms provide students a welcoming environment; when class is not in session, students interact with friends in the student lounge.
CISL San Diego at a Glance
- Possible full range of levels (A1 - C2) - Student Lounge - Computer Lab - 2026 School Closure Dates: January 1, 19, February 16, May 25, July 3, September 7, November 26-27, December 24-25. - Minimum Course Length: 2 weeks (4 weeks for F-1 students) - Lesson length: 50 minutes - 20 lessons: Standard English, Business English, Executive English, IELTS - 22 lessons: Standard English Plus, Business English Plus or Executive English Plus - 28 lessons: Intensive English, Intensive Business English, Intensive Executive English
Courses in San Diego
For more than 50 years, CISL San Diego has offered students the chance to improve their English skills through its Standard and Intensive Programs. Students attend classes in the mornings from Monday through Friday and master the skills necessary to communicate confidently in English. Should they choose, students can attend afternoon classes focused on Conversational English, Business English , or Academic English that are held Monday through Thursday. Our English school is proud to have offered test preparation courses for over 25 years. The school offers intensive IELTS preparation courses, which are led by qualified and dedicated instructors. For the professional student, CISL offers Premier English courses such as our popular Executive English , including private professional specialty courses such as Medical English, Aviation English and English for Engineers. Academic students have the option of CISL’s Pathway or Academic Year Abroad programs. With Pathway, CISL students transfer to an American university and receive their post-secondary degree (associates, bachelors, masters, or PhD). With the CISL Academic Year Abroad, students spend a gap year in the U.S., spending half of their time at CISL San Diego before transferring to a CISL partner college.
San Diego Accommodation
CISL San Diego students have several options for accommodation , including Homestay, residence halls in the upscale and hip neighborhoods of Downtown and Little Italy and dorm options (summer only) at University of San Diego. Students can choose between private or shared rooms(for two students traveling together). All CISL residences are within walking distance of CISL San Diego and are fully equipped for the international student. Homestays average 30 to 50 minutes travel time on public transportation. All CISL Host Families are carefully selected and are dedicated to providing students with a warm and welcoming home.
Activities in San Diego
CISL afterschool activities provide students the opportunity to see everything San Diego has to offer on water and land! Students take advantage of group discounts on tickets to Padres baseball games, surfing lessons, ferry rides to Coronado, trips to historic Old Town, or activities such as laser tag. The Activities Coordinator is ready to provide tips for students who are interested in making the most of their CISL San Diego experience. Students looking for an English school in San Diego with an exciting mix of activities will enjoy CISL!
Popular CISL Activities:
- San Diego Zoo - Balboa Park - Museums - San Diego Safari Park - San Diego Padres - Kayaking - Surfing or Kite Surfing - Shopping at the Las Americas outlets or Fashion Valley - Whale watching - Hiking - Weekend excursions to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas
Nationality Mix
CISL is dedicated to maintaining an impressive diversity in the classroom. CISL’s Nationality Mix reflects this: no group of students is represented by more than 1/5 of the student population. The CISL classroom is a place to connect with people from around the world, which makes the CISL experience more than just an experience studying in the U.S.: it’s a chance to connect globally!
Accreditation of the San Diego Language School
Converse International School of Languages (CISL) in San Diego is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period December, 2024 through December, 2034 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions in the U.S. For further information about this accreditation, please contact CEA, 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 630, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703 665-3400, info@cea-accredit.org , www.cea-accredit.org
Meet the CISL San Diego Team
CISL’s well qualified and dedicated staff members understand the specific needs international students have. The CISL staff members are ready to assist in any way possible!
Latest Blog Posts for Living & Traveling in San Diego
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Testimonials
CISL was better than I expected. Not because of the program only, but because of the people. They are not regular teachers or staff. They are writers, linguistics, artists and much more. The book and the curriculum are great, but the off topic discussion from these professionals are deep interesting. I learned the language through real topics and conversations, not only from the text book. These types of classes, take the language teaching to a new level. CISL is sophisticated, intellectual, and diverse environment. It gave me more than I expected and it was perfect. Here at CISL, I didn’t have teachers and staff. I had family and friends. Musab (Saudi Arabia) Musab was a great student and is currently at University of Pennsylvania, School of Architecture. Tamara (Former CISL San Diego Director) I love Converse because all the teachers are so nice and so friendly. Every day it felt fun. This is my first experience to study abroad. Before I came here I felt nervous but Converse made my life happy. I made many friends and I will never forget this experience. Ai (Japan) This experience is really valuable for me. First, I can get along with friends who are from Switzerland, Brazil and so on. It’s hard to meet them in Korea. Second I was a really lucky guy that learned English from wonderful teachers. They pointed out my weak points that I usually had in a problem. The last one is location. It is located in Downtown San Diego, meaning we can go anywhere easily. I forgot to say that the managers and officers were also kind and friendly. I will miss this trip. Wookrae (Korea)
Downloads
- 2026 CISL Dates and Prices - Adult Program Brochure - Adult Application Form - CISL Adult Pre Arrival Guide - CISL San Diego Activities Calendar
