Quick answer, the 11 best English schools in California are:
- Papora
- American English Language School
- California College of Communications
- American English Institute
- Harvest English Institute
- EC English Language School
- College of English Language
- Adams College of English
- Language Pacifica
- Mentor Language Institute
- Kaplan International Languages
Mastering English takes time, dedication, and the guidance of experienced native teachers. In California, there’s no shortage of schools to help you reach that goal — but which one is truly the best?
Our experts at Papora have analyzed the top options, weighing their advantages and disadvantages, to help you choose the program that fits your needs perfectly. Let’s dive in!
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1. Papora - Online English School
We're starting with Papora, an online school designed by British native speakers and education specialists with one goal: to help you speak English from the very first class.
How does it do this? Through entertaining classes with unique content that adapts to everyday life, so you can practice the language at any time, strengthening your knowledge for longer.
They offer classes for young people and adults, covering everything from simple topics like the use of was and were to more advanced grammatical structures.
Benefits of studying with Papora
With Papora, you'll have access to unlimited monthly classes with live teachers via video calls and in small groups based on your availability. Our teachers are committed to encouraging conversation throughout.
If that's not enough, you'll also have access to a self-guided course, depending on your plan, so you can practice with more than 300 different lessons.
Why choose Papora?
Other English schools help you prepare for official exams. However, with Papora, you'll receive a certificate for each level completed to demonstrate your English proficiency in California.
You can reach an advanced C1 level according to the Common European Framework, which is sufficient for you to speak confidently and fluently.
2. American English Language School
We continue with a school for young people and adults that offers classes following a one-year program that promises to help students speak without fear in everyday situations.
Main Features
They offer a special course to help foreigners learn about American culture, as well as scholarship programs at various universities in California.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 3230 E Imperial Hwy #125, Brea, CA 92821, United States.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 714 990 4657 / info@aels.edu.
- Plans: Information at branch.
Advantages and Disadvantages of American English Language School
The school has received good reviews about the quality of its native teachers in Los Angeles. However, they have limited spaces, so you may have to wait to enroll and begin studying.
3. California College of Communications
This school uses an immersive method, meaning it encourages students to learn outside of the classroom, helping them become accustomed to different accents and recognize the authentic English used every day.
Main Features
The teachers organize activities to encourage communication, trying to correct any pronunciation or grammar problems. The courses are divided into levels, with each lesson focusing on one of the pillars of the language.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 700 W Hamilton Ave, Campbell, CA 95008, United States.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 408 374 5066 / info@calcc.edu.
- Plans: Start at $960 USD/month.
Advantages and Disadvantages of California College of Communications
A monthly conversation club is held there where students can interact with other people and practice. It's worth mentioning that, in addition to the course fee, students must pay extra for study materials.
4. American English Institute
We're moving on to a school specializing in offering four- or eight-week intensive courses. Each course focuses on helping students improve their communication skills.
Main Features
It offers individualized courses so teachers can adapt their lessons to students' goals. They also offer special courses for passing official TOEFL and IELTS tests.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 2002 Iowa Ave Suite 110, Riverside, CA 92507, USA
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 951 824 6150 / info@american-english-institute.com
- Plans: Starting at $2,155 USD/month
Advantages and Disadvantages of the American English Institute
Its personalized courses allow each student to overcome their weaknesses in a short time, but its cost must be considered, as it is one of the most expensive courses on our list.
5. Harvest English Institute
Among English schools in Los Angeles, this is one of the most popular. It offers small group classes, intensive courses, and courses for preparing for official exams.
Main Features
When you enroll, the school offers a free trial lesson to help you start at the level that’s right for you. They also guarantee personalized support tailored to each student’s individual learning needs.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 3550 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1050, Los Angeles, CA 90010, USA.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 833 609 4646 / harvest@harvest.net.
- Plans: Start at $150 USD/month.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Harvest English Institute
Their classrooms are comfortable and include audiovisual equipment to make classes more dynamic. The problem with the school is their customer service, as they don't announce the start of their classes on time and have problems with payments.
6. EC English Language School
We continue with a school with several locations in California. It offers group classes for beginners, business English courses, and college scholarship programs.
Main Features
The school promises that classes are fun and that they use audiovisual materials such as audios or videos recorded by native speakers. They focus primarily on communication and listening comprehension.
Plans and Branches
- Branches: 1225 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037 / 433 California St #210, San Francisco, CA 94104 / 401 Wilshire Blvd #200, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States.
- Hours: Depending on English level.
- Contact: 858 449 3758.
- Plans: Starting at $470 USD/month.
Advantages and disadvantages of EC English Language School
Users recommend its Business English courses, as they help with job interviews. However, it's worth mentioning that the course has very restricted schedules and doesn't allow you to make up classes.
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7. College of English Language
This school bases its methodology on the Common European Framework, meaning they follow a level structure ranging from beginner A1, which studies topics such as describing clothing in English, to advanced C2.
Main Features
Like other options on the list, they often conduct activities outside of the classroom to ensure students learn in an immersive environment where they only hear native speakers going about their daily activities.
Plans and Branches
- Branches: 632 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 / 233 A Street, Suite 400, 4th floor, San Diego, CA 92101 / 919 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109, United States.
- Hours: Depending on English level.
- Contact: 310 933 3419 / info@englishcollege.com.
- Plans: Starting at $1,590 USD/month.
Advantages and disadvantages of the College of English Language
They only work with native, certified teachers. The problem is that, contrary to what they advertise, they tend to work with large groups, which prevents them from offering personalized service.
8. Adams College of English
With 10 years of experience, the school specializes in preparing its students to pass the TOEFL test. For this purpose, students can access group classes or a personalized tutoring service.
Main Features
They have several programs available for their users to choose from, with the school's most popular offering consisting of conversation classes with a private tutor.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 3700 Wilshire Blvd #985, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 213 427 5547 / admissions@adamscollege.edu.
- Plans: Starting at $660 USD/month.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Adams College of English
Its classrooms are well-equipped with technology and have comfortable and spacious spaces. Its only drawback is the schedule, as it has few classes per day and is not well-suited to its students.
9. Language Pacifica
In this case, the classes focus on business English. This way, students can learn the language to better their job opportunities.
Main Features
Their methodology is based on practice, with activities that simulate everyday situations or job interviews to help them gain confidence when communicating.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 1528 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 650 321 1840 / esl@languagepacifica.com.
- Plans: Information at branch.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Language Pacifica
They work with teachers of various nationalities, so students hear different accents. However, it's worth mentioning that they tend to work with large groups, unlike other schools on our list.
10. Mentor Language Institute
This school has two campuses in Los Angeles, making it highly accessible for students. It offers classes on basic topics, such as mastering the correct use of “will” and “going to” — perfect for beginners starting their English journey.
Main Features
They offer traditional group classes, intensive courses, and courses to help you pass the TOEFL and IELTS tests. They also organize immersive camps for young people.
Plans and Branches
- Branches: 10880 Wilshire Blvd #122, Los Angeles, CA 90024 / 7080 Hollywood Blvd #314, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States.
- Hours: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 310 887 0777.
- Plans: Starting at $804 USD/month.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Mentor Language Institute
It has more flexible scheduling due to its two branches, although it's not comparable to online schools like Papora. However, some users point out that its teaching methods are very traditional and unmotivating.
11. Kaplan International Languages
We conclude our list with a school with several branches across the United States. They promise completely personalized service to each of their students.
Main Features
Its method is based on practice, enabling students to connect their native language with English. It promises to help improve pronunciation, reading, writing, and listening comprehension.
Plans and Branches
- Address: 1100 Glendon Ave Suite L1, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States.
- Schedule: Depends on English level.
- Contact: 213 514 8164 /
- Plans: Starting at $3,650 USD/month.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Kaplan International Languages
Its unique methodology is fun, and its teachers adapt well to their students. The problem is that they don't have as many schedules as promised and it's one of the most expensive schools in California.
Why do we recommend studying English online with Papora?
When evaluating the strengths of each, we can easily see that Papora stands out and exceeds any expectations with its platform.
This online school's classes are designed so that everyone, whether beginner or not, can develop and improve all areas of the language in record time.
Our teachers focus on encouraging communication skills so you can speak with greater confidence, but that's not all. They also offer activities to help you learn to write, read, and improve your reading comprehension in a dynamic way and at your own pace.
With our help, you'll master all the English verb tenses in no time, learning without even noticing.
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Develop your English-speaking confidence in California with the help of Papora. Our exceptional learning approach will help you succeed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About English Language Schools in California
Each course can vary in length depending on the number of classes you take during the week. On average, courses typically last between one and two years, although there are intensive courses lasting two to four months to study a specific area of the language.
This will depend on the school you enroll in. Some allow you to reach an advanced C2 level according to the Common European Framework. However, an intermediate B1 level is sufficient to convey your ideas confidently and fluently, even when conversing with native speakers.
