Special Programs and Activities

In order to learn English well, you should immerse yourself in the language and related activities. In addition to our courses, the Berkeley Summer English Language Institute offers several ways to do this. For a list of program events and events around town during the session, visit our Summer ELS Events page.

Fieldwork Projects

Different course topics and related fieldwork projects in ESL 8 and ESL 9 give participants the chance to improve their English language skills in the classroom and the community.

Please note that one credit unit of ESL 9 involves fieldwork to be completed outside the regular class session, often on Fridays and over the weekend.

Past projects have included class trips to famous Bay Area locations, museum tours, interviews with scholars and community groups, visits to local businesses, lectures by famous Berkeley locals, and more.

Extracurricular Activities

Man pouring Wine

Since most of our courses do not meet on Fridays, students are free to visit the local attractions on long weekends. Our experienced instructors and office staff are here to help you plan trips to explore the unique attractions the Bay Area offers.

For a list of program events and events around town, visit our Summer ELS Events page.

We can provide information on the following attractions, plus answer questions you might have about other trips you would like to plan.

Also, the UC Berkeley Summer Sessions Office recommends the following trips organized by California Tours. Click on the month listed below for schedules and on the tour links to see videos of previous summers' tours.

Please note:
All trips must be paid for by the student.
Some trips may conflict with students' course schedules.