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<p><em>Written by Bofei Fan, an A-level Year One student at EF Academy Oxford</em></p>
<p>On a Wednesday afternoon, we visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The museum preserves thousands of specimens and fossils that were collected from many different eras. Meanwhile, our guide explained Darwin’s theory of evolution in great depth. After the evolution workshop, we had time to look at all these priceless collections displayed on a long corridor with descriptions, sorted by time.</p>
<p>From the Cambrian Period to the Holocene, the museum illustrates the changing face of the earth and the evolution of its creatures.</p>
<p>The other interesting part was the workshop on evolution. The museum staff explained the basic background of Darwin’s theory and showed us a fossil of an ancient horse that was the size of a hare. Next we had to taste a bitter chemical in order to prove if we have the gene that is able to taste something very bitter. In the end, the guide brought some Madagascan hissing cockroaches, which is a special insect that still preserves some ancient features.</p>
<p>After our workshop, the guide showed us the museum’s loft. A few centuries ago, British scientists gathered in here to debate their theories. Today, this loft has already been transformed into a specimen warehouse; specimens of insects are classified and stored in here.</p>
<p>In my opinion, this off-campus activity was totally successful as it was different from school biology lessons and it teaches us knowledge in a unique way, that encourages students to explore the unknown by themselves, instead of learning in a classroom.</p>

From the Cambrian Period to the Holocene, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History illustrates the changing face of the earth and evolution.

A behind-the-scenes tour of Oxford’s Natural History Museum - EF Academy Blog

A behind-the-scenes tour of Oxford’s Natural History Museum ‹ EF Academy Blog

A behind-the-scenes tour of Oxford’s Natural History Museum

Behind scenes tour oxfords natural history museum

<p><span class="ui-provider gp b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">On March 1st, the annual Culture Fair took place at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>. Organized by the Literature Faculty, the event featured displays created by the students where </span><span class="ui-provider gp b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">attendees were able to sample traditional cuisine from various countries, look at pictures, flags and hear music representative of the student’s native countries. We are so appreciative of all the students who participated and transformed their classrooms into riveting mini versions of their countries.</span></p>
<p><img alt="Ukraine Culture Fair oxford" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19848" height="322" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Ukraine-Culture-Fair-oxford.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Ukraine-Culture-Fair-oxford.png 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Ukraine-Culture-Fair-oxford-300x170.png 300w" width="568"></p>
<p><span class="ui-provider gp b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Overall, the Culture Fair was a resounding success, with many attendees expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and traditions. The event was a reminder of the importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity on campus, and a testament to the richness and diversity of our community at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>.</span></p>
<p><img alt="China culture fair" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19849" height="360" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/China-culture-fair.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/China-culture-fair.png 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/China-culture-fair-300x190.png 300w" width="568"></p>
<p><img alt="Culture fair germany" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19850" height="316" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-Germany.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-Germany.png 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-Germany-300x167.png 300w" width="568"></p>
<p><img alt="oxford students" class="aligncenter wp-image-19851 size-full" height="644" sizes="(max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-oxford.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-oxford.png 528w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-oxford-246x300.png 246w" width="528"></p>
<p><img alt="Culture fair tattoo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19852" height="622" sizes="(max-width: 554px) 100vw, 554px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-tattoo.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-tattoo.png 554w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Culture-fair-tattoo-267x300.png 267w" width="554"></p>
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<p>At <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, we believe that learning about each other’s cultures is essential to creating a diverse and inclusive community. By understanding and appreciating our various cultural backgrounds, we create a more understanding and accepting environment. Celebrating diversity not only helps us to gain a better understanding of the world around us but also fosters respect for all members of our community. By embracing cultural <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/the-value-of-differing-perspectives-in-the-classroom/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">differences</a>, we can create a more cohesive and united school community that celebrates the unique perspectives and experiences of every individual.</p>

On March 1st, the annual Culture Fair took place at EF Academy Oxford. Attendees could sample cuisine from various countries, listen to music and see flags.

Successful Culture Fair on campus in Oxford - EF Academy Blog

Successful Culture Fair on campus in Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

Successful Culture Fair on campus in Oxford

Culture fair on campus in oxford

<p>I arrived on <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">campus</a> at the start of this academic year excited to meet all the new artists starting on their IB Visual Arts journey. I have taught art to a large number of students throughout my career, from junior school all the way through to foundation courses at the University of the Creative Arts and also within the prison service. These experiences of seeing how art can effect change, enrich the academic and pastoral lives of students, and open eyes to new ways of thinking while looking at the world around us is one of the main reasons I am so passionate about my subject. I also love encouraging students to take risks and push themselves outside of their comfort zones to fully explore personal creativity and talents.</p>
<p>This is the first year that <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a> is offering Visual Arts to its <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/why-choose-ib-10-reasons-to-study-the-ib-diploma-in-high-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB students</a>, and I am looking forward to seeing what creativity, passion and skills they will bring. I have quickly realized that we have a group of talented and enthusiastic artists! Over the first 6 weeks, we have worked together to explore the formal elements of art through various media and methods, from continuous line drawing, and color theory to photography. This first stage of the journey is about trying new things and gaining confidence in the selection of these elements to help enhance their individual approaches.</p>
<p>As we move into the second half of the term students are encouraged to take their newfound skills and start to explore concepts and mediums within the theme of ‘identity’.  They will be organizing photoshoots, exploring their ideas through printmaking and collage, finding links to artists that inspire them and using all these experiences to create artworks that reflect their emerging interests and ideas.</p>
<p>It is a very important and exciting time! I have asked a few of my students to share their experiences and why they chose to study art and I hope you enjoy getting a window into what we do in the art room:</p>
<h3>Baldwin, Germany, IBY1</h3>
<p><img alt="Visual art made by Baldwin at EF Academy Oxford" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19629" height="803" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Baldwin-visual-art.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Baldwin-visual-art.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Baldwin-visual-art-212x300.jpg 212w" width="568"></p>
<p>IB Art is a great subject. The beauty of this subject is that you can choose what you want to do but still have guidance from the teacher to help you. You also learn a lot about different Art styles. It shows you the beauty of your daily life and exposes you to different challenges. It is important to know that you don’t have to do the “perfect piece” in IB Art.  Art lessons are a great opportunity to escape the busy student day.</p>
<h3>Mae, USA, IBY1</h3>
<p><img alt="Visual art by EF Academy Oxford student Mae" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19630" height="441" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Mae-visual-art-oxford.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Mae-visual-art-oxford.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Mae-visual-art-oxford-300x233.jpg 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>I love art because, unlike my other classes, art gives me the space to be free and experimental with my art. I can focus on things I feel passionate about while also pushing my boundaries. Art also gives me the space to make mistakes and learn how to fix them or work with them. If I don’t feel good about what I’m doing, art encourages me to take another look, reset my thinking, and continue on. Because of this I have learned about problem solving but also perspective. Art is also just a very calming part of my day. I can always look forward to the time I can spend in the art room listening to music or sitting in silence and letting my feelings and ideas out onto a page.</p>
<h3>Lilly, Germany, IBY1</h3>
<p><img alt="Visual art created by EF Academy Oxford student Lilly" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19631" height="258" sizes="(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lilly-visual-art-oxford.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lilly-visual-art-oxford.jpg 344w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lilly-visual-art-oxford-300x225.jpg 300w" width="344"></p>
<p>I love arts because with art I have the freedom to create and show you what I see/think through drawings/pictures /paintings…. or create my own interpretations of other artists works. I love the creativity and freedom I have over the art I create. In Visual Arts you have the freedom to express your style and individuality while still expanding your skills.</p>
<h3>Benedetta, Italy, IBY1</h3>
<p><img alt="Visual art created by EF Academy Oxford student Bendetta" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19632" height="379" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Benedetta-visual-arts-oxford.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Benedetta-visual-arts-oxford.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Benedetta-visual-arts-oxford-300x200.jpg 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>As an artist I love creating different things and experimenting with new techniques like we have been doing during this half term. We have also recently started to develop our ideas for our project portfolio by collecting all our pieces step by step. I love the arts, different forms of art give us humans the opportunity to grow, to feel less alone, to let out all of our inner souls, our negative and positive thoughts, everything inside of us… I knew that by choosing visual arts, I have found a way to escape to do this and find something totally different from the ordinary subjects. It does not seem like something mandatory, yes, there is seriousness and discipline, but there is a different approach to the work we have to do. Creating our own ‘vanitas’ and creating a mind map to present ourselves is a great opportunity to free our creative side, and has been a fun process for me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I do hope you enjoyed this brief glance into the world of IB Visual Arts. I cannot wait to continue to share with you the amazing accomplishments of the students, and their fantastic artwork in the future.</p>
<p>Best wishes,</p>
<p><strong>Anna Williams</strong></p>
<p>Teacher of Art,  <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a></p>

Explore some samples of the incredible work our IB students have created in their Visual Arts class at EF Academy in Oxford.

IB Visual arts journey at EF Academy Oxford - EF Academy Blog

IB Visual arts journey at EF Academy Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

IB Visual arts journey at EF Academy Oxford

Ib visual arts journey at ef academy oxford

<p>Ramadan marks the holy month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims observe fasting from sunrise to sunset. It is a period during which Muslims are expected to strive to a higher level of spirituality and where kindness, forgiveness and charity are actively promoted.</p>
<p>It can be an especially challenging month for our students who will have to go through the normal school day without eating or drinking. Each year at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>, our staff enjoy learning more about Ramadan and how we can support our students and help them celebrate.</p>
<h3>Who fasts for Ramadan and why?</h3>
<p>Not everyone is expected to fast and there are some exemptions. Fasting is neither obligatory for children, until they reach “of age”. The exact age of this forms some scholarly debate, but it is usually suggested when a child reaches adolescence (around 13) but some as young as nine will begin with “half-day” fasts. The majority of our Muslim students will fast, and this year the cohort of Muslim students came from diverse places such as Indonesia, Morocco, France, Algeria, Iran and Palestine.</p>
<h3>What happens to the school day during Ramadan?</h3>
<p>Ramadan in the UK began on the 12<sup>th</sup> April, lasting until the 12<sup>th</sup> May and throughout this month, our students were provided with special meal packs in the evening, consisting of a large evening meal and a packed breakfast for Suhur (pre-dawn meal) to eat in the early hours before school. Our Pathway Manager, <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/meet-the-team-daniel-simpson-pathway-manager/">Daniel</a>, who works with most of our Muslim students, assisted in ensuring they were suitably nourished and had access to cooking facilities.</p>
<h3>When does Ramadan end?</h3>
<p>Ramadan concludes with the first sighting of the new moon, when Eid Al Fitr is celebrated and the breaking of the fast. We celebrated with our students by laying out an Eid banquet for them, consisting of a spread of foods as similar as can be found in Oxford to that in their home countries. We dined on baba ghanoush, mezze plates, halloumi salads, mixed grill plates, breads, lamb tagine, couscous and pickles.</p>
<p>Zahra, our student from Indonesia explained what Ramadan means to her and how she usually celebrates at home;</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“Ramadhan to me personally serves as a reminder to appreciate the things that I have in life. Fasting for a month where you can’t eat and drink during the day reminds me to be grateful that I have access to food and water whenever I want and I think a lot of people take that for granted.</em></p>
<p><em>It also makes me appreciate my family more. Especially since moving to England, I’ve looked back and realized how I should’ve appreciated the times where I could spend Ramadhan and celebrate Eid with my family.</em></p>
<p><em>My family normally celebrates by visiting my mother’s hometown (usually for a week). It’s really nice to meet my cousins and the food is great!”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Eid Mubarak to all celebrating from everyone at EF Academy Oxford!</p>

Each year at EF Academy Oxford, our staff enjoy learning more about Ramadan and how we can support our students and help them celebrate.

Ramadan and Eid at EF Academy Oxford - EF Academy Blog

Ramadan and Eid at EF Academy Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

Ramadan and Eid at EF Academy Oxford

Ramadan eid at ef academy oxford

<p>This blog post about the drama <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/3-reasons-why-join-clubs-boarding-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">club</a> was written by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> New York student Maksim</p>
<hr>
<p>The drama club is a great place to sell your soul for the next after-school year of your life, sucking up every last drop of your free time and filling it with a truly beautiful, meaningful production directed by our very own Mr. Villari. If you like acting, set design, lighting, or any aspect of the theatre, this is the place for you.</p>
<h3>Patience pays off</h3>
<p>I’ve been a member of the drama club every year I’ve been at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, and even though we’ve had our roadblocks with covid making it hard to put on a production, when a play manages to take flight, it’s worth every second of your patience. You never get used to seeing people you eat with, have math with, and see around school take on a whole new form on the stage, it’s genuinely impressive the amount of theatrical <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/mind-the-gap-from-student-to-playwright/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">talent</a> we have here at the school, and yes, after almost every play half the cast goes off to graduate, but it only makes their last performance all the more stellar.</p>
<h3>Sending a message</h3>
<p>I managed to play the role of Ernst back in 2019, one of the antagonists (and comic relief) of the musical Cabaret, (which I highly recommend you see on your own!)  which deceives you with its racy, ridiculous and downright scandalous comic scenes but snaps you back into harsh, dramatic reality with a story taking place in Germany a year before the outbreak of WW2, and how it affected the people. One of our theatre teachers, Mr. Villari, heads the drama club directing it and handpicking every one of our plays, and when things go awry, he always manages to make sure we’re still able to do our job as actors and say something to the public for entertainment, and a more important message, something very important to Mr. Villari and everyone here at the drama club.</p>
<h3>Finding your part to play</h3>
<p>Every year, Mr. Villari makes sure to pick out a play that’s fun, challenging, and always manages to say something important, regardless of how many jokes are told. Everyone who wants a part gets a part, regardless of your personal acting ability, but the role you get is dependent on your audition, which just goes to show what kind of role you are fit to play, and what you’re looking to do. I initially wanted to play the part of Woland in last year’s rendition of Master and Margarita, but instead I got to play the part of Jesus, which, after getting into the role and rehearsing my lines, I grew to eventually love and enjoy! Everyone has a part to play in the club, and regardless of what you sign up for, I guarantee you’ll enjoy what you’ll get by the end.</p>
<h3>Storytelling through performance</h3>
<p>Acting, broken down to its barest essence, is the art of telling a story through performance. This idea is what drives actors or people just looking to have fun in the theatre forward, and it helped me get over a hefty portion of my stage fright so I could pursue bigger roles, and helped me grow my passion for acting, as it did with many other students here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>! And sure, not all of us are going to major in acting, I’M certainly not going to Juilliard, but your high school years are supposed to be spent doing the things you love, discovering more about yourself and learning a whole lot in the middle of it all, and the drama club does all of that and more with flying colors, which is why I’m auditioning one final time to play a part in 2022.</p>
<p> </p>

If you like acting, set design, lighting, or any aspect of the theatre, the drama club at EF Academy New York is the place for you.

The benefits of joining drama club in high school - EF Academy Blog

The benefits of joining drama club in high school ‹ EF Academy Blog

The benefits of joining drama club in high school

Why you should join drama club in high school

<p>Tuesday October the 27th saw Cotuit Lecture Hall grooving to the reggae sounds of ‘Jah Live’, by Bob Marley, as the first Friends of Philosophy gathering took place. Over the last few years this semi-regular event has seen topics as diverse as physics and maths and philosophy, the origin of the universe and various theories of personhood, being treated in a relatively informal and relaxed way. Visiting speakers – as well as our own students on occasion – provide much unique intellectual property and stimulus for engaged discussion.</p>
<p>This month, however, being Black History Month, it was the turn of the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (1892 – 1975) and his historical and cultural legacy to provide a wealth of material. Though himself an avowed Christian, Selassie was the figurehead of the Rastafarian movement of Jamaica, and inspiration for much in the way of music, art and ‘dub poetry’ as well as being a major player on the international political scene.</p>
<p>We were ably and enthusiastically led in our journey by Ras Benji, a Director of Fairfield House in Bath, UK (where Haile Selassie lived for some time during conflict in Ethiopia) and a true believer. The talk was both informative, and entertaining, providing a mixture of historical detail, cultural richness, music and spiritual insight into the figure of the enigmatic character who became known as Jah Rastafari: the Lion of Judah.</p>
<p><em>Written by Leo Bowder, teacher of philosophy at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>.</em></p>

Ras Benji, a Director of Fairfield House, spoke to the Friends of Philosophy on the cultural legacy of Haile Selassie for Black History Month.

Black History Month: Friends of Philosophy host speaker from the home of Rastafarianism - EF Academy Blog

Black History Month: Friends of Philosophy host speaker from the home of Rastafarianism ‹ EF Academy Blog

Black History Month: Friends of Philosophy host speaker from the home of Rastafarianism

Black history month oxford friends of philosophy

<p>This interview with <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> Oxford’s Head of Boarding was written and conducted by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> Ambassador Manuela</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a> counts on a great staff group that offers companionship, guidance, and friendship to every student on campus. Our head of boarding, Tina Desmond, is an unforgettable member that all of us care for and admire very much. Tina is one of those people that go beyond their job description, which is something that I, as a student, can greatly appreciate. Her kindness and attention to the students makes us all feel welcome and protected, despite being away from home. For all these reasons and for her diligence in her job, I find myself inspired by Tina, not only to share kindness with the world, but to go up and beyond in everything I do.</p>
<p>I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Tina where I learned about her experiences at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, her thoughts on her job, school dynamics, and the student body. Here are some highlights from the interview.</p>
<h3>Why did you decide to apply for the position of Head of Boarding, and how many years have you been working at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>I started at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> 13 years ago in Torbay as a law teacher and then began teaching sociology as well. Then, in 2016, there was a position for a house parent, so I decided with my partner that we could work together as a family and move into one of the boarding houses. We loved the boarding house experience, and I was asked to be head of boarding. I was the head of boarding, teaching law, head of humanities, etc. In June of that year, I was in France and heard of a position available.</p>
<h3>What is your favorite part of being Head of Boarding?</h3>
<p>Looking after people. One thing that I really love doing is making things better. I consider myself a fixer, so if you have a problem, you come to me and I’ll do my best to fix it. That is what I love about my job; helping people and caring for people.</p>
<h3>How would you describe your duties at EF Academy, besides the ones stated in your job description?</h3>
<p>As head of boarding, I can say that the position is non-exhaustive. It goes on and on and on. I always think of it as being a mum, a sister, an aunty, a policeman, a judge, a cleaner, a nurse, etc. You’re literally so many things. Everyday will be different. One day, it could be looking after someone because they aren’t very well, or helping to sew trousers, or something else.</p>
<h3>Have you learned a valuable life lesson while working at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>I think I’ve learned a lot in my first year of this job. I learned that students need guidance rather than discipline. You need to guide students and be fair with them. I’ve learned that direct discipline doesn’t work with teenagers. You’ve got to earn their respect. That’s the most important thing I’ve learned. It’s about getting the best out of them, not strictly disciplining.</p>
<h3>What is something you want to tell someone who is considering going to EF Academy?</h3>
<p>Play hard and work hard. I do think that you need that balance. When you’re here, you need to work hard, and when you’re on break, you really need to take advantage of it. Don’t fall behind, because it’s hard to catch up.</p>
<h3>How do you make new students feel safe and cared for in the EF Academy environment?</h3>
<p>By always being there for them. Letting them know that we’re here if they need us and opening that line of communication. They need to understand that we’re here for them no matter what. I would rather they tell me the truth so I can look after them a lot more. Also, the rules that we have in place have a reason, and they all relate to the students safeguarding. I feel like having rules in place makes students realize that we care for them.</p>
<h3>What has been your overall favorite experience while working at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>This story makes me emotional! There was a girl that was failing <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/ib-diploma-top-5-reasons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB</a>, and she was very upset about it. I ended up taking her under my wing and nurturing her, took her to the doctor and helped with her academics. She started growing, and one day she texted me and said that she had passed IB and that it was all because of me! That was a “woah” moment for me. Another moment happened when I was a teacher and a student said that they wanted to be like me, which also made me very emotional and content with the impact I left on my students.</p>
<h3>How would you rate the students from 1-10?</h3>
<p>I don’t think I could ever rate the student body. Every year, they are amazing and different, all of them. Even the ones that misbehave. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Students come here at a very young age and in another language, which is something that I can really appreciate and admire about everybody. Just the fact that you’re here, for me, is amazing.</p>
<h3>Do you consider the people at EF Academy as part of an extended family?</h3>
<p>I do. When I used to live with students in Torbay as a house parent, I definitely felt like we were a family. When I first came to <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>, it was a little different because I don’t live with the students, but I always think that we’re all one big family and I hope that students feel that way as well. That is definitely the feeling that we’re trying to create. Everyone cares for each other.</p>
<h3>Last question: What is one thing that you love about the students?</h3>
<p>I love that they’re all different. If all students were the same, it would be boring. I love the fact that students all come together as a family, even when they come from different nationalities.</p>
<p> </p>

Our head of boarding, Tina Desmond, is an unforgettable member that all of us care for and admire very much. Get to know her in this interview!

10 questions with Tina Desmond, Head of Boarding in Oxford - EF Academy Blog

10 questions with Tina Desmond, Head of Boarding in Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

10 questions with Tina Desmond, Head of Boarding in Oxford

Head of boarding ef academy oxford

<p>This interview was written and conducted by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> Ambassador Clare</p>
<hr>
<p>Seung is a well-known employee who currently works as a student services coordinator and in this short 6-question interview, we were able to go deeper into his journey here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a>!</p>
<h3>What made you want to work at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>So it’s not that I specifically looked into EF, it kind of happened naturally. When I was in college I was looking for summer jobs and something that would help me eventually get a job after I would graduate, and I found something that was called LT (language travel), it was basically summer camps for kids mostly from Europe, China, and sometimes Latin America to come to a campus in the United States to learn English for about 3 to 4 weeks and I ended up doing that 2016, 2017, 2018, got a job on January 28th here as an RA after the Summer. EF Academy met my needs because I was already interested in languages at that point and it was a good way to get to know other cultures.</p>
<h3>What were some of the challenges that you’ve faced?</h3>
<p>I started as an RA back in January 2019, some of the challenges back when I worked in South, because it was different back then, was because I started working mid-year there was no formal training so I kind of had to just learn as I went and so the first couple weeks were a bit difficult because I didn’t really understand what was going on. But I was very quick to adapt and it was nice getting to know all the students. One challenge I did have outside of the things I couldn’t control is that I was originally assigned with younger male students and it was hard to connect with them a bit because they were younger, a lot of them didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak a lot of their languages, but it the end it was good to bond. And now a lot of them are <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/university-offers-for-ef-academys-class-of-2022/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">graduating</a> this year and it’s pretty crazy!</p>
<h3>What’s one of the best things that you’ve learned from working at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>So I will separate the best things in terms of what makes me feel good and in terms of practicality. The best thing in term for me was that I was able to learn so many other languages and get to practice them all the time and I really enjoyed that while the best thing in terms of practicality is that I’m really good at handling high-pressure situations now and in emergency situations I know what to do because I’m very experienced now. I think that’s a very good thing to know how to do but personally, I think being able to have learned the languages is better.</p>
<h3>How important do you think communication is?</h3>
<p>Without communication, many things can go awry because of misunderstandings. It’s important to communicate in order to be as efficient as possible.</p>
<h3>How many languages can you speak? How did you learn them all?</h3>
<p>Actually whenever anyone asks me this question I kind of have a hard time answering it because I’m very specific on how I define “speaking”. So in terms of basic conversational skills, I can speak about 8 languages but when it comes to fluency, I would say about 4.</p>
<p>I learned a couple of them through school, I learned English through growing up here, Korean I grew up learning it from my parents, and I learned Japanese and French in school but everything else, as well as Japanese and French, I’ve learned because I would use them outside of school so much that it just naturally developed. But a lot of the ones I speak now more often, for example Spanish or Portuguese, I didn’t take any classes so it was just more from being exposed to it and hearing it all the time. But since I didn’t take any classes I learned pretty informal things and only a few limited things so when it comes to reading and writing, I don’t have that much of a foundation.</p>
<h3>Do you have any fundamental rules or beliefs that you live by? If so, what is it?</h3>
<p>I guess the main thing that I go by right now is “to go with the flow”, like me coming and working here was never like planned so I’ve learned to just go with what comes and be accepting and being okay with the fact that I can’t plan everything.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With such a hardworking member of the <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> staff, I think we can ensure a greater experience for the students here currently and more students to come in the future!</p>

Seung works as a student services coordinator at EF Academy in New York. Get to know him and his journey in this short 6 question interview.

Meet EF Academy Student Services Coordinator, Seung - EF Academy Blog

Meet EF Academy Student Services Coordinator, Seung ‹ EF Academy Blog

Meet EF Academy Student Services Coordinator, Seung

Ef academy interview with student services coordinator seung

<p>With graduation season just around the corner, <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>‘s Class of 2021 have started receiving university offers from colleges and universities around the world.</p>
<p>Universities in the United States and United Kingdom remain the most sought-after destinations among seniors this year, who have received offers from universities including the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, UCL, Northeastern University, Pennsylvania State University, the Pratt Institute and many others.</p>
<p>Early offers to universities around the world have also been received from institutions including the University of British Columbia, Bocconi University, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and the University of Amsterdam.</p>
<p>Among the subjects seniors aim to pursue at university level are medicine, law, history, economics, engineering, fashion, psychology and hotel management. So far, offers have been received in all of these subjects and many more.</p>
<h3>Early university offers<strong> </strong></h3>
<p>The list below includes a selection of early university offers received. We look forward to the Class of 2021 receiving more acceptances in the coming months!</p>
<p><strong>United States<br>
</strong>Arizona State University<br>
Berklee College of Music<br>
Case Western Reserve University<br>
Drexel University<br>
Florida International University<br>
George Mason University<br>
George Washington University<br>
Illinois Institute of Technology<br>
Indiana University Bloomington<br>
Michigan State University<br>
Northeastern University<br>
Pennsylvania State University<br>
Pratt Institute<br>
Purdue University<br>
Rutgers University<br>
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)<br>
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)<br>
Tulane University<br>
University at Buffalo SUNY<br>
University of Arizona<br>
University of Denver<br>
University of Illinois at Chicago<br>
University of Massachusetts Amherst<br>
University of Minnesota Twin Cities<br>
University of the Pacific<br>
University of Wisconsin Madison</p>
<p><strong>United Kingdom<br>
</strong>Cardiff University<br>
Durham University<br>
Imperial College London<br>
King’s College London<br>
Lancaster University<br>
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)<br>
Royal Holloway, University of London<br>
University College London (UCL)<br>
University of Aberdeen<br>
University of Bath<br>
University of Birmingham<br>
University of Bristol<br>
University of Cambridge<br>
University of East Anglia<br>
University of Exeter<br>
University of Glasgow<br>
University of Leeds<br>
University of Manchester<br>
University of Nottingham<br>
University of Oxford<br>
University of St Andrews<br>
University of Sheffield<br>
University of Southampton<br>
University of Warwick<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Rest of world<br>
</strong>Bocconi University<br>
Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne<br>
Instituto Marangoni<br>
Monash University<br>
Tilburg University<br>
University of Amsterdam<br>
University of British Columbia<br>
University of Groningen<br>
University of Newcastle, Australia</p>
<h3>University guidance at EF Academy</h3>
<p>Thorough university preparation is a fundamental element of our mission at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>. As a result, we regularly place graduates at some of the best universities in the world.</p>
<p>Our students benefit from exceptional university guidance from experienced counselors with deep knowledge and insight into what universities look for in applicants. We supplement the <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/ib/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB Diploma</a>, <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/us-high-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">US High School Diploma</a> and <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/a-level/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A-Level</a> curricula with a university guidance program that includes application and interview preparation, one-to-one application coaching and over 150 university visits throughout the year.</p>

With graduation season just around the corner, EF Academy's Class of 2021 have started receiving university offers from universities around the world.

Early university offers for EF Academy’s Class of 2021 - EF Academy Blog

Early university offers for EF Academy’s Class of 2021 ‹ EF Academy Blog

Early university offers for EF Academy’s Class of 2021

Early university offers 2021

<div>
<p><em>This letter was written by EF Academy alum Peter F. Grinde-Hollevik to this year’s graduating seniors.</em></p>
<p>Dear EF Academy Class of 2020,</p>
<p>Congratulations on all of the college acceptance and rejection letters you received this peculiar spring. Whether or not you got into your top choice, I’m certain you’ll make an impact in the world.</p>
<p>I’d like to start off by saying what this essay won’t be about. This is not a <em>How I got into Berkeley</em> story, nor is it a <em>Look at me, I’m smart</em> story. If you’re interested in that, just ask our good friend Google our cousin Quora on <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/proximity-us-universities/">how to get into a top-tier college</a>. Besides, I’m not at all qualified to make any assertions like that, whatsoever – I still haven’t realized how I passed the acceptance bar for international students. Thus, I’m carefully awaiting a ‘Sorry, we made a mistake’ letter from the school!</p>
<p>Instead, I’d like to shine a light on some of the challenges of college applications and how to address them. Yeah, I know it sounds depressing. And it can be, at least sometimes. Still, do not let this stop you from pursuing your college dreams in the States – if that is what you really aspire to.</p>
<h3>Deal with rejections</h3>
<p>The reason I started off by congratulating you for your rejection letters is simple: Behind every college rejection, there is a lot of hard work and dedication. Sometimes they’re disappointing, other times they’re upright mysterious. Personally, I applied to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, UCLA, & Berkeley. I got rejected from six of them, and for many seniors, this might be the first time you’ve had a feeling of not being good enough, or ‘not the right fit’ for some sort of institution or organization. No matter if you’re the kind of person who decides to smash your laptop in anger or sit down with a cup of camomile tea, a disappointment is still a disappointment. A great piece of advice would be to brace for impact and just hope for the best. That way, every upside becomes a through-the-roof positive experience.</p>
<h3>Deal with the costs</h3>
<p>The American comedian, Fred Allen, once said, “I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.” I wish this was the case for everyone, yet sadly it isn’t. College in the US comes with a great cost, especially for international students. Still, this does not have to serve as a barrier as long as you’re up to taking the road less traveled. International scholarships are few, but give the ones you find a shot. Look into your close network; have you gained enough goodwill to get a private sponsor? Look at your major; can it be relevant to a specific firm or a cause? Would they fund parts of your education in exchange for your research or a summer internship?</p>
<p>Instead of telling yourself “I can’t afford this,” I recommend putting your most valuable asset – your brain – to work by asking yourself: “How can I afford this?” That’s when the magic happens.</p>
<h3>Deal with the application</h3>
<p>Oh, the application – I almost forgot! Recommendation letters, essays, and SAT prep. A lot of SAT prep. Spending your Friday evening on <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Khan Academy</a>, enjoying some historical analysis of the Suffragette Movement and a couple of centuries-old Congressional debate memos. Some find the essays and the letters of recommendation a daunting experience, others struggle with nerves on test day. What is special about the application process is that you’re never quite sure if what you’re doing will amount to something. Will I get into my dream school? Is it worth all this?</p>
<p>To tackle this, convince yourself that the process <i>itself</i> is worth it – regardless of the result. By doing so, the rec. letters suddenly become an incentive to network, the SAT a source of fun-facts, and the essays an opportunity to look inwards – something we rarely do these days. Besides, chances are high that you’re not the only one heading to the US – a great advantage of <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our international community</a>. Make a study group, or ask alumni for advice!</p>
<p>With this, I hope that you’ve gained some new perspectives on the challenges you will be facing on your road ahead. Most importantly, I hope you’ve learned how to turn those challenges into opportunities for personal growth and prosperity. At last, just remember what Robert Frost said:</p>
<p><em>Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—</em><br>
<em>I took the one less traveled by,</em><br>
<em>And that has made all the difference.</em></p>
<p>Peter F. Grinde-Hollevik<br>
<a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/">EF Academy Oxford</a>, Class of 2018</p>
</div>

Dear Class of 2020, Congratulations on all of the college acceptance and rejection letters you received this peculiar spring.

A letter to the high school Class of 2020 - EF Academy Blog

A letter to the high school Class of 2020 ‹ EF Academy Blog

A letter to the high school Class of 2020

Letter to high school class of 2020

<p><em>Jacopo Bagnoli, originally from Italy, graduated from <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/">EF Academy Oxford</a> in 2020. We caught up with him a few months after graduating to hear about his journey from high school to medical student at the University of Pavia.</em></p>
<h3>Tell us a bit about yourself!</h3>
<p>Hello everyone! My name is Jacopo and I just started Medical School in English in Italy, precisely in Pavia, the 2nd most recognized university for medicine and surgery in my country.</p>
<h3>What was your proudest achievement at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>My proudest achievement at EF Academy was being able to win the medical genetics award. The medical genetics competition was held during the quarantine period online. Each of us presented a topic of their interest. I discussed my Extended Essay in CRISPR CAS 9 and its use in the cure of Huntington’s disease in humans.</p>
<h3>Why did you choose to study medicine?</h3>
<p>I chose Medicine because I have always been interested in the life sciences and how they interact giving rise to the complexity of the human body and what surrounds it. Moreover, the desire to help others being on the frontline is the reason why I chose a more clinical career like Medicine, rather than let’s say Neurosciences or Biotech.</p>
<h3>How did EF Academy help you get to where you are today?</h3>
<p>EF Academy Oxford helped me a lot in what concerns preparation for Medical Admission tests, and interview practice. This gave me both the analytical skills and decision making techniques needed to succeed in my future career.</p>
<h3>What are your plans for the future?</h3>
<p>My current main plan is completing Medical School. I’m also going to do extra-curricular research, so that once I graduate I will have broader career options in the Health Sector. My future plans concern entering a surgical specialty (at least for now), as well as pursuing Medical research, and why not teaching the next generation of Doctors.</p>
<h3>Do you have any advice for current students wanting to study medicine?</h3>
<p>If your dream has always been to study medicine, I have some advice for you.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Study hard, but don’t forget the work-life balance.</strong> You need some rest to achieve success, otherwise you simply won’t be able to coop with the work, especially later on in your medical career.</li>
<li><strong>Practice, practice, practice!</strong> This is especially true if you are preparing some medical school interviews. Try some questions with your friends as well as teachers or members of your family. I will be giving you some tricks in a future post.</li>
<li><strong>Do some work experience.</strong> Not for interviews (even though it’s needed most of the time), but to really get an idea of whether medicine is the right career for you. I would strongly suggest doing whatever you can to help people in your community, though please remember to stay safe in these challenging times.</li>
<li><strong>Never give up!</strong> It may be hard, but if you have a dream and you work hard enough you will succeed!</li>
</ol>
<p>I say it from the perspective of someone who got 3 interviews and 1 offer. I was in and then Coronavirus ended (temporarily) my dream. I decided to study as hard as I could during summer to try the entry test for Italian Medical schools. This is done in English so I had an advantage over other people. I thought everything fell apart and that I couldn’t succeed, but here I am in the 2nd best medical school in Italy.</p>
<p>If I did it, you can definitely do it too, just work hard, and again, don’t forget the school-life balance!</p>
<hr>
<p>EF Academy’s alumni community brings together over 4,500 graduates spread across the world. Through our alumni spotlight posts, we showcase the fascinating, diverse personal and professional journeys EF Academy alumni have embarked on since finishing high school.</p>

Jacopo Bagnoli graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2020. We caught up with him to hear about his journey from high school to medical student at the University of Pavia.

From EF Academy to medical school: Jacopo Bagnoli ’20 - EF Academy Blog

From EF Academy to medical school: Jacopo Bagnoli ’20 ‹ EF Academy Blog

From EF Academy to medical school: Jacopo Bagnoli ’20

Alumni spotlight medical school jacopo

<p>I had the wonderful opportunity of going to China to teach a Theory of Knowledge introductory course. For those that are unaware, Theory of Knowledge, or TOK, plays a vital role in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/academy/programs/ibdp/">International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP)</a>, by providing an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what. TOK is the philosophical part of the DP. TOK aims to make students more conscience of how they perceive the known and trying to fight preconceived notions of what they already deem to be true. It allows not just the students but the teachers to also reflect critically on different areas of knowledge and consider it in their own culture and in the cultures of others. This allows both parties to encourage complex thinking and to recognize the need to act responsibility in our ever globalized world.</p>
<p>That being said, my first stop was Guangzhou, where I taught a lesson at the EF office located there. I met some wonderful and energetic kids and hope to see them in my own class back at EF Academy New York. I then went to Beijing where I also taught a lesson at the EF office there where I met some awesome kids and their parents. Not only did we discuss TOK, but I also gave details about life at EF Academy, the importance of studying abroad as well as living and studying in the state of New York.</p>
<p>My third location was my overall favorite – Inner Mongolia! I had the pleasure of meeting a group of English teachers with whom I discussed the advantages of teaching the IBDP, which as mentioned before, not only allows students to think differently, but teachers themselves, as well as university life in USA. I also taught a group of 7th graders which offered them a taste of high school level classes.</p>
<p>My fourth location was Changsha, the hometown of Chairman Mao. I taught two classes of TOK to 10th graders and it was eye-opening to say the least. Many students enjoyed learning about the IBDP and asked stimulating questions which I more than enjoyed answering. We also held a live stream questions and answers session with over 100 viewers which I believed turned out successful.</p>
<p>Last but not least, my whole time in China meant being treated to some delicious food. I ate camel in Inner Mongolia, stinky tofu in Changsha, and peking duck in Beijing – all while teaching a subject that’s close to my heart.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Written by Rosalie Frison, IB Year 1 and Year 2 Geography teacher and Varsity Cheerleading Coach.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

One of our teachers from EF Academy New York got the opportunity to teach the Theory of Knowledge classes from the IB Diploma in China.

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