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In this post, Oxford IB Year 2 student Marie shares 5 things she didn’t know before attending boarding school at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>!
<hr>
<h3>Friends at boarding school</h3>
You’ll get friends for life! The summer before I started school at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, my biggest fear was not getting friends. Over a year later I’ve met some of the most amazing people, some of who I know I will remain in contact with for a long time after we go our separate ways for university.
<h3>Keeping up academically</h3>
It is a lot easier to keep up with school! Basically living at school, and having the same friends at school and outside of school, makes it a lot easier to stay on top of things at school.
<h3>Great teachers</h3>
Teachers are a lot more involved! The teachers at EF Academy Oxford are not just regular teachers. They care for each individual student and do everything in their power to make sure that every student succeeds and reaches their full potential.
<h3>Always something going on at boarding school</h3>
Activities are arranged on weekends! There is never a dull moment at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>! During weekends, our activity leader arranges a range of activities and excursions covering every possible interest and wish. As if that was not enough, there are a range of clubs arranged during the week, all from law club and <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/model-un-in-high-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Model UN</a> to pride club and self-care club!
<h3>University guidance</h3>
Excellent guidance for university applications! The process of applying for university can be daunting but with the expertise of our university counselor, it becomes a lot easier. We are provided with individual counseling, giving each student the best chance of being accepted into their dream university.

In this post, Oxford IB Year 2 student Marie shares 5 things she didn't know before attending boarding school at EF Academy!

5 things I didn’t know before attending boarding school - EF Academy Blog

5 things I didn’t know before attending boarding school ‹ EF Academy Blog

5 things I didn’t know before attending boarding school

5 things i didnt know before attending boarding school

It’s officially the first week of summer! A time many of us wait for all year round. Some find themselves traveling, some spending time with family and friends, and others devoting this time for rest and reflection. The concept of self-care seems simple, but why do we as individuals seem to find every excuse to not tune in to what our bodies need? We are so used to our daily routines and our roles as fixers and doers, but I challenge you all to find 15 minutes each day to dedicate to self-care. Pick from one of the eight categories of self-care to get you started! 
 
<ul>
<li> Intellectual – Read a book, talk to an elder, take a break</li>
<li> Emotional – Engage in activities that involve your senses</li>
<li> Environmental – Be in nature, visit a garden</li>
<li> Physical – Move your body, take a lap around your building</li>
<li> Spiritual – Create a quiet space for contemplation and solitude or a place for curiosity and playfulness</li>
<li> Financial – Make small changes to expenses</li>
<li> Community – Turn to a partner, family member or friend</li>
<li> Occupational – Build relationships with coworkers/colleagues</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>Self-care and mental health at EF Academy </h3>
Here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a>, we have begun to plan for our next academic year with much excitement! We look forward to continuing to prioritize the mental health of our community, as COVID-19 essentially created two pandemics. In the first year alone, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%. In the world of education, we know that those who <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/healthy-habits-students/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">feel well</a>, do well. While receiving good grades may be fulfilling, we cannot forget to first care for our minds and bodies.  
For the first time, we will be offering several evening counseling hours within our mental health department, in addition to our school day hours. We could not be more thrilled to welcome two new members to our counseling team, Kimberly Lynch and Renee Swift. These new community members will help facilitate individual counseling sessions, groups, create mental health curriculum for our advisory classes, and run specialized workshops!  
Being a part of a community that cares so deeply for the wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff is what truly makes <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> our special home away from home!  
 
Chelsea Lovece 
Director of Mental Health Services

The concept of self-care seems simple, but why do we as individuals seem to find every excuse to not tune in to what our bodies need?

The importance of self-care and mental health - EF Academy Blog

The importance of self-care and mental health ‹ EF Academy Blog

The importance of self-care and mental health

Self care and mental health at ef academy

Hi everyone! My name is Lily, and I am a current 12th grader here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>. This is my 3rd academic year here, and I haven’t looked back since! I am originally from New York, funny enough, I live nearly 15 minutes away from the actual <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a> campus, in a small town called Ossining. I started being a student here halfway through my sophomore year. I switched during the pandemic and was absolutely surprised that <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> managed to not only accept me as one of the only day students at the time but was able to keep the campus up and running with in-person classes.
<img alt="Students together at boarding school" class="aligncenter wp-image-19553 size-full" height="954" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-friends.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-friends.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-friends-179x300.jpg 179w" width="568">
As soon as I started my first day of school here, I immediately noticed right off the bat that everyone is here to learn. I came from such a different environment which never encouraged me at that time to be so eager to study and participate. I was taken aback by all of the hands being raised, the laughter, teamwork, and participation within the classrooms. For the first time, I came out of a class wanting to go back in. I thought to myself how is it possible to create such an environment in which people were expressing joy through learning!? And just like that, I became inspired and proud to be a student here.
The word “inspired” isn’t meaningful enough to describe the feelings and emotions I experience when entering the classroom. I am stronger, smarter, a harder worker and the most social I have ever been. <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> is not just about learning and getting good grades, it’s about the process in which you learn creatively with your surroundings. Those surroundings being the children from 60+ countries… and an unbelievable amount of supportive faculty and staff.
<img alt="Student at international boarding school inspiring peers with speech" class="aligncenter wp-image-19554 size-full" height="962" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-177x300.jpg 177w" width="568">
Among the amazing teachers and staff that support us academically, mentally, and physically, there are more opportunities to involve our time outside of academics with them. <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> holds an abundance of clubs. From Meditation and Aromatherapy, to NBA basketball club, Film and Photography, <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/model-un-in-high-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Model United Nations</a> and more, they carry a diverse array of clubs involving the discovery of many new skills and talents I was not aware of. I started discovering myself, and my passions and watched others around me do the same. Through this process, I noticed a couple individuals who stand out to me here, people who inspired me to do better, people who helped me find who I truly am.
<img alt="Model United Nations students posing together at EF Academy" class="alignleft wp-image-19552 size-full" height="655" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-MUN.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-MUN.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lily-MUN-260x300.jpg 260w" width="568">
A role model who stands out to me is Ms. Deborah Farney, an amazing English teacher here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>. Ms. Farney has not only been an amazing teacher to many students, but has inspired many others around her. She is a mother, a teacher, an inspiration, and overall, a role model to so many here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>. Ms. Farney has shown me my potential, and has been my teacher for 3 years now. She supports students’ ideas by building upon them and helps transform any thought into works of writing. She has made me learn to love reading, which is a very hard skill to master.
For anyone considering or craving a new education experience, <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> is the place for you. My goal here is to help inform viewers that the way you learn here is a life changing experience. My advice is to really reach out to your peers. Through one school, we can bring together so many different nationalities and backgrounds. We can hear different perspectives. We can see a change.

In this article, 12th grader Lily shares how attending EF Academy in New York has inspired her to learn more about herself and her academic passions.

Get inspired to learn at an international boarding school - EF Academy Blog

Get inspired to learn at an international boarding school ‹ EF Academy Blog

Get inspired to learn at an international boarding school

Inspired to learn international boarding school

We had the pleasure of hosting our very own traditional TEDx event at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a> again this year. Our brilliant students shared inspiring and touching <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/topic/student-stories/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stories</a> with the audience, stories that we will now be sharing in a series of blog posts. First up is EF Academy Ambassador Yoonje, speaking of the power of words and language!
 
<h3>“Between English and…”</h3>
It all started with a simple question: How do I explain that I don’t belong to English when I belong nowhere else? I want all of you to embrace your own language just a bit more, but the fact that I am talking to you in English already contradicts my claim.
When I was four years old, I started learning English in preschool. I gathered new words and expressions like treasures, and I spoke a lot not knowing how. There were more things I didn’t know how to say than the ones I did know, both in Korean and English. By the time I turned 10, it felt like I’d been living two different lives, speaking English at school and Korean at home.
I remember, at twelve years old, I forgot the word “microwave” in Korean. I was helping my mom prepare dinner, and suddenly I stumbled across my words. I couldn’t seem to figure out what it was called, so I just pointed at it, feeling helpless. My mom thought it was strange. Soon it wasn’t just the microwave anymore; it was the table, the cabinet, and a few more words.  The words didn’t fall into places naturally like they used to. I needed more time to reach into my mind and tug them out onto my tongue.
The same thing happened with English. At school, my head was full of thoughts and ideas to share, but the only way to get them out was with my native language. I realized that I wasn’t the same person when I spoke English, and here’s why: language represents specific stages in our lives, and each word is linked to our emotions. It relates to how we think, how we see each other, and how others see us. All my ideas, imaginations, and memories were engraved in my identity in the form of the Korean language. So, needless to say, I was struggling to express myself without it.
In fact, I still hate talking about my culture in English. As soon as people hear the unfamiliar syllables of Seollal or Tteokguk, my experiences immediately become flat and overshadowed.
To me, rice cake soup is not the same thing as Tteokguk, but that’s the only way to explain it. The translation does not remind me of the same warmth of the soup, the new year wishes, or the happiness I felt sharing it with my family.
It’s even worse for Jesa, a memorial ceremony for the ancestors, where my dad and uncles wear funny hats and bow in order of age. The table is set with rice, soup, meat, vegetable, fish, and other pickled food, but to describe each dish in English would be impossible.
Just like a billion other people around the world who speak English as a secondary language, English often feels like homework.  It has been for a long time, whether it’s memorizing basic words like apple or filling in the blanks with the right form of conjugation. There are still thousands of things I don’t understand about English: how rough, cough, though, and through all sound completely different, why we need to switch from go to went, fight to fought, and take to took, and why do we need 4 extra vowels to spell “queue”?
And yes, I am still lost in translation, somewhere between the dictionary and google translate. Maybe some of you feel this way. Others may not even think about it. For me, my second language made me a little more hesitant and burdened me with frustration; the feeling that I will never be fully understood by anyone. But here I am, talking to all of you in English. And if it weren’t for English, you wouldn’t be able to understand any of what I’m saying. Whether we like it or not, English is a part of our lives. So no, I’m not here to take it away from you.
My new goal is not to sound like a native speaker, but to say the things they cannot say: to clearly explain them, coming from my own unique experiences. This way, I don’t have to be overwhelmed whenever English seems like a huge mountain in front of me. It tells me that I don’t have to climb the mountain. I just need to go around it. Speaking more than one language should not be a barrier to any of us. It should help us find new ways to communicate and different topics to talk about. Now I’m inviting you to do the same. Instead of avoiding to speak up, say whatever is on your mind. If some people don’t understand, try the rest of the class, the rest of the school, or the rest of the world. Say something different, talk with your accent, and most importantly, use language as a tool of communication. And maybe then, we will realize we all have something to say.

Language represents specific stages in our lives, and words are linked to our emotions, to how we think, how we see each other, and how others see us.

Between English and… | TEDx EF Academy New York - EF Academy Blog

Between English and… | TEDx EF Academy New York ‹ EF Academy Blog

Between English and… | TEDx EF Academy New York

Between english and tedx ef academy new york

IB teacher and business expert John Dohrmann has been traveling the world since September, visiting high school classrooms in countries including Brazil, Kazakhstan, India, Norway and China to share his expertise in starting a business and leading it to success.
This post is the final installment of a three-part series highlighting Mr. Dohrmann’s presentations on <a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/01/26/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-the-world-his-classroom-part-i/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">finance</a>, <a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/04/05/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-the-world-his-classroom-part-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">branding</a> and now, entrepreneurship.
His entrepreneurship lesson simplifies the concept of starting your own business by breaking down the necessary, key steps. His students learn the three ways to start a business by building from their entrepreneurship skill set. Mr. Dohrmann also describes the process of idea generation as a method to come up with a viable starting point for a new business.
“If you have the drive and determination it takes to start a business but you don’t know what kind of business to start, then take a look at the things that bother you in real life and try and find a solution to those problems. Is there a way to monetize that inconvenience? That could be the start of something really great,” he said.
The experienced entrepreneur also introduces students to the concept of industry disrupters: companies that have completely turned an industry around and changed the game. The examples he uses in his presentation are iTunes and Amazon which “killed” CDs and bookstores, respectively – brands that students can easily relate to.
Among the most interesting points of Mr. Dohrmann’s mock IB lesson is his explanation of a sharing economy, how it has developed and the role it plays in consumers’ lives today.
“The best thing about a sharing economy is it makes it easy for so many people to become entrepreneurs. Uber has taken on large taxi companies who had monopolies in many cities and Airbnb is challenging large hotel chains. Both often provide an alternative and a more personal customer experience. It can also provide people with an excellent source of part-time income,” he said.
Mr. Dohrmann’s world tour is slowly coming to an end, but he will be making a few last stops in Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam in the coming months. Contact your local EF Academy admissions office to find out if our Business Teacher on the Road is coming to a classroom near you before school is out for the summer!
 
This post is the final installment in a three-part series that focuses on John Dohrmann’s presentation topics. Don’t forget to check out <a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/01/26/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-the-world-his-classroom-part-i/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademynews/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-world-classroom-part-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Part 2</a> if you haven’t read them already!

This post is the final installment of a three-part series highlighting Mr. Dohrmann’s presentations on finance, branding and now, entrepreneurship.

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 3 - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 3 ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 3

Ef academy business teacher makes world classroom part 3

Are you curious about what prom is really like at an international high school? This post is written by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> student Yutaro from Japan, who will tell us about his unforgettable evening at prom in <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New York</a>!
<h3>Like in the movies</h3>
What comes to mind when you hear the words “American high school life”? Prom is a dance party held from March to May that is considered a major event in American, British, and Canadian high schools. As seen in numerous movies and dramas, the upperclassmen; mostly 11th and 12th graders are paired with a partner or friends, with the boys in tuxedos and the girls in dresses.
At the end of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc0TBVXqW_o/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">party</a>, there is a ceremony voted by students beforehand to announce the “Prom King and Prom Queen”, after which they perform a dance.
<h3>Promposal</h3>
It is frequently seen that either boys or girls ask to accompany a crush to prom in the upcoming weeks of the event. The invitation often includes elaborate surprises which took some time to prepare in order to make a partner happy.
There is a great example: one of the students at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> promposed to his girlfriend by involving a bunch of students. Daigo, who is originally from Japan, got together with his friends from Instagram to help him out. They all held a rose and asked his girlfriend, Jennifer, to go to prom with them. Then Daigo suddenly came out with a big bouquet of roses saying ‘wait a minute!’ and asked her to prom himself.
<img alt="Promposal at EF Academy International High School in New York" class="alignleft wp-image-19399 size-full" height="465" sizes="(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Promposal.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Promposal.jpg 349w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Promposal-225x300.jpg 225w" width="349">
<h3>Prom program</h3>
6:00 pm: get on the bus to go to a luxurious place
7:00 pm: grab some dinner from the buffet & take pictures with friends
8:00 pm the music starts playing & dance in the hall with pop music
9:00 pm have some desserts or enjoy the photo booth or keep dancing
9:45 pm the Prom King & Queen are announced!
10:00 pm the party is over
This year, prom was celebrated at a VIP Beach & Tennis Club.
<img alt="Photobooth at EF Academy New York" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19400" data-wp-editing="1" height="376" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EFAcademyInternationalBoardingSchoolphotobooth.jpeg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EFAcademyInternationalBoardingSchoolphotobooth.jpeg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EFAcademyInternationalBoardingSchoolphotobooth-300x199.jpeg 300w" width="568">
<h3>My experience</h3>
It is unlikely to have a party, especially organized by a school for students in my country (Japan). It was refreshing to see my friends in tuxedos and dresses that were different from what we usually wear, thus we had quality time that we could only experience in the US. Everyone would cross shoulders with the person next to them and form a circle while the dance got exciting. More than a few dozen students would gradually gather in a small dance hall to dance and have a good time.
In terms of my culture, it is common that people often worry about what others think, therefore the hesitation including dancing at a party prevents you from relaxing yourself in front of people. I realized it doesn’t matter whether you are good at dancing or not, all that matters is to express yourself, what you want, and to be yourself.
It is obvious that we will never forget this night, a remarkable memory in my life. Want a special experience with traditional high school events in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/ultimate-us-high-school-bucket-list/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USA</a>?
Come to prom with us at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>!

What is prom really like? In this post, EF Academy student Yutaro from Japan tells us all about his experience of prom in New York.

Prom at an international boarding school in the USA - EF Academy Blog

Prom at an international boarding school in the USA ‹ EF Academy Blog

Prom at an international boarding school in the USA

Prom international boarding school usa

Written by Proud Siwanarak 
IB year two student, EF Academy Oxford
Currently studying evolution, the Standard Level biology IB Y2 class and our teacher, Dr. Sherwood, went to the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. Founded in 1621, it is the first botanic garden in the UK. Entering the place, we saw a huge area filled with astonishing plants and flowers. A guide welcomed us. She was really helpful and informative, answering our curious questions. Not only that, but she also gave us interesting information and fun facts about the garden. Did you know it has nearly 6,000 different types of plants?
There are three areas in the garden: lower garden, walled garden and the greenhouse. The tour started with the lower garden. In this area, many medicinal plants from around the world – Africa, Europe, Asia – are planted for biologists to research them. The guide told us about how plants can be used for different reasons, essentially either for admiration or to cure diseases. It was fascinating to see how many different kinds of plants they have. As the tour ended, we had the opportunity to explore the other two areas of the garden by ourselves, while filling in a worksheet to see what we could learn. We explored the garden, finding the information by looking at plants (and even smelling or touching them), and reading about them and their names. It was a fun and new way to study plants.
<img alt="botanical garden" class="aligncenter wp-image-13154" height="402" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OXF-Botanical_Garden-3.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OXF-Botanical_Garden-3.png 356w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OXF-Botanical_Garden-3-300x224.png 300w" width="538">
One of the interesting stories that our guide mentioned was that there is a bench where the letters L+W were carved in it, which is from a character from a book, “His Dark Materials”, by Philip Pullman. She told us that the bench is where Philip dreamt of the story and got inspired. The Botanic Garden is also a place where Tolkien, the author of “Lord of the Rings”, wrote most of his work. I found fascinating how, although the garden is a scientifically interesting place in term of conservation, the garden is a nice spot to chill and find inspiration. In addition, Valeria, one of my friends, said that as she liked carnivorous plants best, she really enjoyed going into one of the glasshouse rooms – the one filled with different kinds of carnivorous plants. 
The botanic garden is, of course, a great place to learn about different plants, but it is also a great place to just relax and look at beautiful plants and flowers. I would definitely recommend this beautiful and fascinating place to other biology students who want to see or learn more about the plants that they have been studying in their textbook – it really brings botany alive (literally)! It is also a great place to chill in the center of Oxford.

Written by Proud Siwanarak IB year two student, EF Academy Oxford Currently studying evolution, the Standard Level biology IB Y2 class and our teacher, Dr. Sherwood, went to the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. Founded in 1621, it is the first botanic garden in the UK. Entering the place, we saw a huge area filled with …

Our outdoor classroom: University of Oxford Botanic Garden - EF Academy Blog

Our outdoor classroom: University of Oxford Botanic Garden ‹ EF Academy Blog

Our outdoor classroom: University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Outdoor classroom oxford universitys botanical garden

When it comes to learning a new language, you learn a set of grammar rules that are often set in stone and easy to follow along with. But when it comes to idioms, some of these rules seem to disappear. Phrases with dramatically changed meanings can make for some confusing conversations. So in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are some of our favorite idioms about love that don’t have a literal translation.
<h3>1. “Head over heels in love”</h3>
This is a pretty strange expression when you take it literally. But it just means that someone is so excited about something, it’s like they’ve been temporarily turned upside down. In the case of a new romance, the newly infatuated might seem to have been flipped over as they explore their new relationship.
<h3>2. “Falling in love”</h3>
When you hear this, it’s easy to imagine someone falling into some fictional land called Love like something out of Alice in Wonderland. But the definition of “fall” in this sense simply means “to pass suddenly, accidentally, or in the course of events, into a certain condition.” And as we know of love, when it first occurs it can develop quite suddenly.
<h3>3. “Lovesick”</h3>
While sickness isn’t exactly something you’d hope to associate with the warm, romantic feelings you experience when you’ve developed a crush, this has become a common way to say that you’re so in love with someone, it’s almost impossible to function normally. Similar to how it’s hard to function when you’re feeling ill.
<h3>4. “Puppy love”</h3>
This one actually has very little to do with puppies… but instead refers to the love or infatuation felt by young people. It’s usually characterized by a romance that is short-lived or a “passing fancy”. It’s named after the adoring affection or worship behavior of puppies, and was popularized in 1960 by Paul Anka’s song of the same name. The song “Puppy Love” has since been covered a number of times, and featured in the Disney soundtrack for 101 Dalmatians.
<h3>5. “A match made in heaven”</h3>
This term refers to couples who are particularly well matched, and who are likely to be together forever. Another variation of this is the phrase ‘it’s written in the stars’ with both meaning there’s a touch of destiny, or kismet, to the relationship. The origin of this phrase is the belief that divine forces play a role in creating compatible people before organizing their meeting on earth.
<h3>6. “Ready to tie the knot”</h3>
A couple who is “ready to tie the knot” is ready to get married. The phrase is thought to come from the pagan marriage tradition of handfasting. This involved the hands of the bride and groom being tied together to mark their commitment. Traditionally, pagan couples would only commit to staying together for one year and one day before the marriage would officially become legal. Within this time period the couple could decide to separate, but if not, the marriage would then become permanent.
<h3>7. “Double date”</h3>
No, this one does not mean you’ll be on a date with two people. It actually refers to two couples going out together on one date. Double dates became popular in the 1950s. Double dates were used to initiate the whole dating process because it created a more open environment conducive to easy conversation. After double dating, one would naturally move onto single dates. Today, these dates are still popular, typically involving friends and group activities such as sports games, concerts, or shows.
<h3>8. “Pop the question”</h3>
When someone refers to “popping the question” in English, you might be wondering, what is the question of questions? Well, it’s a big one in modern love and it refers to asking someone to marry. In the western world, it usually involves one partner on bended knee with an engagement ring offer to the other partner.
<h3>9. “Wear your heart on your sleeve”</h3>
This is another strange expression that would be quite dangerous (fatal, in fact) if taken literally! How could someone actually wear their heart on their sleeve? Thankfully, this is just a figure of speech. When someone “wears their heart on their sleeve”, they are being emotionally transparent and unafraid about showing their feelings or telling someone they love them!
<h3>10. “Lovey-dovey”</h3>
Despite how this expression may sound, it doesn’t actually involve doves. “Lovey-dovey” is a way to describe people who are obviously infatuated with each other, and not afraid to show it! When someone uses this idiom, they mean that a couple is amorously displaying a lot of affection in public.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are some of our favorite English-language idioms about love that don't have a literal translation.

English idioms: Phrases about love without a translation - EF Academy Blog

English idioms: Phrases about love without a translation ‹ EF Academy Blog

English idioms: Phrases about love without a translation

English language love idioms dont literal translation

Ewa Staworzynksa from Norway attended EF Academy New York for her first year of the IB program. During that time, she represented her classmates as a Student Council member and fell in love with NYC. She is currently earning Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at NYU – at the same time – and is the editor-in-chief of a brand new economics magazine. Check out this Q&A and learn about her tips for current students and how she got to where she is now:
 
Full name: Ewa Staworzynksa
Age: 21
Home country: Norway
Languages: Norwegian, English, Polish and a little French
EF Academy campus: New York
Program: IB Year 1
Grad year: 2013, left EF Academy in 2012
Favorite club: Student Council
Favorite subject: Economics
University: NYU, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Master’s Degree in International Relations
 
Why did you decide to attend EF Academy?
I knew that I wanted to get out of Norway and experience something new, but I also really wanted to do the IB program – that was a crucial factor for me. EF Academy met both of those criteria, and since there was a campus in New York, it was a perfect fit for me.
What is your favorite EF Academy memory?
Going to Manhattan on Saturdays with my friends, shopping, strolling around and enjoying the city.
How would you describe the culture at EF Academy?
The culture at EF Academy was different than what I had experienced in Norway. The teachers at EF were genuine and really wanted to help us. Despite the fact that the IB had a heavy workload, they did their best to help us and support us whenever they could.
What did you find exciting and challenging about the IB program?
The exciting part is that you’re constantly challenged – it never stops. There’s a lot more work to do than in a normal high school program, so you have to be prepared to put in a lot of effort and time. The Extended Essay was probably the biggest challenge. It taught me to plan and conduct a long-term project.
What advice do you have for current students?
– Figure out what you want to do early. Start looking into universities early on and make sure that you’re taking the right classes for what you want to study.
– Enjoy the stay. Get to know as many people and cultures as possible.
What did you do as part of Student Council?
I was one of the student representatives and we met on a weekly basis to talk about student affairs and the relationship between the student body and school management. We tried to improve the food at the school and make sure everybody was happy. One of the big things we did was actually meet with the manager of the dining hall, so that we could improve the food services at EF Academy New York.
How did you choose your university and your program?
First of all, when you’re not an American and you want to study in the U.S., you have to apply to a lot of schools because they might not accept you because you’re not American. I applied to many schools, and I got into one in California and one in New York. NYU was the better fit. I like the city and the hustle and bustle. I applied to some schools in London too, but I fell in love with New York after studying at EF Academy, so it just felt right.
I started university thinking that I was going to focus on international relations, but I wanted to secure a job when I graduate and also have a stronger mathematical background, so I switched to economics. That’s the nice aspect of American universities: you can switch your major, unlike in many European universities. I’m enrolled in an accelerated program, so I’m earning my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at the same time. I will have my Bachelor’s Degree in economics in May 2017, and my Master’s Degree in international relations in May 2018.
Did you do any internships that benefited your studies or your career plan?
I’ve been working in real estate for the past 2 years, and I’ve learned a lot about negotiations, business relations and business strategy. It’s all been very helpful and I have enjoyed the work.
What is one thing you learned at EF Academy that prepared you for university? For your career? For your personal life?
Self-discipline and how to stay organized. I plan out my week and my tasks so that I can get through my to-do lists. That’s something I learned while I was at EF Academy, and it’s something I make use of now.
What is the accomplishment you are proudest of?
My biggest accomplishment is getting into NYU and starting an economics publication.
Tell me about the publication…
A few economics students and I started an economics journal, “The Economics Review at NYU”. We worked a whole year to get it approved and get funding, and we succeeded last fall. We printed the first issue in May and we’re going to print again this December. It’s very exciting; we have staff writers and editors and I lead that team as the editor-in-chief. We all get together to edit student-written articles on topics like economics, politics and international relations.
Check it out: <a href="https://theeconreview.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://theeconreview.com</a>
What is your dream for your future?
My dream is to have a challenging job in New York, live in a penthouse and just be genuinely happy about life.

Ewa Staworzynksa from Norway attended EF Academy New York for her first year of the IB program.

Advice from alumni: Ewa Staworzynska - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Ewa Staworzynska ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Ewa Staworzynska

Advice alumni ewa staworzynska

Early on a crisp fall Saturday morning, the EF Academy Cheer Team was not enjoying a nice morning to sleep in. Instead, they were out volunteering at the “Making Strides of Westchester” walk at Manhattanville College. Over 20 students attended the event from EF Academy, including our cheer team, which was a big part of the festivities on campus – cheering on 19,000 participants in the walk.
Wing Suet (Wendy) Ng and Yi-Chi (Olivia) Wu were two students who cheered on the participants. They described it as a fun experience – to be a part of the spirited event and put their cheer skills to work. Each has had family members suffer from cancer, so they understand the importance of cheering to support their recovery and motivating the survivors to continue fighting the disease.
The EF Academy Cheer Team also raised money to support “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” They used a fundraising website and asked friends, family and teachers. The community donated $639 to the cause. In total, the event raised over $782,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Wendy and Olivia described the best part of the walk was seeing the participants finish. They loved seeing the smiles on the faces of all involved and joined in the pride of the walkers who were crossing the finish line. The Cheer Team performed several routines and cheered for all walkers to cross the line. The group also led stretching and dancing routines for the walkers. Students were accompanied by Cheer Coach Rosalie Frison, Fabiana Da Silva and Dr. Oxana Litvine. Ms. Frison noted, “I am very proud of the commitment and dedication they gave for this cause.”
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the United States, uniting nearly 300 communities with a shared determination to finish the fight against breast cancer. Passionate walk participants raise critical funds that enable the American Cancer Society to fund groundbreaking breast cancer research; provide free, comprehensive information and support to those touched by breast cancer; and help people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is most treatable.

“Making Strides of Westchester” - over 20 students attended from EF Academy – cheering on 19,000 participants in the walk.

Making strides against cancer - EF Academy Blog

Making strides against cancer ‹ EF Academy Blog

Making strides against cancer

Making strides cancer

For the first time in EF Academy New York’s history, the Cheer Team took part in a cheer competition as they continue their winter season. The team traveled to Cardinal Spellman High School in Bronx, NY to take part in the “Showcase” portion of the event. IB Y2 student Lam Chan is Captain of the team in her second year as a member of the squad. She joined the team in IB Y1 because she loved dancing in her native Hong Kong and felt cheer would be a solid equivalent for her here at EF Academy. Since joining the team, Lam has become an integral part as Captain.
Coach Rosalie Frison encouraged her team to just “do their best” given this was their first competition. Competing for the first time against 12-15 other teams, Ms. Chan and the other members of the team didn’t know quite what to expect upon arrival at Spellman High School. “We were worried because the other teams were so good. We were a bit down at the beginning because the other teams had so much experience. But we didn’t care, we decided we wanted to go out and have fun.”
The competition lasted for about five hours with each team competing while the others cheered on their competitors. Upon arrival, the team was instantly met with a lot of energy from the competitors and a DJ who kept the excitement in the building high. The team from EF Academy competed as a part of the showcase and performed several stunts they have been learning for weeks as a part of their routine. The schedule to prepare is demanding, as the team practices the routine every day.
Ms. Chan commented, “My favorite part is when we put up a stunt and work together to ensure the flyer is not going to fall down. It is exhilarating and exciting once we have successfully completed the stunt.” As the competition wrapped up and the awards ceremony began, to their great surprise and excitement, the team from EF Academy won the trophy for “Best Showcase” at the event. In addition, the team also took home the “Spirit Award”. Organizers of the competition were impressed by the participation and excitement of the team of international students from EF Academy New York.
For the EF Academy team, this is just the beginning as the team heads to a second competition next weekend. The team has taken to heart the advice they received from the judges and will prepare to be a part of the competition for this next trip. They have increased the difficulty of their routine and changed some of the stunts and are ready to be a part of the competition next weekend.
While the team certainly has a lot of fun, they also put in a lot of work to put together their routines with daily practices and an interview to be chosen for the team. The cheer team has also increased its presence at home basketball games for the boys’ and girls’ teams. Last semester, the team cheered at a local walk for Breast Cancer. According to Lam, the team has developed a close bond and is excited about what the future holds: “We are more dedicated than ever to cheerleading and are proud to be a part of the team.” The future is bright for the cheer team at EF Academy, along with these young women who take part. Good luck to the team as they continue their journey in competition together next weekend.

For the first time in EF Academy New York’s history, the Cheer Team took part in a cheer competition as they continue their winter season.

EF Academy Cheer Team competes for the first time - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Cheer Team competes for the first time ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Cheer Team competes for the first time

Ef academy cheer team competes first time

Aeris Nguyen graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2015 and is now pursuing a degree in film at Brooklyn College in New York – when she graduates, she will be in the same alumni network as James Franco! Read on to learn more about why Aeris chose to major in film, what she misses most about the UK and what advice she has for current EF Academy students:
How did you hear about EF Academy and why did you choose to attend?
I was 12 when I first encountered EF; my mum told me that I would go on trip with my cousin to New York for summer school. I was freaking out, I couldn’t believe that I would be going to New York City. The furthest I had been before was Singapore, when I was 8! When I went, the school was still located in Tarrytown and I really liked it. I had a lot of fun and met a lot of very kind and accepting people, especially staff members like the Head of School Brian Mahoney and English teacher Jenna Marcus (I’ve had a lot of great English teachers, but she’s definitely the best one – she helped me so much with writing and speaking). I left with very good memories and a distinct appreciation for EF Tarrytown so I wasn’t sure if I could go back when the school moved to Thornwood. My experience there triggered a need to study abroad. I visited in 2013 but couldn’t continue with 10th grade there because I went to Australia the year before, where I attended 9th grade (or year 9, as the Aussies would say it). In the end, I received a small scholarship to attend EF Academy Torbay which was great because I really wanted to travel the world and this was the perfect opportunity.
What university did you go to afterwards? What do you study and why?
Now I am in Brooklyn and I study at Brooklyn College, which has a lot of school pride. I chose this school because I wanted to be in the city. I received the acceptance letter really late so I made my decision very quickly. It’s a good school and one that I hadn’t heard about before I started the application process. Apparently the film department is really great and the professors are amazing. James Franco was even a student here!
I’m a film major for one simple reason: I love movies! I am good at reading people and figuring out characters. I like the idea of putting my mark on the world, and this is just one fun way of doing it. I’ve had a lot of influence from my dad and uncle – my uncle has a production company so I had the chance to see how commercials are made; my dad surrounds himself with technology, and so it surrounded me as well. My mind rotated a lot when it came to what I wanted to do in the future – from journalist, to writer, to actor, to script writer. Then one sunny day in 2013, I started to make little clips and it just… felt right.
What is your dream for the future?
My dream is to work and travel, or find work that requires me to travel. I have always loved meeting new people and trying new food. I also want to help people and create things that matter. I’d love to be a film director and make just enough money to take care of my family.
What tips do you have for students who also want to study film?
Have fun doing it! I can’t emphasize that enough! A lot of people stress out about making films or about what camera to use. Filmmaking is about how you approach things. For example, when I needed light, I used desk lamps and natural light and hoped for the best; I had piles of books instead of tripods. Don’t worry about the technical things and keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be serious. Just wing it!
What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?
I have a lot of good memories from EF Academy! The Yearbook and Impact Magazine are what I remember the most though, especially the feeling of rushing through the final moments of finishing the projects!
What do you miss the most?
English breakfast! I can’t get really nice English breakfast here in the U.S. and it’s always too expensive for what it is. I also miss being around my friends all the time even though we didn’t always live together. It was a small school so it really felt like a family. I liked the fact that we all knew and hung out with each other. Everyone was so friendly and loving, despite all the drama that we went through.
What final tips would you give to current students?
A lot of people complain without realizing how great it is to be a high school student at EF Academy, not only because you have amazing teachers and get to travel. Current students should appreciate the moment and the time that they have at EF Academy. I made amazing memories and met amazing people. The time that I was there gave me so much. It’s not an experience that you can just find anywhere, it’s rare to be surrounded by so many international people. Now I have friends all over the world and I can visit them any time I want. That’s how I like it.
Short questions:
Name: Aeris Khanh Thuy Nguyen
Age: 19
Nationality: Vietnamese
How many languages do you speak? Vietnamese, English, a little bit of French
EF Academy campus: EF Academy Torbay
Graduation years: 2015
Program: IB (math studies, language & literature, psychology, French ab initio, biology, environmental and society studies)
Residence or host family: Host family
Favorite subject: French ab initio, also enjoyed language lit (struggled a bit but had a brilliant teacher) and psychology
Favorite teacher: I can’t choose because they were all very wonderful!
Wendy Daniels:  She taught biology and I was struggling with it and she was an amazing person. I can’t stress how she patient she was with me. I was probably the worst student that she could get – I don’t like to fail and I told her that I didn’t want to take the course, which was very disappointing for her. She kept trying to make biology easier for me and I refused to understand it until I snapped out of it and started to work hard. I managed to pass biology and earned my diploma.
Favorite club / society:  Photography Club, Impact Magazine and the Yearbook, which is what I worked on the hardest outside of school. It was fun and amazing thanks to all the people who were involved. I remember seeing the magazine from the year before and it just wasn’t that inspiring. So, Phoebe, Adrian and I decided to set a new standard and Adrian Harrington, the staff member who oversaw the magazine, was so proud. In my second year, we wanted to revamp the yearbook. It wasn’t even something that someone worked on, it was just a template. I was at EF Academy New York once and I saw that their yearbook was better and so we got together and started working on the one for Torbay. We worked on the yearbook and the magazine at the same time and it took us two months to pull it all together. It was marvelous work and included 300 pictures and quotes!

Aeris Nguyen graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2015 and is now pursuing a degree in film at Brooklyn College in New York

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