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Earlier this year, Meihan Hu’s artwork, On Tiptoe, was awarded a National Medal at the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. To add to this tremendous accomplishment, On Tiptoe, will be displayed at the U.S. Department of Education as part of the yearlong Art.Write.Now.DC exhibition in Washington, D.C., which features 65 pieces that serve as examples of “the very best [of the country’s] emerging artists.”
Meihan Hu, originally from China, graduated from EF Academy New York in 2016 and now attends Parsons School of Design where she plans on pursuing fashion design after her foundation year. Receiving such amazing recognition for her art piece was an important accomplishment for her since she won’t have a chance to participate in the competition again, but receiving the email telling her that her work would be on display in a special exhibition in Washington, D.C. was an entirely new thing to be excited about.
“When I got the email I was sort of confused at first, but then I was excited and happy because the National Medal was a really big award,” Meihan said. “Since I’m an international student, I didn’t know about the competition until my art teacher told me about it. This was my first and last time participating in the Scholastic Awards and this recognition is very meaningful for me.”
Meihan was surprised about the recognition that this particular piece received as her focus is more on painting and jewelry design than on creating collages. She said that culture shock and cultural conflict are themes that she often weaves into her artwork.
For high school students who are interested in attending art school after they graduate, Meihan’s advice is to work hard and make time for art.
“Art is a tough thing to keep up with, especially during education before university,” she said. “I spent one year on the portfolio I submitted with my application, but I recommend that you start building it two years before the application is due so that you have more pieces to choose from. I have a lot of things in my portfolio: instead of focusing on one specific area, I put more attention on different areas like photography, sculptures, paintings, collages and some jewelry and fashion design.”
Meihan attended EF Academy New York for four years, starting with the IGCSE program in Grade 9. While she enjoyed art as a hobby in her childhood, it didn’t become her passion until Grade 11 when she started the IB art class. She had originally planned on studying medicine, but changed her mind after enrolling in a pre-college program at the Rhode Island School of Design before she started her final year in high school.
“During the six weeks in the program, I met a lot of people who really liked art and who were looking forward to going to art school. Making friends with those people gave me a new perspective and that experience made me want to go to art school too,” she said.
When she thinks about what’s to come at university, Meihan said that she’s looking forward to learning more about the concepts behind art. She said she thinks that people in the U.S. are more open and supportive of studying art.
“People here treat art like it’s something serious. In my home country of China, people think that those who pursue art are the ones who didn’t earn good grades or do well on tests,” she said.
When it comes to finding inspiration for her next piece, Meihan turns to literature.
“My inspiration comes from a lot of things. I really like literature so there’s always inspiration for me there,” she said. “It doesn’t need to be artwork or a landscape, it can be literature or even the common things I experience in my everyday life.”
If you find yourself visiting or passing through Washington, D.C. within the next year, make sure you stop at the main lobby of The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building (across from the National Air & Space Museum) where you can see Meihan’s piece on display. The Art.Write.Now.DC exhibition features artwork from other artists who received National Medals at the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Learn more about Meihan’s award <a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/06/09/ef-academy-ib-art-student-recognized-at-carnegie-hall/">here</a>

Meihan Hu’s artwork, On Tiptoe, was awarded a National Medal at the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Advice from Alumni: Meihan Hu - EF Academy Blog

Advice from Alumni: Meihan Hu ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from Alumni: Meihan Hu

Advice alumni meihan hu

A-ambassador
The ambassador program is one of the most successful programs in this school. We have about 40 ambassadors here at EF Academy New York who are representatives of the school!
B-basketball game
The basketball game is the most fun sport ever! EF Academy basketball players play against the high school in the local area. Both basketball girls and boys have such a huge successful so far.
C-cheerleading
Speaking of basketball…you probably think about cheerleading as well, right? Cheerleading at EF Academy New York is so much fun. They go on competitions during the weekend, and they will be at the basketball game to support our basketball players.
D-diversity
Can’t miss this word! DIVERSITY. EF Academy is a super-diverse school. They’re people from all around the world here. The countries represented include America, Brazil, Mexico, Norway, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, and many more!
E-education
EF Education First! Could not have any other words to describe! We have the International Baccalaureate program, IGCSE and English Preparatory program. EF is all about education.
F-facilities
EF Academy is such a big school that has so many facilities. We have a music room, theater, dance room, gym, student cafe, and many more!
G-go storm!
Back to sport again! G-O Go Storm go!! Our sports mascot is STORM. Don’t mess with the STORM!
H-homecoming
Homecoming is also one of the biggest events in this school. Homecoming game and spirit week are always together and it’s fun so much fun!!
I-IB program/IGCSE program
IB and IGCSE are the curriculums we offer at EF Academy. They’re very rigorous, involve extra curriculum, and have really high standards. The university loves to see these two diplomas. And EF Academy offers these two programs!
J-jacket
Wonder why I choose jacket? Because it’s freezing in New York during the winter! It could be as high as 2 celsius, and could get as low as -18 celsius during the winter! So, better wear your jacket all the time!
K-knowledge
The school is where people gain more knowledge. And we do plenty of learning here at EF Academy!
L-Lunar New Year
Never ever miss this event. This is a super special event that not many schools have! Lunar New Year plays a big role in our school. This year, we saw so many good performances from China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
M-Model United Nations
EF Academy offers Model UN as one of the clubs for everyone to join. There are so many trips to go in this club. Our students have been to Princeton University, the Model UN conference, New York City, and are planning a trip to Cornell University as representatives of EF Academy. We are so proud of them.
N-New York City!
New York Cityyyyyyyyy!!! Everyone knows New York City! It’s such a big and fun city to be in. If you come here, you’ll never miss the opportunity to go to New York City. It’s only about forty minutes from our campus. You can visit many museums, eat out at different types of restaurants, take a walk in central park and even visit Times Square! Don’t miss it!
O-organization
EF is a large organization with many different options to take advantage of. They also have EF Exchange Year, EF Tours, Hult International Business School, and many more.
P-Prom
Prom is a huge event at EF Academy. It’s fun and classy. We all love to dance the night away at Prom!
Q-quiz bowl
Quiz Bowls are organized by Dean Nichole!  Students enjoy quiz bowl so much. The winning team got a $10 Amazon card and an excused absence from Study Hall. The snacks and drinks are prepared for participants. Including, PIZZA!
R-Rose Hill
The shopping center that’s just 5 minutes away from EF Academy! There’re so many things down there; ACME grocery store, CVS pharmacy, Chase bank, Urgent Care, Asian Wave restaurant, a bakery shop, and much more!!
S-snow days
Everyone loves snow days. New York is a northern state that always gets a lot of snow during winter season. It’s one of the best memories I ever have. Just have time to sleep in, drink a hot chocolate, and look outside when the snow is coming down. Gosh, feels like being in a movie.
T-trip
EF Academy provides so many trips for students in every subject and club. For example, the theater class went to Broadway shows many times. Photography club went to New York City for cool pictures and a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge!! And Prep recently visited the Wax Museum!
U-university visit
During the first semester, several colleges visited EF Academy. Lots of them are a high-ranked universities. For example, New York University, George Washington University, University of Chicago, University of Miami, and the University of Birmingham.
V-valentines
Valentine’s Day is also one of the most exciting events. The Activity Committee from Student Council provided a rose delivery service to students’ crushes or friends. As a member of the activity committee, we delivered more than 300 roses! It’s fun and we all enjoy it!
W-winter break
December and Winter break to come together. Students have a chance to go back to their mother country and enjoy three weeks with their family. How nice is it?
X-eXcellent
eXcellent. The word is right there. EF Academy is an excellent education and experience.
Y-youths
Our school is full of a young, lively, fun teenagers or in the other word-YOUTHS <3
Z-zest
zest (n.) -great enthusiasm and energy. That’s the last word to describe EF Academy.
 
Written by Pawita Sunthornpong from Thailand, grade 11 IB year-1.
 
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Feeling inspired? It doesn’t stop here, EF Academy New York has far more to offer.

An A to Z breakdown on EF Academy New York, a private international boarding school located in Thorwood.

A-Z of EF Academy New York - EF Academy Blog

A-Z of EF Academy New York ‹ EF Academy Blog

A-Z of EF Academy New York

Z ef academy new york

The IGCSE results were released on Wednesday. Year after year, EF Academy students work hard to achieve their best results and this year has been no exception. We are proud to announce that our students in New York and Torbay have collectively achieved a 98% pass rate, one of the best rates in the world.
These are some of the best IGCSE results in EF Academy’s history. An incredible achievement from both campuses. In New York, there was a 97% pass rate and 63% of all grades were A*-A. In Torbay, there was a 99% pass rate and 33% of all grades were A*-A. This means that 1 in every 3 IGCSE grades awarded to our students were the very best in the world!
<h3>Top 10 scores</h3>
<ul>
<li>Ziyue Zheng from China scored A*, A*, A*, A*, A*, A*, A*</li>
<li>Bente Barck from Germany scored A*, A*, A*, A*, A, A, A</li>
<li>Elisabeth Foss from Denmark scored A*, A*, A*, A*, A, A</li>
<li>Tanik Ngamjiradawong from Thailand scored A*, A*, A*, A*, A, A</li>
<li>Aniket Khurana from Oman scored A*, A*, A*, A*, A, B</li>
<li>Nicholas Mediato Diaz from Spain scored A*, A*, A*, A, A, B</li>
<li>Vo Que Anh Luu from Vietnam scored A*, A*, A*, A, B, B</li>
<li>That Rattanapaibunswad from Thailand scored A*, A*, A, A, A, B</li>
<li>Salome Keymeulen from Réunion scored A, A, A, A, A, B, B</li>
<li>Caterina Zheng from Italy scored A*, A*, A*, A, A, B, B</li>
</ul>
 
Congratulations to our students on their remarkable results! Your years of hard work have paid off, helping pave the way on the road to university and beyond. Learn more about our <a href="https://www.ef.com/academy/programs/igcse/">IGCSE program</a>.
“I am delighted to share that this year we can celebrate what are the best IGCSE results in Torbay history. To have more than three-fourths of our grades at this level, considering the language and academic demands of this qualification is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations to our hardworking students!”
–Mark Howe, Head of School 
EF Academy Torbay
<h3>Hear about our IGCSE students’ experiences</h3>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s_clnaYpwio" width="560"></iframe>

EF Academy's IGCSE's students have excelled in their exams this year. Read about some of the impressive results from both the New York and Torbay campuses.

Congratulations to our IGCSE students in New York and Torbay - EF Academy Blog

Congratulations to our IGCSE students in New York and Torbay ‹ EF Academy Blog

Congratulations to our IGCSE students in New York and Torbay

Congratulations to our igcse students in new york and torbay

<h3 style="text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;">“…remember that knowledge is one of the few things that no one can ever take from you. The more you have, the richer and wiser you are!”</h3>
 
We had the chance to speak with Fabiana Da Silva, our ESL Director/Prep-Coordinator at EF Academy New York. She’s been working on campus since 2011, however, she’s been teaching English as a second language for more than a decade. She helps coordinate a <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/academy/programs/prep-course/">preparation course</a> that helps students gain a stronger foundation in English before furthering their studies. We had the chance to hear about her approach to helping students gain strong foundations in their English skills.
 
<hr>
<h3></h3>
<h3>What made educating in English as a second language so important to you?</h3>
Teaching English as a second language is my passion and something that I look forward to every day! As an English Language Learner myself, I always enjoyed my English classes; and as a student, I realized that students learn better from teachers with whom they have a good relationship.
Early in my career, I realized that teaching English Language Learners is a beautiful, magical experience that benefited both my students and myself. To be the one to give them the tools and skills necessary to express themselves and to achieve their dreams is a gift.
I feel that teaching is an amazing exchange: I get to assist them in enhancing their abilities, and in turn, they teach me about their countries, culture, and worldviews.
<h3></h3>
<h3>What is the most important advice you can give a student who wants to improve their English skills?</h3>
I believe that there are three pieces of advice that are crucial to any student who wants to improve his/her language skills:
First, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember the quote, “the expert in anything was once a beginner.” Second, I strongly believe that an English learner should always immerse him/herself in English. Learning should not be limited to class time only.
And finally, focus on developing the four core skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They all need to be worked on for you to improve, These skills are the ones needed in order to score well on the TOEFL exam, SAT, and for college success.
<h3>What is the most important advice you can give to a parent of a student with a similar goal?</h3>
I believe that the most important advice I can give is that parents should get as involved as they possibly can. I strongly believe that parental involvement is key for English Language learners to thrive academically. One way parents can support their children is by helping them establish good study routines so they can learn to use their time wisely.
Other ways include encouraging them to complete homework, participate in class and ask questions whenever something is unclear to them, as well as to take advantage of all the extra support the school has to offer.
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nlHfFgElQfc" width="560"></iframe></center> 
<h3>What’s something you’ve found surprising in your time as an educator?</h3>
I am amazed by how much impact we teachers, have on our students’ lives. It is great to know that every day, we have the power to inspire them to be not only great learners but also caring people.
It is fulfilling when students look up to us as people. I always tell my students that I also was once a student who dreamed of learning English; if I could learn to speak, and now teach it, they can too.
<h3>How can parents and students deal with setbacks in their language education goals?</h3>
Parents and students can find it difficult to deal with setbacks because they may have to postpone their dreams and goals. I believe that setbacks are part of a natural process which all of us go through whenever we learn something new.
For example, in order to learn how to walk, we first learn how to crawl. We fall down several times, but we somehow manage to get back up on our feet! I strongly believe that setbacks can be considered stepping stones for success. It is important to remember that these obstacles should not be seen as failures, but as pathways to success.
<h3>Have you found that independent study combined with community-based learning has provided stronger results for ESL students?</h3>
Yes, I have seen students who came to the Prep program without speaking a word of English, and after a couple of months, I noticed these students using independent study and taking advantage of our Learning Center sessions to improve their language skills. Motivation is also key to success, so if one is determined to learn and is willing to put in the time, anything can happen.
<h3>Do you have any memorable stories of a student working on their language skills that stands out to you?</h3>
Yes, I do. I remember a student who studied in the Prep program for one year to improve his language skills. He was a very hard-working student who was always thirsty to learn something new.
After a year, he was able to join grade 9 & 10 in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/academy/programs/igcse/">IGCSE</a>, and study in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/academy/programs/ibdp/">IB program</a> for two years. Watching him walk down the aisle at graduation, I had many flashbacks of the day he first arrived in Prep, and of all his accomplishments in his five years at EF Academy.
<h3>That’s such a touching story! What advice would you give to other teachers about their ESL students? Maybe some who’d like to have a similar experience.</h3>
Whenever possible, try to use a variety of strategies to engage your students in their learning process. When planning your lessons, it is important to plan for moments which require the active participation of your students. Sitting in class, listening for hours without really understanding what is going on can be quite boring for them, and draining for teachers.
Remember that we should not be center stage, and we should not be doing most of the talking. The students are the ones who need to practice, therefore, they are the ones who need to shine. I strongly believe that whenever developing lesson plans for ELLs, we should keep in mind to include many opportunities for hands-on experiences and full participation in the class discussion.
<h3>What’s one thing you want students to know?</h3>
Believe in yourself and know that you can reach your dreams if you have the willingness to fight for them! Learning can have setbacks, but remember that knowledge is one of the few things that no one can ever take from you. the more you have, the richer and wiser you are!

“…remember that knowledge is one of the few things that no one can ever take from you. The more you have, the richer and wiser you are!”   We had the chance to speak with Fabiana Da Silva, our ESL Director/Prep-Coordinator at EF Academy New York. She’s been working on campus since 2011, however, she’s …

How to build English foundations - EF Academy Blog

How to build English foundations ‹ EF Academy Blog

How to build English foundations

Qa fabiana dasilva gain english foundations

My name is Maria Meirabova and I’m from Russia. I am currently studying at EF Academy Torbay, and this summer I got the opportunity to do a two week marketing internship at the Russian EF office in Moscow.  It’s been a pleasure to work at EF. I met and worked with a lot of new people. It was an enjoyable experience and a great opportunity for me to practice and develop new skills. It fits perfectly, as I am planning to study Marketing Management at university. I believe that it’s difficult for students to choose what they want to study at university, as they want to find something that will be bringing not only money, but also joy. From my point of view, doing an internship is an amazing chance to try the course you chose to study at university, before applying. Then you can decide if is truly something you want to do.
During my internship I got a lot of tasks; I worked with clients, translated articles, promoted the school, did presentations and independent market research. The first task I got from my supervisor was to check the EF website for errors. This involved translating articles from English into Russian and making sure that all the links worked. Some of the tasks were easier than others, for example, I found working with Excel to be quite challenging, but at the same time very useful, as I learned new Excel tools that I didn’t know before. Occasionally, I sat at reception, answered calls and welcomed people. At the beginning, it was a little bit confusing, and somewhat challenging, but after the second time, I became more confident and started enjoying it. One of the other tasks I was given to do was market research and also university research to find out which Russian universities accept the IB and A-level programs.
One of the things that I found most exciting, was participating in pre-departure online presentation for new EF Academy students. I was very happy to be able to answer their questions, give some useful tips, as well as tell them about all the wonderful things and events that have been happening at our school in Torbay. At the end, I planned and prepared a presentation for a webinar that I am going to do soon. I will be talking about all the different programs offered at EF Academy, and give an overview of what is it like to be an international student. I am really looking forward to it because I love our school, and I want more people to know how wonderful it is to study there. I really enjoyed doing this internship. I found it interesting and it reassured me about choosing the right path for my future career. I am even thinking about coming back to work for EF when I finish university.
I want to say a huge thank you to all of EF Academy and the Marketing team, especially to my managers Maria Kislova and Nina Kryuchkova. And to all the amazing people that I have had pleasure to work with! Thank you!

I am currently studying at EF Academy Torbay, and this summer I got the opportunity to do a two week marketing internship at the EF office in Moscow.

Preparing for the future, first with marketing - EF Academy Blog

Preparing for the future, first with marketing ‹ EF Academy Blog

Preparing for the future, first with marketing

Preparing future first marketing

Sijie Ke, a Chinese A-level student at EF Academy Oxford, spent a week doing an internship at the EF Office in Hong Kong. She worked with the finance team – which she believed to be a highly friendly bunch, full of skills. Read on to find out what she thought of this special experience:
 
Before we decide on the major we want to study in university, which we will be applying for in September, it’s best for us to experience the careers related to what we will study and how it is in real life. An internship gives us a general idea into a potential subject we are interested in. Therefore, I do appreciate that I had the chance to intern with the excellent finance team.
It was almost raining all the time in Hong Kong, wet streets, full of people – it made me feel a bit stressed. But every time when I get into the office, I always felt comfortable. Tidy environment, suitable temperature and friendly people made for a good day in office. People there are always friendly and willing to offer help, they also treat you politely and with respect. I also met some people who work for EF Academy in different cities, like Shanghai and Bangkok – they are all enthusiastic people who care about the students’ life at school.
For my internship, my first task was to learn how to make an expense report. Firstly, I got lots of receipts for a quarter, then I needed to organize them in order with date and code them. Then the data was uploaded onto the computer to make a form showing all the expenses. It was a long process to complete all the steps. I have learned the skills to gather and analyze data more efficiently and systematically. Also I had to compare and match data for different documents, which has helped me become more careful and sensitive when dealing with numbers. Besides, the receipts were from different countries, such as Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, which meant various currencies were used. Therefore, I needed to transfer them into Hong Kong dollar to calculate properly. It was quite interesting, I felt like travelling from one country to another when doing that. It also gave me some knowledge and idea about the exchange rate among several currencies.
In conclusion, this experience makes me more determined on choosing my study program for university, I also found out that I enjoy doing finance and am excited to learn more. In my spare time, I went out to explore this lovely city, viewing magnificent scenes and eating lots of delicious food. I really enjoyed and treasured the internship a lot.
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Sijie Ke, a Chinese A-level student at EF Academy Oxford, spent a week doing an internship at the EF Office in Hong Kong.

Learning about expenses in Hong Kong - EF Academy Blog

Learning about expenses in Hong Kong ‹ EF Academy Blog

Learning about expenses in Hong Kong

Learning expenses hong kong

Over the summer holiday, Jana Michalke, a German IB student at EF Academy Oxford, had the opportunity to do an internshp at the EF headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland. She saw EF Academy from a completely different angle as she worked with the Digital Marketing Manager, Print Publications Manager, Copywriter and designers of EF Academy’s own marketing team. Read on to find out what she thought of this unique experience: 

In my opinion, internships are a great opportunity, as students get the chance to see what there is after their years in school and university. This is especially helpful as most university courses will not prepare you for what reality really looks like. Students who get to do internships are able to experience different aspects of work life and can decide if it is – or isn’t – what they want to do later in life. Finding what you really want to do is very difficult for many students, and that’s why you should experience as much as you possibly can to make sure you know what you want to do later. I personally believe that not only good work experiences are helpful – the bad ones are even better, as you certainly know that what you did there is something you never want to do again. Gaining real-life work experience is better than any article or blog entry you will ever read.
I decided to apply for the EF internship because I was curious to look into the work EF is doing behind the scenes and wanted to experience an international work climate. The Lucerne office interested me the most as the main marketing team is situated there and most company decisions are made in this office. Switzerland is also a country I had never been to before. I got to choose from several different teams and I ended up choosing marketing because I am interested in studying something along these lines and I wanted to know if marketing is really something for me.
I was given the great opportunity of discovering all aspects of the marketing work done for the EF Academy. It was fascinating to peek behind the curtains and see what is really done and how much work is invested in getting us students to come to EF Academy. I learned a lot about different marketing products and when they are used. I noticed that networking and teamwork are very important in an office setting as you have to rely on people in many different places, so a quick Skype call to the U.S. or Hong Kong was a daily routine. It was the first time that I experienced an office job and I have to say that it surpassed my expectations. The people I met were to my surprise from all over the world and very supportive and inclusive. I got help whenever I needed it and I learned a lot, especially in my first two weeks when everything was new to me. I had a lot of responsibility for an intern and I didn’t have only repetitive tasks, some of my responsibilities were real challenges, such as restructuring the internal marketing website to make it easier to find marketing material.
All in all, I can recommend an internship like this to everyone who is applying to university or a job soon. It helps a great deal to reassure yourself that what you want to do is right for you and so you don’t have the wrong expectations. I want to thank the wonderful marketing team in Lucerne for making this internship so enjoyable.

Over the summer, Jana, a German IB student at EF Academy Oxford, had the opportunity to do an internshp at the EF headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Behind the scenes with EF Academy’s marketing team - EF Academy Blog

Behind the scenes with EF Academy’s marketing team ‹ EF Academy Blog

Behind the scenes with EF Academy’s marketing team

Behind scenes ef academys marketing team

Hello!
My name is Harry, I’m from Vietnam and currently study the IB diploma in EF Academy at Oxford and I’ve just finished my internship in London.
I was an Intern at the Student Services department in Hult International Business School located in East London. My role meant that we have to make sure everything is ready when the new students come and help the school organize events.
For example, one of my first jobs when I arrived was to prepare a welcome pack for 350 new students which included: tube maps, oyster card application, student discount voucher, etc.
Also, during this time, I had to call or email companies or local amenities to come to our vendor fair that was organized in September. Even though I have been studying English for many years, I find it quite challenging to ask them in a calm and professional tone which I’ve never done before.
I learned three main things through this internship: First, no matter what kind of job you are working, you have to do it with a professional attitude, from big things like emailing a company asking for student vouchers or small things like making a poster; you have to do everything with professionalism. For example, every information or content has to be clearly written and presented, the logo of the school has to be in the exact size in very format and everything has to be perfect.
The second thing I gained are the important skills you need to have in the office; communication is the most significant skill. If you have a problem, ask your manager or anyone that can help, enjoy what you do and do what you do best.
The third thing is the office environment could be really fun. After all of the hard working hours, in my office they have this thing call Fat Friday, where on Fridays, they bring us a lot of food for everyone to enjoy themselves.
I really admired my manager, she is really passionate about her job; always working hard and not wasting time. She taught me how to do my job the best I can.  I remember that one time she told me that, “When they trust you with this job, you have to make sure everything is perfect.” And that is something I am not going to forget. For this reason, she could be quiet strict in the office sometimes. However, outside of the office, she is a really fun person to hang out with, like going to markets.
In the end, I see this internship was a brilliant and unforgettable experience. I’ve learned so much more than I ever could have. I would highly recommend this opportunity to you. It is really worth the try.
PS: To Johanna, Heidi, Kerrie, Leesha and everyone who has helped me, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. You are the one who makes this an absolutely fantastic journey.

I'm a current EF Academy Oxford student and I had the opportunity to do a summer internship at the EF office in London.

My summer internship in London - EF Academy Blog

My summer internship in London ‹ EF Academy Blog

My summer internship in London

Summer internship london

Anyone who has spent an extended period of time away from home has felt it – that ache for the comfort of home and the people in your life that make that place so special.
It could be a craving for your favorite home-cooked meal that you miss or the smell of the detergent your parents used to wash laundry with. The smallest things can trigger this homesickness and it can leave you feeling down and out of place.
Nearly anyone who leaves a familiar surrounding for a new environment experiences this, and it’s a direct side effect of leaving your comfort zone and expanding your horizons. It’s normal for students at a boarding school to feel that little ache during the beginning of a new school year or term.
While your home will always be a special place filled with meaningful people, there are ways to ease the discomfort of missing them and begin feeling content and comfy in your new home at EF Academy.
<h3>1. Make new friends </h3>
Sure, putting yourself out there can make you feel vulnerable because you’re out of your comfort zone, but keep in mind that during those first few weeks of school, there are many other students who are experiencing exactly what you are. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to connect with your peers in class so don’t be afraid to make new friends.
“The best thing about studying at an international school is to have classes with people from all over the world, that makes the classes more interesting as we have different points of view and different ways to approach the topics.” says Claudia Uribe, IB student at EF Academy Torbay.
You’ll have a chance to connect with people who are in the same situation as you are and you’ll have the added bonus of learning all about their culture and sharing your own. This doesn’t just apply to the classroom, one of your first friends on campus is likely to be <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/10-tips-on-how-to-be-a-good-roommate/">your roommate</a>. You’ll both have the chance to connect over life on campus and you can share your feelings of homesickness with them and find support in each other.
<h3>2. Join clubs or activities</h3>
Clubs and activities are a great way to pass time as you’re introduced to life on campus. They can help you meet new people and further your interests in different areas. This will help fill your schedule with things you enjoy, which makes it easier to feel comfortable and part of a community.
<h3>3. Make yourself feel at home</h3>
The walls and desk in your room are empty for a reason – so you can <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/8-ways-overcome-homesickness/">make it your own</a>! Put up posters and pictures that remind you of your favorite people and places. You can even hang up the flag from your home country or fill the space with your favorite cultural decor.  Decorating your personal space with reminders of where you came from will make you feel like it’s not that far away. So go ahead, make yourself at home.
<h3>4. Talk to your counselor</h3>
Your guidance counselor isn’t just there to help you with your academics. They’re there to listen and offer advice for any problem that you might have – that includes feeling homesick. You can also always turn to your host family or house parent if you need a trusted adult to talk to. Remember, their goal is to make you feel comfortable, safe, and cared for because that’s the best way to find your home away from home.
<h3>5. Stay connected to friends and family</h3>
Speak to family members as often as you can at the start of your studies. It’s easy to be in touch with the people you love back home – technology has made long-distance communication happen with literally the press of a button. You can do this through Skype, Whatsapp, text message or telephone.
Set aside a designated time to <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/parents-manage-homesickness/">call your parents</a> and friends. They have to get used to you being away as well! Remember, it will take a little time for you to adjust to your new environment. Be patient with yourself, and look forward to all the new friendships you’ll build and the life-changing cultural experience you’ll have.
 
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<a href="https://www.efacademy.com/">EF Academy</a> offers an unrivaled level of personal support and guidance at our boarding schools and offices around the world. We prepare you for success by working with you to discover and develop your strengths and by providing you with an academic environment that will see you thrive.

Anyone who has studied abroad or lived in a different country knows that being away from home can cause homesickness, but there are ways to overcome this.

Getting over the homesickness hurdle - EF Academy Blog

Getting over the homesickness hurdle ‹ EF Academy Blog

Getting over the homesickness hurdle

Getting homesickness hurdle

On the eve of the 5th of November, the people in the UK go out onto the streets to light a bonfire and burn an effigy of ‘Guy Fawkes’. This is followed by the setting off of magnificent fireworks to celebrate.
<h3>But, the question is, why do they celebrate?</h3>
‘Guy Fawkes Night’ originated in 1605, after the so-called ‘Gunpowder Plot’. At that time in British history, the ruler of the Kingdom changed after Queen Elizabeth I. died and King James I. became the new King. The country was split by religion, and the Catholics had hoped that with the new King their lives would become easier – but things didn’t quite work out that way. Thirteen men were especially frustrated with the situation and resorted to using violence. Under Robert Catesby, they came up with a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the King in doing so.
On the night of the 5th of November, they managed to sneak thirty-six old wooden barrels of gunpowder into a cellar beneath the houses of Lords. Guy Fawkes was the person in charge of guarding them.
Even today there are still some mysteries surrounding this event, such as a rumoured letter from one of the men involved in the plot to his friend, warning him not to go to parliament on that day. The letter was forwarded to the King, and he ordered a thorough search of the whole building. Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellar with the gunpowder and arrested that night. He was later interrogated and executed with the other twelve revolters who plotted against the King.
On that night, the 5th of November 1605, the English people lit bonfires to celebrate that the King was well and had survived the gunpowder plot.
This tradition is continued to this day and is called ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ or ‘Bonfire Night’. An interesting fact is that the effigy of Guy Fawkes is burned annually in bonfires all over the UK, except in York where the community refuses to celebrate Bonfire night – because Guy Fawkes went to school there, the people of York thought it would be inappropriate.
If you’re living abroad in the UK, be mindful of Guy Fawkes Night as it is really important to a lot of English citizens. On the night you can expect to see fireworks light up the sky and great roaring bonfires in every city and village across the country.
Written by Jana Dorozala from EF Academy Torbay
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There’s a lot you can find out about English traditions online, but what better way to immerse yourself in a new culture than through studying abroad?

On the eve of the 5th of November, the people in the UK go out onto the streets to light a bonfire and burn an effigy of ‘Guy Fawkes’.

Guy Fawkes Night: remember, remember the 5th of November - EF Academy Blog

Guy Fawkes Night: remember, remember the 5th of November ‹ EF Academy Blog

Guy Fawkes Night: remember, remember the 5th of November

Guy fawkes night november

In the globalized and interconnected world we live in today, where opinions and ideas can be shared with a diverse audience with the click of a button, it’s no secret that solid English language skills are necessary to keep up in the fast-paced 21st century.
EF Education First published the results of its 2015 English Proficiency Index (EPI) last week and the report shows that English proficiency is a strong indicator of a country’s economic strength and the quality of life of its citizens.
The EF EPI is the world’s largest ranking of countries by English skills and this year’s report ranks 70 countries and territories based on the results of 910,000 adult English language learners who took EF’s tests in 2014.
Why is identifying English language learning trends so important? Because over time we get a clear picture of where our future is headed, and this EPI ultimately serves as a guide, showing us that English skills must be honed for countries and individuals all around the world to prosper and contribute to business, education and problem solving on a global scale.
“The EF EPI shows the power of big data to inform education policy, investment decisions, and classroom practices,” said Minh Tran, EF’s Director of Research.
Despite the shift in rankings from year to year, the index still shows strong correlations between countries’ English ability and income, Internet connectivity, quality of life and scientific research.
According to insights on the EPI website: “The interaction between English proficiency and Gross National Income per capita seems to be a virtuous cycle – improving English skills drives up salaries, which in turn encourages governments and individuals to invest more in English training. In many countries, higher English proficiency corresponds to fewer young people who are unemployed or not in training.”
While the results indicate that countries no longer question whether English should be taught but rather how it can be used and how it can impact growth and development, the international language still has potential. The report’s summary suggests that as we move forward, English instructors must teach their students the practical use of the language and how exactly it can be used as a tool for communication.
How did your home country rank?
Rankings and a complete analysis can be found <a href="https://www.ef.com/epi/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

The EF EPI is the world’s largest ranking of countries by English skills and this year’s report ranks 70 countries and territories.

The EF EPI: How did your country rank? - EF Academy Blog

The EF EPI: How did your country rank? ‹ EF Academy Blog

The EF EPI: How did your country rank?

Ef epi country rank

Culture shock is a very common phase in all of our lives when we travel to a new country, especially to study abroad. When I first came to New York, I was expecting a lot of people to act weird around me because I was from India. You see, there are a lot of Indian Americans who are raised differently from me so I was expecting some weird, or stupid (at least to me) questions about the way I behave or my country. My culture shock hit in waves, I didn’t feel it all at once, it came in small instances and very passively too. I sometimes still do feel it, especially when you’re in an international school where others feel a sense of confusion trying to fight the stereotypes that they learned from a young age. Nevertheless, there are ways to overcome and avoid it so here are seven personal tips to help reduce the impact of culture shock you will face and that you will give to others.
1. Self-awareness
Coming from the same place as someone else means that they will understand the colloquial terms we use, what we say, mean and imply by certain statements. However, it can be interpreted very differently in other cultures and that’s why one of the biggest ways you can avoid others feeling culture shocked by you is to be aware of your own words and your tone of voice. For example: in the US, “dating” means to see someone and hang out with them a couple of times in a romantic way, but for many other cultures, it means to be in an actual relationship with someone. (I had the largest debate about this with a couple of American and European friends who had different views). We could’ve avoided these debates if we understood the context of dating from each culture or nation and being more self-aware of the context.
2. Research
Before setting foot in a different culture or country, research it. The best way is to watch lifestyle influencers, like on YouTube or Instagram for instance, from the country and listen to what they talk about, how casual or formal some topics are, what kind of terms and phrases they use and pay attention to minor details. I believe this is the best route since sometimes you can find articles or videos that portray a stereotypical view of the country, which in the end will not really help you because you’ll think in a very touristic/outsider point of view –  possibly creating an even bigger culture shock.
3. Expect weirdness
Trying to integrate in a new country with locals will be a mutual curiosity about one another and you’ll probably get questions about  your country, culture, customs, practices, norms, rules and family. Sometimes, their questions might come off as being slightly mean or inconsiderate and you can’t take it personally. Try to understand that a country’s media may be biased and probably shows it in a stereotypical view – so this is the best time to break those stereotypes by answering all and any question and educating people about your origins. For example, even to this day, every person who meets me asks me why my English accent isn’t like everyone else’s that they have met from India. This is where I explain that I’m from a southern-urban part of the country where English is taught as a first language rather than other languages found in India. When I first received these questions, I was offended because I thought these stereotypes were rude but then I learned that many Indians who migrated to the United States are either from the north or didn’t grow up with English as their first language. In this case, not only did I teach people about various accents in India, but I even learned something new myself.
4. Patience
No matter how much preparation to make before settling in a new country, it will take time, be physically and mentally challenging to get adjusted to a whole new background, mentality, surroundings, mindsets, people, rules and norms – but you will overcome it! Sometimes you may have a bad day, or two, or three but that really does not mean that the country you’re in sucks, it just means you need to take a step back, let yourself settled down again mentally and then get back into adjusting. This will take time, but it’s worth it in the end.
5. Take notes
As cheesy as this may sound, jot down some notes (in a notebook, your Phone, etc.) of the good moments you have had in the country you are in so you can look back on them when you’re having a bad day. It helps, really.
6. Get into the other persons’ shoes
The title gave it away: turn off the way you look at the world and try to look at the surroundings from a local’s point of view. Changing perspectives not only enables you to understand the situation or place from their perspective but it also helps you gain new insights and ways of looking at the world which only develops you personally. And when is that ever a bad thing?
7. Make the most of it
The best thing about experiencing a whole new culture is the fact that you get to learn something completely unknown to you from scratch. Any type of learning leads to personal growth and you’ll also experience a lot of positive moments that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Yes, there will be bad days, but at the end of the day, it all depends on how you interpret the situation and you always need to make the most of it. All in all, I say embrace it all – the stress, the laughs, the worrying, the miscommunication, the bonding, the memories – it’s a new experience that will only make you better in more ways than one.
 
Written by: Divya Jalan, current student at EF Academy New York
 
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At EF Academy international boarding schools, total cultural immersion is one of the key benefits our students experience.

My culture shock hit in waves, I didn’t feel it all at once, it came in small instances and very passively too.

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