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Pavel Shamanov, from Russia, graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2008. He went on to studying Banking, Finance and Management at Loughborough University and is currently an M&A Associate at KPMG. Learn more about our featured alum:
Why did you choose to go to EF Academy?
I was aware of EF long before I found out about EF Academy, I even went on an EF English course in Malta. Then I got to know about EF Academy, or EF Brittin College as it was called then. I found it to be a very interesting course. Thus, I applied and I was even lucky enough to receive the Founders’ Scholarship.
EF Academy Torbay was a great experience. Torbay was a nice place and I met a lot of  great people. As I was part of the second intake in EF Academy in Torbay, we were only 50 students. Everyone from teachers to mentors were very supportive – it was like a big family and everyone was looking out for each other. Moreover, the environment in Torbay really allowed me to focus on my studies and it was also a safe option for my parents.
What university did you go to afterwards? What did you study?
After EF Academy, I started studying Banking, Finance and Management at Loughborough University. It was my top choice, because it was a so called “Sandwich Degree” i.e. a bachelor program during which I could undertake one placement year/internship. I did my internship year with KPMG – one of the four global accounting firms – who then offered me a full-time  position when I graduated. I  must to say that the last year at University was much more relaxed than the years before thanks to my KPMG offer.
I would highly recommend this kind of sandwich degree because it practically gives you one year, during which you can try out what you like and do not like. Also, everyone who came back from the industry to university were much more focused and motivated than before as well as enjoyed the university life  even more.
What are you currently working with? Why did you choose this job?
For the past four years, I have been working for KPMG – one of the big four global accounting firms. I started as an Auditor but joined the ‘Deal Advisory’ division working with Mergers  & Acquisitions six months ago. In essence, that means that I work as an advisor for corporations when they want to acquire or divest a company, either wholly or partially. I do everything from conducting corporate valuations, searching for potential buyers and preparing sells packs for businesses. It is very different from what I did as an auditor and I like it a lot because I get to see commercial trends and understand the key drivers in different companies.
Tips to current students that want to study what you study?
In the end of the day, you need to understand what you want to do yourself.  It comes down to whether you like the subject and the environment that you are going to study in. I would really recommend to speak to students in the university of your choice  to get a good view of what it is like, especially going on university tours. In my case, my dad wanted me to apply for a different school but after visiting Loughborough University, I knew that this was the school for me because I liked it a lot.
Do you keep in touch with our EF Academy classmates?
I do keep in contact with my classmates from different parts of the world.  It is also very interesting to see where people end up in terms of work by using LinkedIn and Facebook.
What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?
I became  truly independent at EF Academy, both in terms of studies and personality.
What do you miss the most?
I really enjoyed being in an environment  where people around me were so driven, open to change and actually wanted to make an impact in the world. In some respect, it is similar to my current work environment at KPMG and that was actually an important criteria for me when I chose my employer.
What is one thing that you learned from EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
For me, I think it is the realization that there is often no clear right or wrong answer. There are supported answers but many times it is all about the open discussion. At EF Academy, we were coming from so many different countries and people had different views. Our teachers leveraged this in their teaching and created a great environment for interesting open discussions. This enabled me to go to university with an open mind.
What final tips would you give to current students?
Be open to new experiences and people. People tend to stick to their groups and what they are familiar with, which can  prevent them from finding new experiences and learning about the environment at hand. However, synergies are created when you speak to different people and understand different ways of doing things. Thus, I would really recommend everyone to open up to the ‘different’ because only then will you develop and learn new things. At university, everyone is in competition so interpersonal skills and being able to communicate to different peers are great advantages to have.
Short questions:
Name: Pavel Shamanov
Age: 27
Nationality: Russian
Major and university: Banking, Finance and Management at Loughborough University
Current position and employer:  M&A Associate at KPMG
How many languages do you speak?  2.5 (English, Russian and little bit of French)
EF Academy campus : Torbay
Graduation years: 2008
Program:  A-levels (Economics, Business, Mathematics, Information Technology)
Residence or host family: Host family
Favorite subject: Business studies because there were no clear right and wrong answers, more about supporting the answer with relevant arguments.
Favorite teacher: Honestly, I liked all my teachers . All the teachers were really good and they always tried to make the subjects interesting.
Fun fact about you: I tend to pick up random hobbies. Right now I have started surfing and yes, you can surf in the UK.
Who to interview next:  Margarita Tsoy – Worked for E&Y and now for Glencore in Tax law

Pavel Shamanov, from Russia, graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2008 and is currently an M&A Associate at KPMG.

Advice from alumni: Pavel Shamanov - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Pavel Shamanov ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Pavel Shamanov

Advice alumni pavel shamanov

It was a privilege to chaperone this group of students on a spring break service trip to the Dominican Republic. While we had the opportunity to tour the colonial center of Santo Domingo, the sand dunes of Baní, and the beaches of Juan Dolio, much of our time was spent in the rural communities of Derrumbadero and Caimonial, located in the mountain valleys of the San Juan Province, near the border of Haiti. Working with the non-profit organization <a href="https://bridgestocommunity.org/">Bridges to Community</a>, our mission of the trip was to build a home for a local family living in extreme poverty.
Our days started at 6:30 AM, and included 7 to 8 hours of intense outdoor labor, followed by nightly reflections on both the living conditions and problems faced within the community, as well as self-reflection. We were challenged both physically and emotionally. We not only learned how to build a home, we learned a lot about ourselves. We became a team, and we supported each other daily. The students gave up their time, and a great deal of energy, to support a family and a community that they didn’t even know. Most volunteer groups don’t finish a house before they leave – we not only finished the house, we also added (and poured) a concrete floor!
I have never been so proud, so inspired, and so impressed by a group of young adults than I was on this journey. They were exemplary volunteers, and they are our leaders of tomorrow. Thank you for an amazing trip, and an unforgettable experience!
-Robert Behrens
“We are gonna be best friends” was the first thing that she said to me after I introduced myself. Samanta is 6 years old and she is a kid that I will never forget. Being able to interact with a lot of amazing and bright children in the Dominican Republic has made me more certain of the path I want to follow in life and made my heart grow bigger. The love and affection I got from the children were unexplainable and I will never forget the way that they hugged me and thanked me for what I was doing. I thanked them for making me feel the happiest I had felt in a long time and told them to continue being the sweetest kids that they were. Hopefully, next year I will keep my promise to them and go back to the DR to play with them and see the most honest smiles I had seen once again.
– Natália Naomi
For me, this picture means a lot. It shows our excitement for arriving at Derrumbadero and building a house. Although we had spent two days visiting touristy and beautiful places, we knew what we had traveled to DR for: contributing to something as big as making a home for a family. Don’t get me wrong, the sunny beaches and meals by the shore were more than alright, but our willingness to do anything we could to give back to the community surpassed every gorgeous Caribbean landscape possible.
– María Chávarri
Five days – that’s what it took us to build a house, to help one family, and to understand the people. We got there with zero knowledge of how to build a house, but after five days we built the structure that you see in the picture. The local people that helped us to finish the house were so welcoming and made this project a reality as much as we did. My goal for this trip was to help the community there, meet new people and learn how they live their life, and also to learn something new about myself. I did all of these things and even more. This experience was unbelievable and one of the most meaningful things I have done in my life, and I hope I will have a chance to do it again.
– Gonie Weinstock 
“Mi nombre es Minh.
Tengo diecisiete años.
Soy de Vietnam.”
I faced a lot of disagreements from family and friends before committing to go on this service trip in DR. However, after 9 days on the trip, I’m now confident to tell everyone that this is one of the most valuable decisions I’ve made in my last year of high school. The trip was not only a remarkable experience, but I also learned countless lessons about both physical work and life appreciation. Furthermore, Bridges to Community was my “bridge” to some of the most significant friendships of mine. I’m so glad I made the decision to join this wonderful experience.
– Minh Dam  
The Dominican Republic is a very “real” country. I can see the rich people enjoy the sunshine and the beaches, and I can see the poor people work hard for their life every day. In its capital, I can see many kinds of good cars and the super luxury hotels. But in other places, just one hundred kilometers away, the towns have a lot of people that don’t even earn $100 in a month. I never thought that the gap between rich and poor in this small country could be so large.
 – Zekun Li 
“Why am I here?” was the first question that I asked myself on the first day that I reached the worksite. Maybe someone will take this question as introspective thinking, but I was only complaining. I consider myself a chill person, but definitely not a sympathetic person. I never put myself in other’s shoes. However, my great team members changed my thinking in only five days, because they taught me how powerful teamwork is. After every workday, we always had two hours of reflection time. This activity was amazing. By amazing, I mean that it improves you from every perspective of life, the way that you perceive things and people, the way that you think and reflect. What I immensely enjoyed were the interactions and reflections among my fantastic team members. These two hours were what I looked forward to the most every day in the middle of nowhere, with no hot water, no proper food, no internet and no modern life. But I saw the most beautiful starry night that I have ever seen, the most earnest people I have ever met and the most challenging life I have ever lived. I thought that this trip would make me appreciate more what I have, and it is true.
– Xia Ni 
This is and will be one of the most memorable journeys in my life. I’ve done so many things for the first time in the past nine days: visiting Latin America, standing on a dreamy beach, jumping into the water from the boat, using an old typewriter found in the dorm, stargazing, being a travel photographer, meeting people with such passion and optimism… Most importantly, it’s my first time to help a local community and participate in building a house. It’s a journey about exploring, being thankful, and cherishing. If I have the chance to go again, I’ll take it without hesitation.
– Qiankuan Yang 
If you ask me “What was the most exciting moment in this trip?” I will definitely say that it was the time spent with these kids every afternoon. I still remember the room surrounded by children every day after working in the community. They were so curious about us, and they tried very hard to talk to us. Language was obviously a barrier for the members that don’t speak Spanish. Often, I was translating from English to Spanish, and the most surprising thing was that every time I was translating something, the kids were able to understand through my body language. The time spent with them talking about their lives was very impressive, and most importantly, it is going to be a part of my life that I will never forget.
– Hui Ni (Giada) 
This picture is definitely not the most imposing picture you will find on blog posts or on Instagram. Nobody is paying attention to the camera, as everybody is busy doing their own work. However, I still think that this is the perfect representation of our trip: cooperation. We started from the very bottom with few wooden poles, but we were able to reach the top, complete construction of a house, because everybody contributed in the best way they could. Some, who were less capable of hammering, gave a life to the house by painting while some enjoyed laying out the foundation or hammering walls. When various talents and ideas were contributing to one goal, the whole process went so smoothly. Even when we were separated and could not give credit to each other at the moment, everyone carried out a task in their spot, which all built up and shined together through the completion of the house. I want to thank the whole team for restoring my faith in teamwork and for gratifying me with memories, laughter and lessons that I do not dare to forget.
– Yejin Hwang (Lana) 
The people from the community made me feel as though I was part of their family. Dagoberto, Domingo, Romero, Victor, they were such amazing mentors to get us into the work. Their patience and open-mindedness impressed me so much, and because we were willing to work hard to accomplish the task, we all built a strong relationship. The kids from the community brought me flowers every day and the family used to prepare “special meals for the hard workers”. Then I noticed something: Even if they did not have so much to give and they barely knew us, they would still share their little amount of resources so lovingly with us. Their humbleness and kindness struck me deeply, making me reflect about my life. I learned to be more grateful for the life that my parents have worked to give me and that it was a privilege to be helping such humble people like the people at Derrumbadero. I shared all my thoughts with my friends in the group, making the reflection sessions unforgettable. After finishing the house, I got the strange feeling of wanting to start again – the feelings, the experience, everything. Afterwards, the owner of the house approached me and told me, “You should come back to Derrumbadero. You built my house; this house is your home now. Come back whenever you want, I would be delighted if you could stay one night here, with us.” In addition to taking a bunch of flowers home from this trip, I have taken valuable friendships and memories, smiles and tears and so much love from the humble people from Derrumbadero. I will never forget this experience, because everything on this trip made an incredibly significant mark on my heart that will never erase.
– Gabino Eduardo Martínez Díaz 
Romero, one of our guides, was one of the most cheerful and welcoming people I have ever met. During the week, he taught me many different life skills, like hammering and cutting wood to be specific. He gave me a new perspective just by being there. One moment I most reminisce about is one on the last day of construction, he and I had been working the whole morning on construction and we had stopped for a break. He went to get breakfast and me separately, he then he gave me some of his own breakfast. We sat in the sun and broke some bread.
– Jongsuk Rim (Remy)

It was a privilege to chaperone this group of students on a spring break service trip to the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic through a different lens - EF Academy Blog

The Dominican Republic through a different lens ‹ EF Academy Blog

The Dominican Republic through a different lens

Dominican republic different lens

Hola!
I just finished my first year of the IB at EF Academy Oxford and had the amazing opportunity to work as an intern in Mexico City. It was an unforgettable experience. I learned valuable lessons that I would have never learned in school.
Even though I was technically assigned to the marketing team, I got a taste of many other departments inside of EF Mexico.
For example, I would call the universities and ask them about their information such as location, postal code, directors and head of the language department to update the information that was in their system. This would allow EF to send them information about themselves. It was quite challenging because all this had to be done in Spanish. Luckily, I did learn Spanish in the past so I didn’t struggle as much; however, it was a totally different approach. We had to choose polite words and a calm tone so that the school would provide their information. I learned how to treat and serve the potential customers and stakeholders in order to easily get information from them along with giving a positive impression of the company.
I also checked about 200 websites that could be relevant to EF and the popularity of those websites. I made a huge table about PA and DA of those websites. This was to provide options for the marketing team so, later on, they could choose which website was best to promote their services.
I made maps and directions of schools that EF would like to visit in the north and south of Mexico City. It was unexpectedly hard because I wasn’t so familiar with maps and creating directions. The problem was that I had to do this for eight or nine schools and calculate the time and directions from one school to other one. So, I needed a lot of directions to show. That wasn’t possible in Google Maps because it would connect every school at once and calculated the total distance between them. I solved this problem by searching it in the internet and researching about it. Now, I have a better understanding of how I can use maps to save some time and to schedule future plans. I also learned the importance of time and organization for a company.
I presented a presentation about South Korea to all the staff of Central EF Mexico. It wasn’t hard preparing for it but one of the staff members suggested I do the presentation in Spanish. I have done a lot of presentations in the past but doing it in Spanish was a whole different thing. I was quite nervous but the staff members supported me and helped me be more confident. It was an awesome experience.
Some specific things I learned are:
<ul>
<li>The information should be 100% correct and sited (especially when from a secondary source).</li>
<li>Information is important but the way it is presented is also important. (When providing factual information don’t make it all fancy, make the people watching or reading your information clearly understand the facts you are saying, same font or color, and same structure of the information being presented).</li>
<li>You can do what you want during the time given (eat, have a snack, get fresh air), but finish the work at the end.</li>
<li>When you face a problem, ask! There might be a person that could help you or at least discuss the problem.</li>
<li>Be professional when at work. Even if you had a huge night out (with the company or not), you should be professional and come well prepared for work the next day.</li>
<li>Work the way that best fits you.</li>
<li>Be respectful to each other.</li>
<li>Enjoy your work! You will work better if you enjoy it!</li>
</ul>
One of the best moments in the office was when I was when I had to check information on over 2000 students. The process to check each student was getting quite repetitive and was very slow; about an hour to check 200 students. So, I decided to make this job easier. I did some coding work and made a file that allowed me to gather all the information at once. Now, I could select a bunch of students at once (maximum 500) and get all the information I needed all at once. I showed this to the staff that assigned me this job and explained her how to use it. She was very pleased with the result.
I didn’t know so much work and organization was put into the EF campuses in order for their students (us) to enjoy their studies. I also learned that there were tons of departments and roles inside a company like EF. It isn’t so simple. Some are in charge of promoting their service to universities and some are in charge of consulting parents and some are in charge of actually selling the service. Different teams sell different services to different locations. When solving problems, individual work or not, people talk, give advice and work together to solve it. It’s like a big family. What I saw was that the staff at EF Mexico doesn’t make their work feel like a task but more like a process to reach their own goal.
The other fascinating thing was the experience I had in Mexico itself. It was like a whole different world staying there. The people, food, culture, building, art and so many things are all unique and wonderful. I looked at a bunch of museums, parks, street art, famous places and I tried all types of Mexican food including various types of delicious tacos, burritos, enchiladas, flautas, fried cheese and chapulín (grasshopper).
The people in the EF office were one of the most friendly and joyful people I’ve ever met in my whole life. Lots of people introduced themselves to me even though I wasn’t working in their department and nobody forced them or told them to do it. Thanks to that, I began to know a lot of people in the office. They answered all my questions either inside or outside of the office as precisely as they could. They cared and looked after me as I was a part of them. The people in the office took their office time and also their own free time to show me around Mexico in order for me to have the best time I could in Mexico. I was totally astonished with the kindness that they provided me. Thanks to all of this, I didn’t even have the chance to miss my home.
To tell you guys the truth, the main reason I applied to this internship (like you guys had expected) was mainly to tell the universities that I was a student that has had work experience and was very interested in the subject I was applying for, Business. Basically, to make my CV and personal statement sound a little better.
However, I realized I was too childish. Don’t get me wrong, this IS one of the reasons why students try so hard to gain work experience, but don’t make it the ONLY reason. The experience you get as an intern isn’t just a piece of line that you would later write in your CV or personal statement. This experience makes you grow as a more mature person. I am taking back incalculably valuable things with me, and they are called experience (that comes from solving problems and facing challenges), understanding (of life both outside of school and our comfortable environment), personal growth/development and a bigger vision of your future career. It might sound a bit silly, but it is the truth. You will never understand something or even understand someone unless you are in that particular situation. That’s why so many universities look for work experience with the student. They want the students to have experience or at least have a general idea of how the career they choose will look like.
I truly enjoyed my fascinating experience in Mexico and also with the staff. I highly recommend you to take this opportunity if it ever does come to you. It won’t be so easy to get it, but I promise you. It’s totally worth it.
P.S. Thank you EF Mexico, I really learned so much and enjoyed everything in Mexico with all my heart. Again, muchisimas gracias

After finishing my first year as an IB student at EF Academy Oxford, I got the opportunity to do an internship over the summer at the EF office in Mexico.

Learning valuable lessons at EF Mexico - EF Academy Blog

Learning valuable lessons at EF Mexico ‹ EF Academy Blog

Learning valuable lessons at EF Mexico

Learning valuable lessons ef mexico

Hello everyone! My name is Nga and I just have finished IB year 1 at EF Academy New York this year. During my junior year, I heard about the opportunity for a summer internship program offered by EF so I applied and got to be an intern at the EF office in Vietnam. One of the more interesting aspects for me was that the office is located in Ho Chi Minh City, my hometown, so this would create a lot of advantages for me to travel to work. Moreover, I did not have to worry much about the working hours because my supervisor arranged suitable times for me to work so that it would fit perfectly with my studying schedule. Also, she helpfully guided me with a lot of the work I had to deal with.
Throughout my time being an intern at EF Vietnam, I got to learn a lot about marketing as well as getting to know more about the staff. Besides working, I got the chance to talk with some staff and share thoughts between the students and the school. I hope these discussions will help in solving some problems risen from the students, parents and the school. More importantly, I was very proud and happy that I could be a part of the team that helps prepare for the reunion arty that we held in Vietnam this month. I really enjoyed the process of preparation as well as being the student to give a speech on behalf of the juniors, sharing about life in EF Academy and wishing good luck for the future of the seniors. The event went well and everyone had a wonderful time.
Overall, this totally new experience could be taken as the first great step for me in the future and leaves me with so many good memories. I will possibly be in the pre-departure event to once again share some experience and good advice for the parents and students before they take the big step to study aboard. I strongly encourage students to take this opportunity, like me, to be an EF Intern.

I just finished my IB year at EF Academy New York and got the opportunity to do a summer internship program offered by the EF office in Vietnam.

Reunion party, marketing and more – my internship at EF Vietnam - EF Academy Blog

Reunion party, marketing and more – my internship at EF Vietnam ‹ EF Academy Blog

Reunion party, marketing and more – my internship at EF Vietnam

Reunion party marketing internship ef vietnam

This Sunday, our students went on a very adventurous hiking trip in the Rockefeller Preserve Center Park. They hiked five miles and “endurance” and “magnificence” were the two key words that summarized our trip. Not only did students become attuned with nature, but they were also able to meet our amazing Chemistry and Biology teacher, Dr. Oxana Litvine, and our knowledgeable and caring IB Language & Literature teacher, Ms. Sara Weeks. Their current summer English and IB English teacher, Ms. Iveth Morillo, joined the team to take in the natural beauty as well.
The majestic surroundings of the park were appreciated by faculty and students alike. Try to picture yourself in a place in which the air is pure and the view is so beautiful that it will take your breath away! That’s exactly where we were! With great thanks to the Rockefeller family, who donated this amazing park to the city, we could certainly call this place “Heaven Park” to describe the serene atmosphere. The students traversed through scenic paths that wind through woodlands, meadows, fields, streams and lakes.
The park not only attracts students, but it also attracts artists and photographers who love to stop by and capture the pristine lakes and beautiful landscapes. Our students, similar to these artists, were able to experience and enjoy the natural wonders of the area.
While hiking, the students took in the panoramic view of the Hudson River; however, the most beautiful view for the faculty was watching our students help one another on the hike. I believe that I speak for the other teachers as well when I say that what we liked the most about this trip was watching the students learn the true meaning of perseverance. On our hike, the students learned that in order to see the beautiful view, they had to walk non-stop up the stiff hills, which could represent a metaphor for life: if you really want something, you need to fight for it. This valuable life lesson was infused in their post-trip reflective writing, where the students expressed how when encountering a difficult path, one must persevere in order to achieve success. Giving up is not a choice for our Summer Kiddos!
It was unanimous, this was the perfect culminating trip for our “Environment Week.”

EF Academy New York offers summer courses which involve extra curricular and excursions as well and one included a hiking trip.

EF Academy summer school: Hiking trip - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy summer school: Hiking trip ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy summer school: Hiking trip

Ef summer school hiking trip

Yesterday afternoon, a small group of  students were lucky enough to attend a public lecture on Evolutionary Biology at New College of the Humanities in London. Not only this but the speaker was professor Richard Dawkins the eminent ethologist, evolutionary biologist and writer.
First year Jana Michalke was one of those fortunate enough to go on this school excursion and relays the experience:
‘Today a couple of students from EF Academy went to London to see a lecture by Richard Dawkins; one of the most well-known evolutionary biologists in the United Kingdom. After taking the bus from Oxford we arrived in London and made our way to the New College of Humanities, where the public lecture was going to take place. The lecture was amazing. It was truly a lecture for non-scientists; easy to understand. Dawkins who was a Professor at the University of Oxford talked for about 90 minutes about the importance of evolution and how humans and other species were able to evolve side by side. He told us what people believed before Darwin’s Theory of Evolution; how people believed that they were designed like everything else that looks complicated. An interesting point he brought up is that we, after this theory, are all distant relatives. After the lecture ended we were able to ask questions related to this topic. We were also able to take a picture and get an autograph off him. It was worth visiting and I hope, that we are able to attend a lot more public lectures like this I the future.’

A small group of students were lucky enough to attend a public lecture on Evolutionary Biology at New College of the Humanities in London.

A lecture on evolutionary biology with Richard Dawkins - EF Academy Blog

A lecture on evolutionary biology with Richard Dawkins ‹ EF Academy Blog

A lecture on evolutionary biology with Richard Dawkins

Lecture evolutionary biology richard dawkins

On November 24th, EF Academy New York hosted an exclusive “Taking the Next Step” seminar for the senior (Grade 12) students. The event was organized by the EF Academy Alumni Association with help from Oscar Jimenez, the Head of the World Languages faculty.
The seminar started with a Q&A session with EF Academy alumni. Four EF Academy New York graduates were invited to share their stories and best advice with current students. The special guests were:
<ul>
<li>Ewa Staworzynska (class of 2012) from Norway, currently studying Economics at New York University</li>
<li>Lena Evseeva (class of 2014) from Russia, currently studying Public Health at Temple University</li>
<li>Patrick Pum Chantraparnik (class of 2014) from Thailand, currently studying Psychology and Pre-Medicine at New York University</li>
<li>Vera Kudryavtseva (class of 2013) from Russia, currently studying Communication and Media Arts at Marymount Manhattan College</li>
</ul>
Current students in the audience asked the alumni a range of questions including “What can I expect on my first day at university?” and “What are the dormitories like at NYU?” Adetoun Adeyemi, an IB Year 2 student, said she appreciated Ewa’s advice: “Find the university that is the best fit for you, don’t just focus on the university that looks the best on paper.” This is something she said she will remember as she applies to university and eventually accepts an offer.
After the Q&A session, the students mingled with the alumni and had the opportunity to ask more specific questions.
The “Taking the Next Step” seminar culminated in a LinkedIn workshop led by Jenny Zeng, EF Academy’s Global Manager of Alumni & Ambassadors. The purpose of the workshop was to give the seniors a head start in their future careers by teaching them how to use the world’s biggest professional social media platform, which boasts over 350 million users. Many of the attending students successfully set up their own LinkedIn profiles and joined the EF Academy Alumni network.
“The main thing I learned at the workshop was how important LinkedIn is for my college application and resume. This motivated me to create my own profile,” said Mehran Amini, another IB Year 2 student.
The aim of the seminar was to inspire current students to think about their lives beyond EF Academy and to encourage them to start building their professional network before they continue their education at university or start their career.
After an exciting afternoon at Thornwood, Oscar Jimenez and the alumni were taken on a trip down memory lane when visiting their old EF Academy campus in Tarrytown and grabbing a coffee at the Coffee Lab where they had spent many afternoons as EF Academy students. The evening ended with a dinner at the Spice Market in Manhattan, where they continued reminiscing on the good times that were had during their high school years.
EF Academy’s schools in Oxford and Torbay will host the “Taking the Next Step” seminar and Q&A sessions with their own alumni in January 2016.

A Q&A session with EF Academy alumni. Four EF Academy New York graduates were invited to share their stories and best advice with current students.

Students take the next step at EF Academy New York - EF Academy Blog

Students take the next step at EF Academy New York ‹ EF Academy Blog

Students take the next step at EF Academy New York

Students take next step ef academy new york

Guest post by Summer Academy student from Vietnam: Harry
To everyone who is wondering about opportunities to enhance their English and also gain many life skills, I have a great suggestion; you should enroll in the EF Academy Summer course. I’m a student from Vietnam and I have always wanted to explore new cultures and challenge myself more. EF Academy helped me realize my dream! The Educational environment at EF goes beyond my imagination with so many ideal activities and projects. Not only I get a lot of support from my teachers, my counselors and my house parents, but I also have the chance to experience outdoor activities thanks to the Director of Summer Academy, Ms. DaSilva. In all of the trips we had, I have learned many helpful lessons that have widened my understanding of the world.
The most fantastic activity to me was the biology trip that happened on our week 4. The teachers spent time showing us the overview of the trip. How wonderful to be able to expand our vocabulary and knowledge by actually practicing what we have learned in class! When we arrived, we were divided into eight teams and given a run down of the day by the IB Biology Teacher, Mr. Stephen Fleming. One task was to use some simple tools to take a water sample and observe the plankton in it. Then, we had to measure the turbidity of the water by using a circle with 2 colors black and white. There was also one experiment in which I had to measure the salinity and survey the PH level of the water.
The station that I enjoyed the most was the first one, where we could do the work of a fisherman. It was so much fun! First, I was given special clothes connected with boots to avoid getting wet. Then, we took a net into the water.  It was so heavy that my classmate and I needed to move it very slowly to control and prevent any fish from escaping. We went far away from the river shore to make sure we caught something. We caught a large white perch on our first try! I was extremely ecstatic and in high spirits. We quickly put into a bucket of water so that it didn’t die, and recorded its size. Ms. Ortiz kept encouraging us to work harder to get more creatures. So, we went into the water again but this time was harder because we were a little weary already. You cannot imagine how slow we moved. The mud was so viscous that it kept our legs stuck tight to the ground. Sometimes, we could not even move. At that time, I just felt exhausted and wanted to give up. But, something still kept me going. After we were finished, I felt dazed and really exhausted. I was tired, but satisfied with my results, and my catches were a testament to the efforts. We took some pictures, then packed up everything and returned to the bus to come back to school.
I was really excited about this trip because I could experience and understand how difficult Marine Biology. This trip made me aware of the value of labor and I could learn biology by doing. Thanks to EF Academy, I have had many opportunities to further my knowledge and take part in educational outdoor activities. Being at EF is a wonderful chance for me to get a good education that will impact my youth.
“Once you get to EF Academy, Find time to expand your learning and understand who you really are!”

To everyone who is wondering about opportunities to enhance their English and also gain many life skills,you should enroll in the EF Academy Summer course.

Summer Academy: Biology trip - EF Academy Blog

Summer Academy: Biology trip ‹ EF Academy Blog

Summer Academy: Biology trip

Summer academy biology trip

Students from Torbay enjoyed a visit to one of England’s most historic and attractive cities. Surrounded by Somerset’s beautiful countryside and blessed with stunning Georgian architecture and Roman Baths it is one of the UK’s most visited cities. 
Bath is a town set in the rolling countryside of southwest England, known for its natural hot springs and 18th-century Georgian architecture. The museum at the site of its original Roman Baths includes The Great Bath, statues and a temple; the facility’s Pump Room serves a popular afternoon tea. Today’s visitors can soak in the waters at the contemporary ThermaL Bath Spa. 
The city became a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis (“the waters of Sulis”) c. AD 60 when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon, although hot springs were known even before then. Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th century and became a religious center; the building was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries. In the 17th century, claims were made for the curative properties of water from the springs, and Bath became popular as a spa town in the Georgian era. Georgian architecture, crafted from Bath stone, includes the Royal Crescent, Circus, Pump Room and Assembly Rooms where Beau Nash presided over the city’s social life from 1705 until his death in 1761. Many of the streets and squares were laid out by John Wood, the Elder, and in the 18th century the city became fashionable and the population grew. Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century. 
Students had various options in the city with some choosing to visit the historic Roman Baths while others relaxed in the thermal spring spa. We also had a guide around the historic sights of the city like the 12th Century Abbey and cathedral. 
Bath is a great city for shopping particularly ‘non high street’ fashion and goods, its also great for food. The students really enjoyed a slice of English history in one town and may have asked if we can go back.

Students from Torbay enjoyed a visit to one of England’s most historic and attractive cities, Bath.

EF Academy Torbay trip to historic Bath - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay trip to historic Bath ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay trip to historic Bath

Ef academy torbay trip historic bath

The EF Academy Oxford Running Team have been busy again, putting all their hard work and training to the test, by entering another fundraising race. This time it was held at Blenheim Palace, the famous stately home of the Churchill family, only 30 minutes away from the Academy. Even so, the staff and students taking part had to get up bright and early, setting off at 8am so that they could get to the start line in time.
Nevertheless, all the students cheerfully gave up their Sunday morning lie-in to raise money for a good cause.
Here second year IB student, Kika Vasinova, describes the day:
On a lovely cloudy Sunday, students from EF Academy participated in a race which was either 5 or 10 km, depending on everyone’s decision. The purpose was to raise money for a Charity: ‘Ucare,  an independent charity which is committed to improving the treatment and care of cancer patients through research and education’ and it took place in the grounds of the beautiful Blenheim Palace near Oxford. It was just two weeks after the Run or Dye Race, but the students did not lose any energy and were ready and excited for another running challenge. The students and teachers encouraged each other throughout the race and all managed to cross the final line successfully.
Well, who would not enjoy a run encouraged by everyone’s clapping at the end and being aware of supporting those who need it? EF Academy’s students like to help anyone and help make them feel happy.

The EF Academy Oxford Running Team have been busy again, this time running for charity at Blenheim Palace, the famous stately home of the Churchill family.

5/10k Rotary Race at Blenheim Palace - EF Academy Blog

5/10k Rotary Race at Blenheim Palace ‹ EF Academy Blog

5/10k Rotary Race at Blenheim Palace

510k rotary race blenheim palace

What kind of challenges are entrepreneurs faced with in today’s global climate? It is perhaps better to think about this question the other way around. For many businesses the global world that we find ourselves in offers a huge amount of opportunity ready to be exploited and the world is full of these examples from Facebook to Ikea. These are examples of companies that started small but soon realized that their product had global reach and a ‘commonality’ with other parts of the world and therefore huge potential. In the case of Facebook it’s now possible to argue that it is no longer an American company as it exists freely almost uncontrollably in the global world. Another interesting example of this is our very own EF. Clearly the founder Bertil Hult saw the commonality that learning English and experiencing culture had and it could be argued that the foundations of the company work on this principle as is true of the desire of students and parents around the world to want a high school education in the US or UK model.
The global environment has other advantages in that resources and costs are no longer stuck in the mother country and that companies can reach out into the global world to improve the way that they do things. Production costs can be massively reduced by using cheaper labor costs on offer in newly emerging markets and I would bet my life that most of the ‘things’ in front of me now have been made in China. This is nothing new of course and China has just replaced the US and before them The British Empire as the ‘workshop of the world’.
All of this may sound amazing and clearly there are wonderful opportunities, but not without challenges because with the highs also come the lows. Companies can come to rely on the global market and as we are only too aware this is prone to problems, even total disasters. The crash of 2008 led to massive inflation and currency devaluation in a number of countries causing massive problems for any company who’s profits rely on commonality. Just this week British steal has faced huge problems because it’s unable to compete with unnaturally low priced steel coming out of china.
Furthermore, Entrepreneurs today are faced with very difficult challenges in terms of their ability to keep up with competitors. As the complexity of the global current affairs intensifies and as technological advancements have continuously solved day-to-day problems; identifying a gap in the market is like finding a moving needle in a haystack. 
The continuous change in customer demand and the unstoppable innovation of competitors means that entrepreneurs will have to reinvent the wheel while racing. What does this mean? Using myself as an example, as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Supernova Aerospace Inc, a startup specialized in developing heavy-lifting drones for disaster relief response, I have the responsibility to assure that our venture’s product lineup has a strong competitive advantage and is adjusted to the changing needs of our clients. The rigorous process involves endless market research. But all of these have to be done simultaneously, thus referring to reinventing the while racing.
But this not the end of it. The most difficult challenge for entrepreneurs remains maintaining its corporate social behavior as due to the increase in exposure through social media, any unethical actions would undermine one’s reputation. This is again something that Google has found difficult because of its Tax behavior in the UK has challenged its motto, don’t do evil.
Perhaps the way to answer this question is to say that the challenge that entrepreneurs face in today’s global climate is that they must take the rough with the smooth and understand that operating in the global world is a little like a roller coaster, success depends on being able to survive the lows. It also depends on the ability of the company, and the idea, to adapt to demand, or shape demand.
Written by Trevin Wisaksana 
EF Academy Torbay, IB Student and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Supernova Aerospace Inc

What kind of challenges are entrepreneurs faced with in today’s global climate?

Facing challenges as an entrepreneurs in today’s global climate - EF Academy Blog

Facing challenges as an entrepreneurs in today’s global climate ‹ EF Academy Blog

Facing challenges as an entrepreneurs in today’s global climate

Facing challenges entrepreneurs todays global climate

On Thursday 22nd October the EF Torquay IB students met together on a cold winter`s night to watch one of Shakespeare`s most tragic and popular plays – Hamlet – as part of National Theatre Live. Benedict Cumberbatch was the amazing lead – you might recognize him from his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on television recently.
National Theatre Live is an exciting initiative to broadcast live performances of the best of British theatre to cinemas in the UK around the world. Recent screenings have included the Broadway production Of Mice and Men, King Lear with Simon Russell Beale, the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, Playful Productions’ acclaimed West End play The Audience, with Helen Mirren, Othello, with Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear, and Manchester International Festival’s electrifying production of Macbeth, with Kenneth Branagh as the Scottish king and Alex Kingston as Lady Macbeth.
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet , is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is called on to wreak upon his uncle, Claudius. Claudius had murdered his own brother, Hamlet’s father King Hamlet, and subsequently seized the throne, marrying his deceased brother’s widow.
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of “seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others.”
This has been one of the most hotly contested performances of a Shakespeare play for some time as Benedict Cumberbatch is hot off the heels of an Oscar win and Hamlet is the ultimate test for an actor.
It is such a dark tale but so in grossing and Cumberbatch took the role and made it his own pulling us into the story and keeping us interested despite how long it is. We spend a lot of time studying Shakespeare and love the stories but to see it brought to life in this was is amazing.

EF Academy Torbay IB students watched Shakespeare's most tragic and popular plays – Hamlet – as part of National Theatre Live.

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