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Students from EF Academy Oxford recently attended the Cambridge University Student Model United Nations (CUSMUN) Conference this past weekend on September 15-17th. For all of them, it was their first big conference and a chance to pit their wits against more experienced student delegates who numbered 300.
Below are the committees in which students participated:
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<table style="height: 597px;" width="592">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="152">Student</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="148">Committee</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="172">Issue</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Juhyun Kim</td>
<td width="148">Disarmament and Security</td>
<td width="172">The legality of drone strikes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Phillip AlexanderBror Nissen</td>
<td width="148">Legal</td>
<td width="172">The scope and application of the principle of Universal Jurisdiction</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Khansaa HoulbiMarie Rimolsronning</td>
<td width="148">Humanitarian</td>
<td width="172">Combating Radicalization in Western Societies</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Sara Zonza</td>
<td width="148">World Health Organisation</td>
<td width="172">Breaking Down Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services for Refugees and Asylum-Seekers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Rebekka Kvalum</td>
<td width="148">Historical General Assembly</td>
<td width="172">The Falklands/Malvinas Crisis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Johanna Rosenberger</td>
<td width="148">UN Women</td>
<td width="172">Protecting the Rights of Women in Factory Settings</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="152">Luisa KlothNadya Tan</td>
<td width="148">Economic and Social Committee</td>
<td width="172">Economic and Social Development in Rural Areas</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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For those of you who don’t know, Model United Nations is a student simulation of the United Nations. Students debate topics from the perspective of a country which is not their own, so personal opinions on any topic are not relevant. Evidence-based analysis and emotional detachment are key skills necessary for participating in MUN. Our students represented either Nigeria or Lebanon.
All of the above students have been involved in Oxford’s MUN group since September 2016 when they joined the school. They participated in an inter-school MUN conference in January 2017 that was organized with another international school in Oxford. However, dealing with 30-40 other delegates just in your own committee is clearly a very different context and challenge.
Preparation started before the summer break when committees and topics were announced. Our students then independently completed research from the perspective of country and committee during the holidays when others were on the beach! They had to submit a detailed “position paper” stating their country’s strategies for resolving the issue at hand. This meant a forensic study of past UN resolutions and statements by governments within the given topic areas. If you consider the academic complexity of the issues debated then you can appreciate the nature of the academic challenge that our students successfully undertook.
Within the committees, communication is key. Students are required to set out their country’s position in the initial debating sessions and then were required to develop working papers with countries who were allies, to set out key policies that would then become a stepping stone to proposing a resolution.
Many of our students were key contributors to both working papers and resolutions. This then required our students to present their resolution and respond to questions and criticisms from other delegates. MUN is a fluid debate and our students were required to think analytically on the spot on complex questions and strategies to defend their position, attributes that are tested in Oxford and Cambridge undergraduate interviews. Part of the students’ training has come in class as MUN is clearly the application of fundamental academic skills. The students’ refined their skills, demonstrating a growing academic maturity and confidence, within the debates themselves over a very intensive three days starting at 9 am and finishing at 6 pm.
But that’s enough from me, I should let the students tell you what they thought about the experience:
Rebekka:
“You have to leave out your personal position on an issue and ensure that you fight for the strategy of your assigned government so that you argue in a more objective manner.”
Luisa:
“Confidence with formal written and spoken English under pressure. This will be really useful in a management or political environment in the future.”
Nadya:
“Understanding the perspectives of others and finding common ground to reach a shared resolution.”
Marie:
“Thinking on the spot and ensuring that your arguments are always relevant to the discussion.”
Sara:
“Defending a point of view in a confident manner. This will be really useful in a medicine interview.”
Phillip:
“However introverted or anxious you are, the essence of MUN will help you overcome these concerns.”
Khansaa:
“Developing new skills in a healthy and supportive environment. Interacting with other people who you have never met before without feeling nervous or intimidated.”
Juhyun:
“A better understanding of how countries interact on a global level.”
Johanna:
“Feeling comfortable speaking in a second language regardless of the fluency of those around you.”
 
Originally published September 20, 2017.

Students from EF Academy Oxford recently attended the Cambridge University Student Model United Nations (CUSMUN) Conference.

Cambridge University Student Model United Nations (CUSMUN) Conference - EF Academy Blog

Cambridge University Student Model United Nations (CUSMUN) Conference ‹ EF Academy Blog

Cambridge University Student Model United Nations (CUSMUN) Conference

Cambridge university student model united nations cusmun conference

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“Don’t stress so much!” I wish I could say that, but stress is probably an inevitable thing. It shows that you care, that you’re invested into your classes and you want to do well. In actuality, an overplayed expression is apt here: It’s not the stress per se, but how you deal with it that matters.
What does that mean? Well, first of all I’d tell myself to go and get some more friends. Because you really can lean on them, spiritually and physically, and it’s comforting to know that there are others who are scrambling to not be late to assembly like you.
One of the most important things is to not freak out when something goes wrong. Just because you did much worse on that test than you thought you did, or you have a misunderstanding with one of your friends – don’t just give up on that class or that friendship. Life goes on – you’ll just be missing out if you just get hung up on that one mishap.
“Say yes!” – the motto of motivational speakers everywhere: saying yes really does help you grow as a person, as cliché as that sounds. This is where friends can come in too: find out what they’re doing, where they’re going – just rummage your nose through all that good stuff – and join in! Go to see a play, ice skate or just to try a different cuisine for the first time; this is your opportunity – you won’t regret it.
Lastly, if you’re wondering how to do better in your classes without killing yourself with long hours of studying everyday, I have some good advice, based on my own experience, for you guys. It seems incredibly common sense, because it is: when it’s class time, focus. Stop trying to find ways to text on your phone when the teacher’s not looking, or wonder about what you’ll do after school, you’re wasting a valuable chance. The way I look at it, the class will be the same length of time no matter what you’re doing, so if you pay attention to the teacher (and possibly take notes to keep you from dozing off), that’s that much less material you have to study on your own. Teachers always tell their students to ask more questions for a reason – they know class can get tedious, even if it’s not boring! So make sure you ask questions when you don’t understand; by getting the answer straight from the horse’s mouth (excuse me for that one, teachers!) it saves you from having to sift through online for a (possibly wrong) answer later.
Being active in class really is effective; paying attention during your 50-minute short period could teach you more than trying to get back and study the material yourself for 2 hours, because you don’t have the teacher reinforcing the information so that your brain can remember it. Then, if you listen in class, you’ll have all that after-class time to do what you want to do, whether it’s studying more and doing even better, extracurricular or even just passing time with friends.
Oh, and one last thing– and this goes especially for the non-native English speaking students: be proud of yourself! You’re on your own, living in a foreign country speaking a foreign language, at such a young age. School is going to be hard; work hard, but there’s no point if you aren’t enjoying yourself at all. Being here in a foreign country isn’t only a chance for new academic learning: it’s an opportunity for cultural learning and personal growth as well – go seek out the things that interest you, and push yourself outside your comfort zone.
Author: Robby Yu Ngai
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One of the most important things is to not freak out when something goes wrong.

A letter to my first year self - EF Academy Blog

A letter to my first year self ‹ EF Academy Blog

A letter to my first year self

Letter first year self

For two years, Jeremy Breuer had his sights set on Nov. 6, 2016 and as many of his friends and classmates slept in on that Sunday morning, Jeremy was preparing to run the 42 km/26 miles that make up the TCS NYC Marathon.
Though completing the marathon had been a main goal of his since seeing his older brother run a half-marathon a couple of years ago, he didn’t do it only for himself. The IB student and former professional tennis player from Switzerland ran for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and before the big day, he was able to raise $3,500 by collecting donations from his friends, teachers and family.
“I’ve been training specifically for this race for the last eight months, but it’s been on my mind for two years,” he says. “I was so tired and the 42 kilometers were longer than I expected. It was such a huge project for two years and so that made it very emotional. The last 16 kilometers were so hard. It was incredible to complete this race.”
Memorial Sloan Kettering is important to Jeremy because he has known close friends and family members who have battled cancer and when he saw that he could raise money for the cancer center, the decision about who to fundraise for was an easy one to make.
“It’s hard when you’re 18 because you’re asking for money from people who have worked their whole lives and that is tough. But people have been very kind to me,” Jeremy says.
Balancing an IB timetable with a strenuous training schedule was no easy feat and Jeremy says that he sacrificed a lot to achieve his goal. But it was all worth it for him.
“At the beginning, my biggest fear was to train for that long, but once you’re in it and you have your goal it just becomes something you have to do. You don’t even consider if you should go, you just do it and it becomes a normal thing,” he explains.
Now, Jeremy is already planning to start training for a triathlon and he wants to run half marathons and marathons in the future, he just doesn’t know where or when yet.
For those aspiring to run a marathon the way Jeremy did, his advice is to get a coach who will give you a program and tell you what to do and how to increase progressively and slowly so you don’t injure yourself. Jeremy has an athletic background and he says this is what allowed him to jump into his training and begin running long distances right away. This isn’t something he recommends to people who are just starting out.
When asked how he stuck to this strict schedule, Jeremy says he went “running everyday right after class” because he didn’t have time after dinner. “The good thing about running is you just need shoes.”
Others would beg to differ – to accomplish what Jeremy did, one needs dedication and heart as well.

For two years, Jeremy Breuer had his sights set on Nov. 6, 2016 and as many of his friends and classmates slept in on that Sunday morning.

EF Academy New York student completes marathon and raises $3,500 for cancer research - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy New York student completes marathon and raises $3,500 for cancer research ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy New York student completes marathon and raises $3,500 for cancer research

Ef academy new york student completes marathon raises 3500 cancer research

Emeir Sulaiman from Malaysia is in his second year of university at SUNY Brockport and is studying Health Science. He was enrolled in the IB program at EF Academy New York and graduated in 2015. Today, Emeir has taken on several roles such as Resident Assistant and VP of the gymnastics team, and in involved in activities like environmental projects around campus. Read his Q&A to find out what he loved about EF Academy and what his big goals are for his future (hint: they involve Nestle and the UN):   
 
Age: 19
Home country: Malaysia
Languages: Malay, English, basic Spanish
EF Academy campus: New York
Program: IB diploma
Grad year: 2015
Favorite clubs: Drama Club and Basketball
Favorite subjects: Environmental Science, Math and Theatre
University: Studying Health Science with a minor in Business Administration at SUNY Brockport
 
What was your first impression of EF Academy?
I was speechless… I remember doing a guided tour around the campus and I saw all these kids from all over the world. It was just amazing to me that I was in a school with people from everywhere. Honestly, who would have thought that there could be so many different nationalities in one school? My mind was blown.
What did you enjoy about living in the residence?
Living in the residence with people from different countries really made my stay enjoyable. I lived in a hallway where many of my friends lived literally a door away or even next to my dorm. It was fun but it also made my classes easier because I had friends who had the same class as me and I could always just walk over to their room and study with them. (Shout out to my roomies, Anthony Cowal from Mexico and Azmine Murshed from Bangladesh. I couldn’t have picked better roommates.)
What was your favorite part and least favorite part of the IB program?
My favorite part is how the IB makes you a very well-rounded student by preparing you for college because it has the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS, 3 higher level and 3 standard level classes. It’s a very prestige program and difficult for a high school student but it mentally prepares you for college. When I got my IB diploma and continued my studies in college, I was laughing in my head when people told me how hard classes were in college because if they were to experience the IB, it’s like no other experiences out there. It is a program that really prepares you for college, even for your junior and senior years because that’s when you have all the tough courses related to your major. Personally, the only bad part I could recall in the IB is procrastination. However, if you balance everything and stay on top of your work then the IB isn’t all too bad.
What activities were you involved in at EF Academy?
I was involved in Drama Club because Ms. Borton, my IB theater teacher, recommended that I participate in this club. At first, I didn’t expect to stick with it properly but my friends: Jose Luis Pueyo, Anthony Yan, Azmine Murshed, Ace Capacio, Damir Dautov, Jimmy Pham and many more really made it enjoyable. They somehow convinced me to be one of the Theatre Kids. My lead role in Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey II was the start of me just loving Drama Club. In my last year, I also got involved in basketball. (Shout out to my teammates who did what was necessary for it to be fun and competitive.) Mr. Dunn was the best basketball coach I’ve ever had.
How did you choose your current university and your program?
My university was recommended by a teacher at EF Academy. He told me about it and its financial aid system, and the tuition fee is lower than at other universities in New York. I wanted to major in Exercise Science, but I also wanted to do something with food and agriculture. I know that in the world we live in now, food is not so sustainable and we use more chemicals in our food. Therefore, I am now majoring in Health Science because I hear a voice in my heart saying, “I feel like I want to do my part to make the world a better place.” That was pretty much our mindset when we were younger and that’s why I chose something in this particular field.
Did you do any internships that have benefited your studies or your career plan?
I did a short internship at Nestle back in 2014. I sat with my managing director and the managing directors who were from different companies like Kraft, Dutch Lady, Kellogg’s, Mars, Coca-Cola and many more. That internship really gave me insight on how these companies come together to discuss the food policies and regulations for the general population. In 2016, I worked for IDS Med, a private company in Southeast Asia that provides hospital equipment like cosmetics, hospital beds, ultrasound products and many more. This internship really helped me see how products are distributed as a supplier and how I could use the skills I’ve learned to possibly work as a Supply Chain Manager in the future. 
What is your favorite part about university?
The first thing that really made me love SUNY Brockport is the inclusiveness within the community. Everyone was super friendly right off the bat and it made me felt like this was home. A home that was similar to the home that I had at EF Academy. The friends that I have here are really supportive of what I do and believe in. My Residence Staff are also another reason why the school supports different beliefs, religions, sexual preferences and so on.
Describe a regular day…
A regular day for me would to have coffee in morning. I love coffee, especially cappuccino, then I would usually attend my one-on-one session with my Resident Director. I am a Resident Assistant, which is very similar to a house parent at EF Academy. Classes for me start in the afternoon and I tend to get done before 4 or 5. Then I would go get dinner and do my homework for the day. Lastly, I finish the day with going to gymnastics practice from 9-11 pm everyday. That’s a regular day for me.
What other activities are you involved in?
I am involved in the Leadership Development program, which has 4 stages to it: Green, Gold, Presidential and Capstone. This program offers the opportunity for students to engage in a variety of experiences. I was previously also on the Residence Council as a Vice President of Programming and the duties that I had were to basically provide the needs of what activities the residents wanted. I’m also involved in the environmental projects around campus. I recently did a UNICEF fundraiser, a program that I did as a Resident Assistant. I am the Vice President of the gymnastics team and we are set to go to Ohio in April for the NAIGC. Honestly, I thought I was doing quite a lot but it doesn’t seem like I am doing as much as I wanted.
What is your dream for your future?
Are you ready? Alright this sounds like too much but I am dedicated and determined to make this dream of mine come true! I am a sophomore right now. Every year, I plan to get an internship with a international food company. This summer I have an internship with Nestlé in Malaysia. When I graduate from Brockport with my Health Science and Business Administration degree, I will be going to Switzerland to attend ETH Zürich for my Master’s Degrees in Food Science and Health Science & Technology. Soon after I want to be working as a Supply Chain Manager in Neslté or any big cooperate international food company and hopefully get to be a representative at the United Nations in the environment field. Sounds big right but hey, nothing is impossible.
Anything you’d like to add?
Shout out to:
<ul>
<li>Fetzer – Thank you for really inspiring me to get into this whole controversy of the environment being exposed to chemicals like GMOs, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, carrageenan and many more. This really made me the person I am today and I’m passionate about the field that I want to go into.</li>
<li>Marsh – Otherwise known as Ms. Hayes to me. Thanks for making math class really fun. I enjoyed every moment of it.</li>
<li>Dunn – Best Basketball Coach. Thanks for the support and for believing in me.</li>
<li>G – Best “Side” Basketball Coach. Thanks for all the fun that we had. I guess you won’t be seeing a “tree” from me on court soon.</li>
<li>Villari – My fencing master. I guess you could say Mr.Villari is a man full of surprise when it comes to theater.</li>
</ul>

Emeir Sulaiman from Malaysia is in his second year of university at SUNY Brockport and is studying Health Science.

Advice from alumni: Emeir Sulaiman - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Emeir Sulaiman ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Emeir Sulaiman

Advice alumni emeir sulaiman

Lady Liberty and the Big Apple, ready or not, here we come! On Saturday the 27th, we went to our first field trip. Our field trips coincide with our academic themes, so since our theme of week 2 was “New York,” we knew that the students would enjoy going to our national monument: The Statue of Liberty. As our students stared at our green emblem of liberty, our students learned that the Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States. They also learned that this monument is recognized as a symbol of freedom and democracy. For some of our students, this was not only their first time in New York, but their first time in the United States, so they marveled at the statue that they have only either heard about or seen on TV. This trip was certainly a great way to enable our students learn and expand their knowledge in regard to multiculturalism since New York is a melting pot that welcomes people from all over the world.
After saying goodbye to lady liberty, the students and chaperones headed to our famous “Times Square” where they had a little taste of what New York City is all about: fashion, shopping, beauty, great restaurants, amazing attractions, museums and the excitement of the city that never sleeps! Tourists from all over the world dream to be in New York City and there we were, where movies are filmed, famous people live and where dreams were—and continue to be—made. The students couldn’t take their eyes off all the dazzling and vivid lights of the city. The weather could have been better, but the cloudy sky and light rain did not deter our students. New York City still held its magical allure. Our students’ contagious enthusiasm and positive energy not only made our first trip glamorous but unforgettable!

The Statue of Liberty, Times Square and more, our students in our summer course at EF Academy New York got to experience the real New York City.

EF Academy: Rain or shine, Statue of Liberty & Times Square - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy: Rain or shine, Statue of Liberty & Times Square ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy: Rain or shine, Statue of Liberty & Times Square

Ef academy rain shine statue liberty times square

Earlier this year, EF Academy NY received a visit from two Major League Soccer players on the NYCFC (New York City Football Club) team. The team plays in Yankee Stadium, just twenty minutes from campus in the Bronx, NY. Midfielder Mix Diskerud and Goalkeeper Eirik Johansen came to EF to work with the soccer players on their skills and talk about what life is like as a professional athlete.
The event began with a panel about the lives of professional athletes. Mr. Johansen comes from a family of athletes who encouraged him to play football growing up. He moved from Norway to the UK to finish high school and work on his football skills. Mr. Diskerud spoke about the fame that comes along with being a professional athlete. It can be difficult at times to keep up with all of the demands, but in general he enjoys the fame. You have to give everything you have and make every decision knowing you are a role model for others. These decisions will impact others. He recommended the students stay focused and set goals for themselves. Becoming a professional athlete is very difficult to do, but the two players succeeded through hard work and focus. The two players stayed and answered questions for nearly an hour during the panel. Mr. Johansen is described as “down to earth and fun.”
Following the panel, interested students participated in drills and contests on the soccer field. The students had to play goalie and block penalty kicks from the two players. The also participated in several drills and broke up into groups with the two players to practice defense and attack.
Senior Mina Grefsted of Norway commented, “It was really fun to meet Mix. He played for two of my favorite teams in Norway and I have seen him play on TV many times. I love watching soccer in Norway so it was so cool to meet him in person.” Other students who were not familiar with the two players did research before the visit to learn about the players and were impressed with what they saw. For the winners of the competition, Mr. Johansen and Mr. Diskerud gave away a pair of signed cleats.
The New York City Football Club is one of the newest MLS teams, and plays just 30 minutes from campus. NYCFC is currently in second place in the standings as the 2016 season comes to a close this month. The club looks to make a playoff run later this month, and currently qualifies for a second seed.

EF Academy NY received a visit from two Major League Soccer players on the NYCFC (New York City Football Club) team.

NYCFC players visit EF Academy New York - EF Academy Blog

NYCFC players visit EF Academy New York ‹ EF Academy Blog

NYCFC players visit EF Academy New York

Nycfc players visit ef academy new york

The essence of a good education is the ability to learn from and work with others – not only teachers, professors, mentors, and counselors, but also peers. The essence of a great education is the ability to take what is learned in a classroom and apply it to situations beyond that designated learning space. Through participation in sports, students at any stage of their education – elementary schools, high school, and university – develop skills that enhance their academic experience and prepare them for their future in the career world, whatever path they choose to follow.
As EF Academy New York’s Deputy Head of Academics puts it: “Sports and school go together like a hand in a glove. Athletics offer friendship, shared wins and losses, strength and agility, competition, preparedness, and good habit.”
Here are five things that students learn as an athlete that benefit their education and help them succeed on and off the field.
<h3>Collaboration & Teamwork</h3>
These are arguably the most obvious skills a student develops as part of a sports team. Working together with others toward a shared goal is just as invaluable in the workplace as it is in the competition arena. Collaborating with teammates and leaders, listening to and sharing ideas, and making small sacrifices to accomplish goals is the way a group of people can work and succeed as one. This applies to a team of any kind – from two people working on a school project, to a team of 8 rolling out and marketing a brand new product.
<h3>Time Management</h3>
Ask any former collegiate athlete what the most important skill they learned was during their time as a student-athlete and chances are they will say “time management.” Involvement in sports in addition to taking a full load of classes requires the ability to organize. High school student-athletes are required to balance assignment deadlines, homework, and exams with games and practices. It’s no easy feat but the ones who learn how to do this in their early teenage years have more time to practice the art of time management before university and before it begins to play a crucial role in their job performance.
<h3>Leadership</h3>
Every team needs someone to guide them and lead them to success, to their goal. Participation in sports gives each athlete the chance to step up to the plate and lead. It could be lifting the team after a tough loss, setting a good example as a student who is at the top of their class, or remaining humble while being the team’s MVP. Leaders take many forms – one could argue that it’s not the act of being a leader that has the most impact on a student athlete’s experience, but rather the path they follow as they become one. That process of transforming into someone who is admired or regarded as a role model is a lasting experience and one that a student will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
<h3>Goal Setting</h3>
As an individual or as a team, setting goals is a fundamental part of success. Involvement in sports is a good way to learn how to set goals because it’s easy to identify what you would like to accomplish – winning a tournament, sticking a landing, perfecting a move or breaking a personal best time. Sports offer the ideal practice for goal setting in other areas of your life and it encourages you to ask yourself, “What will it take?” High school students who set goals for themselves in athletics learn how to set goals they will need to meet to fulfill their academic ambitions, and further, down the line, goal setting skills will benefit their professional success too.
<h3>Respect</h3>
Anyone can get caught up in the excitement and emotion of a game or competition, especially the participants. And when the game is over, how they carry themselves whether they win or lose is a clear indication of their character. Sports teach us respect: respect for opponents, coaches, teammates, and most importantly, ourselves. Acting respectfully toward others is just as important in sports as it is in the classroom, the workplace, relationships, and friendships.
“Sports are at the core of an excellent education. They teach and transform us through their lessons and what we learn is both kept and shared,” Dr. Comas says.
What is the most valuable lesson or skill you learned as a student-athlete?
 
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Students at our international boarding schools make life-long friends, experience the culture of their host country and find their passion in the sports, clubs and activities that inspire them most. Our student life program is powered by their engagement and school spirit.

Here are five things that students learn as an athlete that benefit their education and help them succeed on and off the field.

5 things students learn through sports - EF Academy Blog

5 things students learn through sports ‹ EF Academy Blog

5 things students learn through sports

5 things students learn sports

<h4>Boys Basketball Wins WIAA Back to Back Championships</h4>
On Wednesday, March 1st, the Boys Varsity Basketball team played the first round of the league tournament against the New York School of the Deaf with an impressive win of 68-38 led by Junior star Marcelo Guth’s 29 points and numerous rebounds from Mattis Neumann and Jose De Mello.  With this impressive win the boys advanced to the finals of the league championship.
The League championship, played at EF Academy on Friday March 3rd, was against Stamford Academy, our toughest competition all year, and ranked 2nd in the league.  Again, Junior Marcel Guth led the way with 42 points and 10 steals to capture the game and the league championship with a score of 74-61.  Impressive play and strong will by Mattis Neumann, Jose De Mello, Denis Mamaqi, Larry Huang, and Jakkob Kessler gave the team the strength it needed to capture the title once again making EF Academy back-to-back champions 2 years in a row.
<h4>Girls Basketball Competes in WIAA Championship Game</h4>
After advancing past their league rivals, Stamford Academy, on Tuesday, the Lady Storm took on Montfort Academy in the WIAA League Championship game on Thursday at home.  Both teams were nervous and excited in the moments leading up to the game. Once the game started the intensity came out. The Lady Storm started the game off with stellar defense. EF held Montfort Academy scoreless in the first 6 minutes and 30 seconds of the game, which was exactly what the game plan was. However, on the other side of the court the Lady Storm’s offense could not get started, as they too could not get a shot to fall. Their ball movement and shot selection were fantastic, but the ball just did not want to go in the hoop.  Montfort Academy was able to convert the first basket, and take a 2-0 lead – a lead they would never relinquish.  The Lady Storm worked very hard, and seniors Jaa Charoenboriboon and Debanhi Jimenez both shined in their last game in a storm jersey.  Despite having their best all-around game all year – the girls fell short of their goal and were defeated by Montfort Academy.
Overall this season was a huge success.  The girls really came together and formed a true basketball team.  They were aware of each other’s individual strengths and weaknesses and were able to use teamwork to prevail in a large majority of their games.  Their progress throughout the season was remarkable and every person on the team improved drastically.  So, despite losing in the final score – they were true winners at the end of the day. Congratulations ladies. We are all very proud of you.

The Boys Varsity Basketball team played the first round of the league tournament against the New York School of the Deaf with an impressive win of 68-38

Basketball teams compete for championships - EF Academy Blog

Basketball teams compete for championships ‹ EF Academy Blog

Basketball teams compete for championships

Basketball competes championships

You can call it a “preseason warm-up,” you can call it “teammate reconnaissance,” or you could even call even it “preparatory basketball exhibitions.” However you classify our 1st annual Winter Hoop Classic, it was truly a prestigious showcase of international talent. Among the participants in the competition were representatives from China, Brazil, Taiwan, Russia, Canada, and Vietnam. The tournament consisted of teams made up of four players, each of which played several 20-minute games (with 2.5 minute breaks). We played with double loss elimination, and ultimately the two best teams played a full-court championship game (with the addition of one guest player to fill a five-man squad).
The day started off at 11:00 am with all players warming up in the gymnasium – friends with friends, countries with countries, classmates with classmates and even halls with halls. After warming up, players began separating into their proposed 4-man teams, followed by a rock-paper-scissors match by the team captains to decide the order of the games. After distributing the competition jerseys to each team, the first two contests commenced.
During Veteran’s Day weekend, there were a total of five competitions, two bracket play games for each team and one Championship for the winners. Within the tournament there were a few returners from last year’s Varsity Basketball team, but the majority of the players were new talent. Some students even cut their vacation short to join the tournament, while other were sacrificing weekend study time to attend to attend the spectacle. As soon as the first whistle was blown, competitors from both sides played exceptional basketball. There were excellent displays of sportsmanship, teamwork, and grit.
After the first two games, two teams led by Marcelo Guth and Wei-Chieh (Jerry) Wang held an undefeated streak, thus knocking out the rest of their competition and setting the championship game up for an exhausting and entertaining finale. Before the whistle was blown both teams were permitted to add an additional fifth player to their teams as the court was changed to a full court setting. From the moment the whistle was blown, both teams gave it their all. In the first 5 minutes of the half the teams were matching each other basket for basket, point for point.
At the final whistle, Jerry and his team were victorious, winning with a final score of 29-21. At the conclusion of the competitions both teams respectfully shook hands and congratulated each other on the hard-fought battle. Winners were awarded a free dinner to a restaurant of their choosing. Congratulations to the winning team (Number 1) consisting of: Sifan Tao (Jeremy), Wei-Chieh Wang (Jerry), Quijie Wang (Jay), and Ken Lun Chang (Glen), and good luck this season.
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14976" height="378" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hoops1111.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hoops1111.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hoops1111-300x200.jpg 300w" width="568">
Written by Adrian Burgess, Resident Advisor and Assistant Athletic Director at EF Academy New York

However you classify our 1st annual Winter Hoop basketball classic, it was truly a prestigious showcase of international talent.

1st annual “Winter Hoops” basketball classic - EF Academy Blog

1st annual “Winter Hoops” basketball classic ‹ EF Academy Blog

1st annual “Winter Hoops” basketball classic

1st annual winter hoops classic

Sports are more than physical exertion. Sports are more than sweat. Sports are more than putting on sneakers. They are a way to test your abilities, are a way to challenge yourself, a way to develop into a better version of yourself. They help you grow, gain important skills and train your mind as much as your body. Not only that, but they really help in academics.
Here’s how:
TIME MANAGEMENT
Our varsity athletes attend class in the day and then do two to three hours of training after class. If you don’t learn time management, you’ll fall behind your studies. What we see is our athletes excelling with this skill. They learn how to study correctly and effectively. They also learn how to best prepare for tests and how to get tasks done. I have one student who is a three-sport athlete, she plays all three seasons and has an A+ in her IB History class that’s also at a higher level – all because she’s been trained to have time management and be organized.
TEAM WORK
One of the strengths at our school is our diversity and that really shows on the field. As a coach, it’s interesting for me to see all of the different nationalities work together. We might have a student from Brazil play one way and a student from Norway play another and they take those differences and adapt them into their techniques so that they come out even stronger – as a team. We have a Norwegian student who gets tutored by his Spanish teammate for his Spanish class and this creates comradery that helps one another not just in the field, but also in the classroom.
WORK ETHIC
I always tell my athletes to “get better every day.” By getting a little bit better every day, you’ll make your team better, so they become dedicated. They learn failure which is important since you don’t know what winning is like until you know what losing is like. We don’t win every game, but that doesn’t matter. Failing is a life lesson that can’t be matched anywhere else. When someone misses the winning point for the game, they then work harder in following practices to make sure they make the winning point for the next game. They’re committed and by working harder than before, that’s when you see the results, it’s all about putting in the effort.
MATURITY
As a teacher, the mature attitudes of athletes in the classroom is definitely noticeable. They are energetic, awake and attentive. They ask the right questions since they need to be prepared to study well and they help out any of their peers that they find struggling. They have their fingers on the pulse of the school and tend to command that pulse as well.
NO EGO
Varsity means the best of the best, but it doesn’t have to inflate your ego or make you work on a personal agenda. Not every student can be a starting athlete. This might be because they are just not at the right level yet or have other responsibilities. Regardless, I’ll still see those students that did not make the cut on the team coming into the gym and working on improving themselves. Not only that, but I do also see the varsity players finish up their training and go over to the others to help them practice and get better at their technique. No one here thinks they are better than anyone else and that humility takes you far in life.
It’s essential to note how much sports help a person become well-rounded, the type of person that universities look for. It’s something that not many are aware of. For admission to universities, it’s not all about test scores. This is not to undermine test scores, but universities are looking for a well-rounded person. Even if universities know that a student athlete will not be playing on their sports team, they still look for what this type of student embodies: a strong work ethic, time management and being a team player.
The catch phrase that I grew up with that I try to instill with our students is “impossible is nothing.” It’s part of a famous quote from Muhammad Ali and something that I try to bring into our realm of sports. If you work hard and you dedicate yourself to a goal, you will achieve that goal. It might take time, it might take sweat, it might take tears, but you will eventually get there if you work hard enough. So, impossible is nothing.
Written by Paul Giordano, IB History Teacher and Athletics Director at EF Academy New York

Sports are more than physical exertion. Sports are more than sweat. Sports are more than putting on sneakers.

Impossible is nothing - EF Academy Blog

Impossible is nothing ‹ EF Academy Blog

Impossible is nothing

When we talk about studying abroad, we often focus on the student who will be going on a life-changing academic journey. Rarely do we talk about what the experience is like for parents and how they adapt after sending their child to a boarding school in a different country.
EF Academy understands the challenges families might face when trying to connect with their child from a distance, especially when it comes to staying involved in their education. EF Academy’s Head of Admissions, Irina Grinevskaya, and EF Academy New York’s Deputy Head, Sandra Comas, agree that when parents stay involved in their child’s education while they study abroad, it benefits not just their schoolwork, but also their confidence level and overall well-being.
“When a child feels well, supported and safe, then they are free to make the leaps and steps in his or her intellectual and academic life. It’s important to have some sense of adventure and take certain risks in your thinking in order to make the most out of your education, and students feel more comfortable taking these risks with their mind when their actual selves are supported,” Dr. Comas explains. “We can see when a parent is involved in a student’s education at EF Academy. When this is the case, the student is in a much better position to make EF Academy the best place it can be for them.”
Ms. Grinevskaya agrees: “I can think of several students whose parents are involved in their progress and well-being and this has had a great positive impact on the student’s performance. It is clear to us as educators when a parent is involved in their child’s education.”
EF Academy helps parents by giving them three channels they can use to check on their child: a competent team of local admissions consultants, a counselor who works with the child at school and PowerSchool. Parents can direct questions about their child’s performance or progress to the guidance counselors who can even help them get in touch with a particular teacher at the school if necessary. The local admissions consultants can speak to parents in their native language and help them make decisions about their child’s academic path. Finally, PowerSchool is a secure online platform that shows a student’s grades and attendance record.
“PowerSchool is a very valuable tool that parents have at their fingertips and it guides them to appropriate advice and encouragement,” Ms. Grinevskaya says. “Sometimes hearing this encouragement from their parent in their own language makes a bigger impact on a student than when they hear it in English.”
As the mother of a child who is abroad, Ms. Grinevskaya says that she recognizes how important it is to have daily or at least weekly contact with her child. She does this by speaking to him over Skype.
“Our regular Skype calls help reduce the feeling of missing each other,” she says. “During these calls, you can ask your child about their life at school – academics, friends, activities.”
Dr. Comas also recommends that parents maintain open communication with their child while they are abroad and believes that if this communication occurs on a regular basis, even if the conversations are brief, it will help children stay happy, healthy and connected to the values of their home.
“If a parent does not communicate at all with their child, that could, without intent, be perceived by some students as a lack of support from the family. It’s very important that students have a strong sense of family while they study abroad,” Dr. Comas said.
In a scenario where a child is performing poorly in school, communication and encouragement from parents could be the key to turning the situation around. The first step is ensuring communication is open – parents should ask how the student’s classes are going and if their child needs help. This will ensure their child feels supported and that they can trust their parents. Then, the parents and student should contact their guidance counselor. If there is an academic concern, this will be brought to the attention of the Deputy Head of Academics, who will meet with the counselor and the student to look for solutions to the problem.
Parental support and involvement affects not only a student’s academic performance and success, but also their level of happiness and how confident and comfortable they feel in their learning and living environment. However, it’s important to realize that there is a point where a parent can get too involved. Dr. Comas describes it perfectly, saying that a student benefits the most when they have regular communication with their family, but also space to be at the school and very involved in life there.
“This space allows the student greater learning and happiness, and a better chance for a successful transition to university study,” she says.
Too much involvement can be a hindrance to a student’s progress as they study abroad, just as too much pressure can also get in the way. Ms. Grinevskaya describes support as something that is encouraging and boosts a child’s confidence, while pressure can often lead to pushing a child to do something that is not necessarily in their best interest.
“Encourage your child and understand that they might be experiencing culture shock or that they have challenges that they need to overcome, especially at the beginning of their time abroad,” Ms. Grinevskaya says. “Trust your child and inspire them.”
 
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EF Academy International Boarding Schools opens a world of opportunities for high school students by providing them with a superior education abroad, thorough preparation for university and a future that knows no borders.

When we talk about studying abroad, we often focus on the student who will be going on a life-changing academic journey.

How parents can stay involved in their child’s education from abroad - EF Academy Blog

How parents can stay involved in their child’s education from abroad ‹ EF Academy Blog

How parents can stay involved in their child’s education from abroad

Encouragement distance parents can stay involved childs education abroad

The week before exams started in May, EF Academy Oxford organized a trip to the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford in order to take part in a lecture about how it’s possible to have fun with math. Sir Michael Francis Atiyah, one of the most brilliant mathematicians of the last century led the lecture titled Numbers are Serious but they are also Fun.
We learned about Sir Atiyah’s life as a mathematician. While not a technical speech, he tried to motivate and fascinate the audience with the beauty of math. It gave us a greater insight into his lecture. Amongst the many examples, he brought out one of the most illuminating – Euler’s formula.
What’s interesting here is that all the most critical numbers/constants are contained together and the main takeaway was that Euler must have had fun writing it. This was the point that stayed with me, as he used a powerful and unusual adjective for the context: FUN!
We also found motivation in funny moments like his informal definition of the constant e (Napier’s constant) as “the amount of interest you receive from a very friendly bank”.
He lingered over the concept of looking at mathematical research in a new light. Not as a tedious job or a repetitive task, but as a mind-stimulating way of discovering the world around us with the beauty of Mathematics. I believe that everybody was inspired by this idea and others like it.
After a thirty minute talk, the questions-based part began. Sir John Ball, professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Oxford, interviewed him. Asking questions to shed some light on what had influenced the mathematician in his life and in relationships, lifestyle, as well as original concepts and how those came into his mind.
He is a man of great depth in terms of knowledge, but he always talked about himself as an ordinary person with friends, hobbies, a family, and a regular life. He underlined the importance that his wife, Lily Brown, had in his life. She was also an eminent mathematician and Maths professor and impacted him both from a technical perspective and a human perspective. He said she was the one who gave him motivation when he was down and backed him up when he wasn’t sure what to do.

EF Academy Oxford organized a trip to the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford for a lecture by Sir Michael Francis Atiyah.

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