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Phoebe Chang from Taiwan graduated with an IB Diploma from EF Academy Torbay in 2015. She went on to study at Arizona State University, where she is currently pursuing a Psychology degree with a Business minor while completing certificates in International Business and Marketing.
How did you hear about EF Academy and why did you choose to attend?
I really wanted to go abroad for my high school studies because I didn’t like the Taiwanese high school system. We needed to do a lot of different subjects and ace everything, which I found to be very tiring and stressful.  Thus, I started researching high schools abroad myself since I figured that if my parents didn’t find anything for me I would just have to find it myself. One day, I saw the ad about EF Academy on the back of a magazine in Taiwan. Apparently, EF Academy offered a merit-based scholarship for the IB program in Torbay. I followed the instructions and completed a portfolio and in the end, I managed to get the scholarship. Since the scholarship was only for Torbay, I decided to go there despite the fact that I actually really wanted to go to the U.S. In the end, I am very happy that I went to Torbay because I had such a good time there and I got to experience the UK which I enjoyed a lot.
When looking back, I can say that it was busy, fun, and crazy time. My group of friends was very close because we lived in a small town. For example, our friend Peyman, who lives in Pennsylvania, comes by once in a while; Aeris, who is in Brooklyn, comes for Thanksgiving every year; and another friend, Oline, came all the way from Norway to visit us. I love this part of the experience because no matter where we go, we have friends. IB was hard but I was probably more relaxed about it than most since I got into my first-choice university – Arizona State University – before the exams and in the U.S. the acceptances are unconditional. Lastly, our life at EF Academy in Torbay was sometimes dramatic and adventurous. For example, I went to Norway for two weeks with Sara, William and Oline. Another time, my friend Valentina asked me one day if I wanted to go home with her to Italy for a long weekend. I said why not and off we went – of course it was awesome with great food. I really want to go back to Europe someday.
What do you like about Arizona State University and how did you choose Psychology as your major?
I am currently studying at Arizona State University, which is a good public school with less tuition  than private institutions. It is a big school; we have over 11,000 incoming freshmen just this year. Since there isn’t much else in the city of Arizona except for desert, it is a real student city. Sometimes, I do miss Taipei a lot though.
I chose Psychology as my major because I liked it a lot when I first started study the subject during my IB course in Torbay. I was considering becoming a psychiatrist and going to medical school but I felt that it would be too depressing for me. Moreover, psychology is a flexible major because you essentially learn about people’s brain. As my minor, I am doing business. In addition, I am doing certificates in International Business and Marketing. Since I am planning to graduate in three years instead of the usual four, I am quite busy now but I enjoy it.
You are very busy – do you have time for anything else?
I am also working four jobs to pay my way through school. Since I am here on an international student visa, I was supposed to only have an on-campus job. So I started off as a customer service specialist assistant but I recently got promoted as the lead which means that I am leading the student worker team now. I also work for StudySoup, which is a platform on which I sell my course notes. I’ve been a Regional Lead since last December, so I host webinars to coach people on how to become an Elite Notetaker. This semester, I took on another position as the Marketing Operations Manager, which means that I manage about 30 different schools that generate leads for the company. Lastly, I also work as a teaching assistant. My mum is a workaholic, I like working too, so I guess I got some of those genes.
What tips do you have for applying to U.S. universities from the UK?
– Set realistic goals: A lot of schools in the U.S. are very hard to get in to and insanely expensive. Of course, you should aim high, but do have a couple of back-up options that are more realistic.
– Start early: Make sure to take the SATs early otherwise you will miss a lot of good schools. Also, start looking at schools already in your first year of the IB or A-Level program so you can start applying as soon as you can during your second year.
– Learn about the city the university is in: Go to the actual city before you apply or accept an offer so you know how your life will look like. You are not only going to study there, you will have to live there for at least a few years of your life.
What is your dream for the future?
I would like to get into a business graduate school in New Zealand or Switzerland. After graduate school, I want to move around a little bit more and travel through work. I would love to be able to afford a nice flat in London and New York. It’s an expensive dream, I know. To be honest, in the end, I probably want to go back to the UK eventually. But who knows? Change is good!
Do you keep in touch with your EF Academy classmates?
Yes of course! I even live with one!
What is your favorite memory from EF Academy? 
Prom night was nice, but our Thorpe Park trip was epic. A group of friends and I organized our own trip to Thorpe Park spontaneously. We found eight people the night before and it was so much fun during that day.
What do you miss the most?
I definitely miss the free time. Right now I am super busy; the only things that I do are work, sleep and eat. Pedram got us into cooking though. So that’s some fun that we get to have while we are free. But back in Torbay, I felt that we could just hang out with our friends and go to places – it was so carefree! Also, I loved going to Nando’s with friends! Maybe it was because we had to take the train to Exeter to get there, but for us it was really special. We went to Chicago just recently and we found Nando’s. We ended up eating there three times during that week because it reminded us of our time in England.
What is one thing that you learned from EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
Going to EF Academy in Torbay was my first time that I was way from my parents. This meant that I had be responsible for myself, everything from managing money on my own to washing my own dishes at all times. If I didn’t have that experience, I think life at university would probably be harder for me. During my time there, I also learned the importance of trying new things. I know that people say that people on the West Coast of the U.S. are open-minded but I don’t feel that and I think people don’t take as many risks. In an international environment, we are used to constantly learning things from different people and cultures. Every day there was something new and different. This ability to take risks and travel is something that I learned at EF Academy.
What final tips would you give to current students?
– Don’t stress out too much and have a lot of fun. College will be harder, so take the time to have fun.
– Make a lot of friends. It is nice to make friends from all over the world and it is important because they will be with you going forward.
Final thoughts?
Calling all friends: come to Arizona and visit me! I miss you!   

Short questions:
Name: Phoebe Chang
Age: 19
Nationality: Taiwanese
How many languages do you speak? English, Chinese, Taiwanese
EF Academy campus: EF Academy Torbay
Graduation years: 2015
Program: IB (English Language literature, Spanish ab inito, Psychology, Biology, Environmental science, Standard Math)
Residence or host family: Residence and host family (My second host family was the nicest ever!! I miss their hamsters and the puppy too.)
Favorite subject: Psychology and language literature because the teacher in language literature was probably the best English teacher I’ve ever had.
Favorite teacher: Liz Clarke, my language literature teacher. We still email and talk even though she’s too busy to reply sometimes.
Favorite club / society: I was the most involved in reviving the Impact Magazine. Adrian Wisaksana and I were there from day one and we changed the face and structure of the entire magazine. I loved the process of building it up and then seeing the result. We could be super busy but we would always get an issue out. It was a lot of fun and we still talk with the Impact Magazine team in Torbay.
Shouts outs to:
Kelly Hall – Lifesaver (for Raquel and I) who cares so much about her students!!
Kevin / Bruce / Craig – Our kind and generous kitchen staff
Dave and Clau   – House parents at Allerdale / our Torquay parents

Phoebe Chang from Taiwan graduated with an IB Diploma from EF Academy Torbay in 2015. She went on to study at Arizona State University.

Advice from alumni: Phoebe Chang - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Phoebe Chang ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Phoebe Chang

Advice alumni phoebe chang

Grace Huiwen Ma went from Urumqi in China all the way to EF Academy in Torbay, where she completed the A-Level program. She graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2015 with remarkable results of A*AAAB, and afterwards she started studying Mathematics with Economic at the top-ranked University College London in the UK. When asked what EF Academy gave her, she answers: “Without a doubt, an international way of thinking that I believe will benefit me for the rest of my life.” Read one to learn more about our alumna: 
How did you hear about EF Academy and why did you decide to attend?
The first time I heard about EF Academy was when I was studying English at EF’s language center in my home town of Urumqi in Xinjiang, China. The admissions consultant came to give a small lecture about EF Academy and what services they provided to support students who are interested in studying abroad. I immediately thought that this is where I wanted to go. I was very attracted to the prospect of gaining an international mindset and I knew that A-Level studies would be very intensive preparation for admission into the top UK universities. Moreover, I also liked the fact that I was able to choose the courses that I from between a wide range of subjects that were not offered in China. Comparing the two education systems, the British A-Level system focuses on three to four subjects and explores them deeply, whereas the Chinese system forces you to study everything.  I personally liked having the freedom to choose and focus on a few subjects that I knew that I would use going forward. This also made me think about my future career earlier and enabled me to feel that I had a goal during my A-Level studies.
Looking back at my EF Academy experience, I met a lot of nice and interesting friends. I still keep in touch with some of them, especially the ones that are studying at the same university. I am also very grateful to the many friendly teachers who supported me a lot when I arrived alone to a new country. Sometimes they would just give me a warm hug and that helped immensely.
What university did you go to afterwards? What do you study and why?
I am studying Mathematics with Economics at University College London (UCL).  I choose mathematics because I have always been good at it whilst economics is the subject that I want to work with in the future. As for UCL, that was an easy choice for me because it is a G5 university (editor’s note: grouping of five of UK’s top university: Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics and UCL). Moreover, I think that UCL has the perfect location for studies since it is located in the central of London and the teaching quality is very high. In summary, it provides me with the perfect study environment.
Compared to Torbay, there is even more independent study time since we have more general lectures. I am happy that I started to cultivate my independence when it comes to studying during high school already because for me it is already easier. However, I can still sometimes feel that it is hard to do everything by myself, but of course it’s also exciting.
What advice do you have for the students who are graduating?
Choose what you want to study and not what your teachers and parents think that you should study
Send your university application as early as you can
Improve your grades
Make sure that you write the best personal statement that you possibly can: I would recommend showcasing what makes you unique. Everyone are different and the universities want to see what sets you apart, regardless of whether it is being good at sports or loving music. I remember that I started my own personal statement with how a teacher in China said that I could be a “bridge between China and the Western World.” Then I continued writing about the two different cultures, why I get more from the UK education system and also how the views of mathematics, economics and statistics differs in the two countries. In general, I think it also helps to emphasize your interest about the chosen subject.
What is your dream for the future?
I want to become a professional woman working in financial services or in media. The optimal solution would be to work between media and finance, for example I would love to work as a news reporter covering the financial industry. My interest for finance mainly comes from the fact that finance is the area in our modern world where most mathematics is applied. I think it is the responsibility of anyone that is good in mathematics and economics to make sure that resources are allocated more efficiently in our society.
What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?
I still remember the first day that I came to EF Academy; everything was fresh and new for me and I was curious about everying. It was my second time in England but it was the first time away from my parents. However, the warm faces of the school staff, teachers and other students made me feel that we would be a big family. Sometimes I really missed my home of course, but at least I felt welcome from the start. I think that is the main difference between a local British boarding school and our international school; at the latter everyone is new to everything and we quickly bonded.
What do you miss the most?
I definitely miss some of my friends that I can’t meet as often because we are in different countries and some of my teachers in Torbay.
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, it is without a doubt my now international way of thinking. In academia, what people strive for is critical thinking. However, I think that international thinking is equally important. If you can understand the different backgrounds, values and languages that people have, you will definitely be better equipped in today’s globalized world. I felt that I really learnt this in the international environment at EF Academy.  I think this will be useful for the rest of my life and can be applied in both work and personal situations. For example, when watching the recent Olympic Games I was able to understand why some people would cry over a silver medal whilst others would be over the moon about the same place on the podium.
What final tips would you give to current students? 
First of all, make sure to enjoy the two years at EF Academy. I really miss my time in Torbay with my nice friends and teachers now and I can’t go back, so cherish the time there.
Find yourself: Use the opportunity to find what sets you apart from others because only by doing this you will find what you would like to do in the future. Concretely, I would recommend continuing to try new things. For example, without having done the Math Challenge I wouldn’t have known that I like being in a team and without being a part of club or society, you will not know that you enjoy leadership.
Who are the most successful alumni that you know of?
Chidera Egbujor – Part of my Math Challenge team and now studying at Cambridge. He gave  me a lot of useful tips and advice when I applied for Cambridge
 
Short questions:
Name: Grace Huiwen Ma
Age: 19
Nationality:  Chinese
How many languages do you speak? English, Chinese and started to learn Arabic.
EF Academy campus: EF Academy Torbay
Graduation years: 2015
Program: A-Level (Math, Further Math, Economics, Physics)
Residence or host family: Host family, very sweet family who provided me with a nice room and a great atmosphere.
Favorite subject: Economics, because it was new to me since I never did it in China. It is still useful for me because I am doing Mathematics with Economics
Favorite teacher:
Hanna Skuckova and Hazel Linacre – my amazing mathematics teachers
Tricia Asquith – my physics teacher
Mark Glew – my economics teacher
Mandy Meek – She helped me a lot when I was applying for University for Cambridge and UCL. She did a lot of mock interviews and those preparations helped me to grow a lot.
Favorite club/society: The Math Challenge team; we were a club with 10 people ran by Hazel and Hanna and we participated in national math challenges representing EF Academy Torbay. I remember that we went to Exeter to compete in an national math competition and ended up winning the second place. It was a great experience and a real exercise in team work, as we first solved 10 questions together as fast as possible and then we had to solve one question each but one would be dependent on the previous answer.
Shouts outs to:
My amzing teachers e.g. Hazel, Hanna, Trisha, Olli, Mark, Mandy
All my friends from that time

Grace Huiwen Ma completed the A-Level program and graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2015 with remarkable results of A*AAAB, and afterwards to UCL.

Advice from alumni: Grace Ma - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Grace Ma ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Grace Ma

Advice alumni grace ma

This blog post about choosing university was written by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a> student Maksim
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My process for selecting my future university is simple. I attend the seminars, which prepare me weekly for what I need to be on the lookout for in colleges, and what they’re looking for in applicants, from the specifics of how to write your essays, to how exactly you should go about looking for schools that are the right fit for you.
For example, it’s not all about education. For most people, you’ll be spending the next four years of your life (at least!) away from home, living at or in direct proximity to your school, where you’ll have to keep in mind not only the courses you are selecting but also the environment you’ll be living in. Not a fan of the heat? Stay out of regions closer to the equator. Want to bring your car to campus? Some schools don’t allow first-year students to drive, so better check on that before you apply. Found a school within reach of your home, and hoping to apply? Some schools require the first few years to be spent on campus and in a dorm, so you might not have your plans go as planned. Not to mention that depending on the region, you might have to write a whole separate essay, fill out a whole new form of credentials, and take a completely new application! Things I would have no idea about before attending those seminars.
When I’m looking for schools, I have 3 basic criteria in mind. Location, courses and living situation. I need to know where I am, what country I’m in, what the political, climate, and geographical conditions are, and if my personal health needs can be met (I’m a person who takes fitness and health very seriously, so having a gym on campus is a massive asset). I need to know if their programs are up to snuff and can provide the education I’m looking for, so I don’t just walk away with a piece of paper, but the pivotal knowledge I need for furthering my future career. And, obviously, lastly, I need to come to terms with an undoubtedly tiny living space, but if there’s potential to upgrade to a larger living situation or if there are any seniority benefits that can help you get to the place you want.
The university prep classes and our <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/university-academic-advising-ef-academy-new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">university advisors</a> greatly help with simplifying this process by breaking it down into digestible steps, from navigating Maia Learning to organizing tours and campus open houses, to scouting potential schools and getting targeted emails you actually want.

In this article, EF Academy New York student Maksim shares his process of choosing which university he wants to attend after high school.

The benefits of university advising - EF Academy Blog

The benefits of university advising ‹ EF Academy Blog

The benefits of university advising

Choosing university as a high school student

Setting the scene at EF Academy Torbay.
Not only do EF Academy students get to live in a new country, soaking up a new culture, and new traditions, but our individual campuses each offer unique landscapes for experiential learning. Torbay on the South Coast of England is a landscape that has inspired writers, artists, scientists and academics for generations. It’s a peaceful environment at one with nature and its tight knit community.  Everyone who steps foot onto our Torbay campus for the first time remarks on these two things:
<h3>The atmosphere</h3>
The sense of happening and purpose that we experience on a daily basis. The blend of world languages, the equality felt between students and staff, the knowledge that these young people are the ones who will make this world a better place. There is a suffusion of purpose and excitement, tempered with humor and kindness.
<h3>The environment</h3>
We have views of the sea and a connection to the rugged countryside of Dartmoor. Our town quickly gives way to the lush green that Devon is so famous for. It is a beautiful place to study and to work and so readily made use of by our Student Life team – it gives quick release from the academic pressures students face.
These two things were best demonstrated the other day when a number of our students went to see Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. What made the performance unlike anything else was that it took place in pre-historic limestone caves, the actors moving us along as they performed so each scene took place in a new part of the cavern. The students, all of them English learners, watched excitedly. Those who knew that play quietly helped to explain the plot to those who are still developing their academic English.  It was magical.
What’s more, it demonstrated how our location here in Torbay provides us with some unique opportunities. Not just for the study of Shakespeare’s plays but for our students to demonstrate engagement with challenging concepts and help others to engage as well. Unlike any other school I have worked in, this is a place where students and staff all work together for a common goal. Be that passing external exams, completing Internal Assessments or helping a friend to understand Shakespeare.
Whether it be in Torbay or somewhere else, finding a location that works for you will set the scene for your studies and motivate you like nothing else. We believe that a well-rounded education extends beyond the school walls and into its surroundings. An atmosphere and environment that inspires creative thought is integral to good teaching and learning.
Written by Andrew Thain, English Teacher and IB Coordinator, EF Academy Torbay.
 
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Do you dream of learning by the seaside? Can you picture yourself in Torbay?

Torbay on the South Coast of England is an environment that has inspired writers, artists, scientists and academics for generations.

How school environments inspire learning and creative thought - EF Academy Blog

How school environments inspire learning and creative thought ‹ EF Academy Blog

How school environments inspire learning and creative thought

School environments inspire

For many of us, travelling this summer is as elusive as catching the golden snitch in a game of Quidditch. If you do have plans to go abroad, chances are your trip won’t be quite like the one you took last summer. For the rest of us, it’s all too tempting to lay claim to our favorite corner of the couch and binge-watch Netflix for the next eight weeks, waiting for school to start again.
But the summer holidays are a time to recharge our batteries, not disconnect them altogether. Summer reading lists are popular because they turn readers into literary globetrotters, immersing them in real and fictional worlds created by authors.
You don’t have to be a bookworm to enjoy summer reading. That’s why our list of timely, relevant books is organized by popular TV shows. If you know your taste in TV, then you’ll know your taste in summer reading.
<h2>If you liked . . .</h2>
<h3>Never Have I Ever</h3>
Devi’s life is full of strong, multicultural females – and she’s one of them. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29751398-the-power?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=rkvJ9i6Lja&rank=5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Power</a> by Naomi Alderman creates a world in which teenage girls use their electrical powers to make women the dominant gender. If you want something more grounded in real life, Uzma Jalaluddin’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43124133-ayesha-at-last" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ayesha at Last</a> is a ‘modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice’ with a protagonist as clever and virtuous as Elizabeth Bennet. Want something even more factual? Read Michelle Obama’s memoir <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38746485-becoming?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=OuNzH6Te6a&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Becoming</a> and be left in awe of ­­­the iconic First Lady’s influence on shaping the White House and advocating for girls.
<h3>Sex Education</h3>
Awkward moments should be part of the definition of what makes high school, well, high school. In <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547856-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda</a> by Becky Albertalli, Simon Spier discovers what happens when his sexual identity becomes everyone else’s business. Jerry Craft’s graphic novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39893619-new-kid?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=PBpK0yb5tq&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Kid</a> captures the true nerves of going to a new school where you don’t seem to fit in. On a more serious but equally moving note, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29780253-born-a-crime?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=AnXbHc9yhm&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood</a> by – maybe you’ve heard of him – Trevor Noah is his personal story of finding his identity in a world that told him he wasn’t supposed to exist.
<h3>13 Reasons Why</h3>
On screen or on the page, stories about mental health help us understand our own emotions and reduce the stigmas surrounding it. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10956.The_Virgin_Suicides?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=CrhVMdul2W&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Virgin Suicides</a> by Jeffrey Eugenides follows the story of five sisters who grow up in a family that’s great at keeping up appearances, but not so great at addressing their underlying problems. John Green’s debut novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99561.Looking_for_Alaska?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=gAyX3nwd7h&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Looking for Alaska</a> is about how a group of friends learn to make sense of tragedy and ease their anxieties when something terrible and unexpected happens. In his short story collection <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13503109-this-is-how-you-lose-her?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=LTMgf2qB8s&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This is How You Lose Her</a>, Junot Diaz takes us through the highs and lows of love and loss with a beautifully funny narrator, Yunior.
<h3>Atypical</h3>
We can all relate to Sam’s experience of having felt like a bit of an outsider at school at some point in our lives. In <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515-wonder?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=rafQOXvF1J&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wonder</a> by RJ Palacio, you’ll feel deeply for August Pullman, whose facial defect prevents his fellow classmates from seeing him as a normal person. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4lBntQxniU&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</a> by Stephen Chbosky ­is written as a collection of letters that Charlie, who suffers from depression, writes on navigating his first year of high school and the loss of people close to him. Sometimes its our culture that sets us apart from our friends; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7362158-girl-in-translation?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=DtQWfmgXFb&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Girl in Translation</a> by Jean Kwok tells the story of a Chinese-American woman getting to grips with belonging to two very different backgrounds.
<h3>Dickinson</h3>
This show about 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson isn’t your typical work of historical fiction, and neither is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43982054-the-water-dancer?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6ykv3jxClQ&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Water Dancer</a> by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Set in pre-Civil War Virginia, the novel follows the life of Hiram – a house slave who possesses a supernatural power that allows him to help the enslaved escape the enslavers and claim their freedom. Arthur Miller’s seminal play, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17250.The_Crucible?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=9HxwFrMpwM&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Crucible</a>, goes even further in time to explore Puritan America during the Salem Witch Trials. If you prefer more contemporary historical fiction, then Tim O’Brien’s short stories in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/133518.The_Things_They_Carried?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BUqt0HlqtD&rank=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Things They Carried</a> will take you to the Vietnam War as experienced by the author during his time as a soldier on the ground.
Many thanks to the English and EAL teachers at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a> for sharing their extensive summer reading list with us. The books in this post are a small selection of them.
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<a href="https://www.efacademy.org/">EF Academy International Boarding Schools</a> 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.

You don’t have to be a bookworm to enjoy summer reading. If you know your taste in TV shows, then you’ll know your taste in summer reading.

Your 2020 summer reading list, based on your favourite TV shows - EF Academy Blog

Your 2020 summer reading list, based on your favourite TV shows ‹ EF Academy Blog

Your 2020 summer reading list, based on your favourite TV shows

Summer reading 2020 based on favorite tv shows

This interview was conducted and written by EF Academy New York ambassador Melissa.
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Hi! My name is Melissa Kina, I am from Brazil and I am currently a junior here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a>. I’ve interviewed Ms. Divya Jesudoss, who is my <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/ib-diploma-top-5-reasons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB</a> Psychology teacher.
Ms. Divya teaches business management and psychology at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> and has been teaching here for 4 years now. However, she has been in the education world for more than 20 years. In her hometown in India, it is common to major in 3 areas for your bachelor’s degree, and that is why she has a major in Economics, English literature and Psychology.
Ms. Divya has always been an inspiration to me since I first came here to <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> in September 2021. These few months have really enlightened me regarding what I want to do with my life and what kind of person I want to become, and a big part of my decision is due to her effort and care for her students during class time. Every time I leave that classroom I strive to be better. I really look up to her and she makes me want to be a better learner and just a better person overall. That is why I chose to interview her today.
<h3>What do you like most about teaching at EF Academy?</h3>
The international presence is what I find most attractive. I’ve been in international teaching for the best part of my career, but in Asia, we tend to have more representation from that region, so this is my first exposure to students from South America, North America… And I think having more of that learning, how to interact with students from this part of the world and their exposure and their perspective is definitely very attractive.
<h3>What made you choose to work with teenagers? I think you told me that you used to teach at universities before choosing to teach high school?</h3>
Yes, when I started my career I started [teaching] at university for about 5 and a half, 6 years. I loved it, there was no homework to grade, and there was no messing around with little details, but I think that what I missed was being a part of decision-making because a lot of students had already made up their minds about what they would want to do with their lives, career choices. Those decisions had been made, and that’s why they were there. There was definitely a chance for me to be involved and support them, but I realized that there was more action in the step just before they get into university. I think finding my way into teaching the IB diploma opened up a whole new world for me because it’s a rigorous course and I enjoy being a part of influencing, supporting, and guiding students into that thinking process, that decision-making process; it’s a very critical time and even if it’s only 2 years, maybe a maximum of 2 years when our lives will overlap, but in that window of time there’s a lot that we can give and take.
<h3>How was it like growing up in India and did it influence you in any way to come here to the US to teach?</h3>
I would never trade my childhood for anything, I love my childhood, I loved living in India. Of course, it was normal, I haven’t traveled a lot in my early childhood, but I think that my childhood in India taught me to never give up, and never make excuses. If you want to be somebody, you’ve got to work your way up and never apologize for experiences that you had that make you who you are. Be strong because of it; shake it off if it hurts, let it sting if it stings and move on. I think that attitude has built me up and has allowed me to see the strength and the opportunity more than what weighs you down. I think it has been helpful for me to draw from that when I am working with young people as well because a lot of the time it’s easy for people that I converse with to think that “oh you grew up in India, that must have been hard,” well I didn’t think it was hard, it was life, it was normal. And I think that’s a good perspective to have for life because you never really know what curve of balls is coming your way, it’s never going to be the way you planned, it’s never going to be perfect like you have imagined, but you can still make something really good out of it.
<h3>How working with teenagers made you grow professionally and personally? Are there any valuable lessons you have learned while teaching?</h3>
Definitely, every day. I think working with high schoolers keeps you young in your mind and it pushes you because teenagers are not dumb. You are at a very intelligent place in your life where you are asking big questions and you are pushing for answers. As an educator, I think it is important that I realize that I don’t have all the answers, but it is also then my responsibility to make myself better and sharper to be better equipped every year, in every class, in every week that goes by. I have come a long way since when I first started teaching. Sometimes I look back and say “I could’ve done that better when I first started” but I didn’t know any better, now I do. And I still feel like maybe I have another 10-15 years in a classroom, but there’s lots more to learn, there’s lots more to do and I think it pushes me to reflect on what I am expecting of my students, which should be the same thing I am expecting of myself; if I’m expecting them to do any better, to do anything different, to beat the challenge in a different way, then I have to do that first. And I think that has certainly helped in my personal growth and my professional growth, always looking for new ideas, for new strategies, for new things that I can learn to keep myself relevant. What else is there in life?
There are a lot of things that I would do differently if I was in a position to do so and there are a lot of things that I disagree with on a daily basis, the way things are done or whatever it is but they are always going to be there. At the end of the day, I’m living my dream, there’s nothing I would do differently. There’s nothing that I want more than to be able to enjoy a classroom experience. And it’s not about a subject, if I was given the choice, I would go back to economics because economics is my first love, but it’s really about learning, understanding people, trying to get into someone’s head, and saying “how might they be thinking and how can I put in a little bit of a spark here and inspire them there, show them something, point out something”. It’s not about me teaching somebody. In a classroom it’s more about what can we enjoy learning and discovering together and you might think that teaching the same course for 20+ years can get boring but I tell you, it never does because no 2 classes are the same and that is what keeps me interested because every student sitting here brings a different dynamic. You can teach the same topic in 5 different classes on a given day and have 5 very different experiences and learn something from it all. Education is a marvelous world, it really is.
<h3>Do you have advice for your students regarding education, careers, university and/or personal life?</h3>
I would say, and I say this often to my students: don’t pursue perfection, pursue excellence. You will never be perfect, but you can always pursue excellence. And like I say in class, make mistakes, make good mistakes, but never make the same mistake twice.

Ms. Divya teaches business management and psychology at EF Academy in New York. Get to know her in this interview conducted by Ambassador Melissa!

Get to know Divya Jesudoss, educator at EF Academy New York! - EF Academy Blog

Get to know Divya Jesudoss, educator at EF Academy New York! ‹ EF Academy Blog

Get to know Divya Jesudoss, educator at EF Academy New York!

Ef academy new york divya

International high school student Lily Anderen completed a two-week summer internship with EF Academy. Read about her experience working with sales and marketing in her own words:
During the summer before my senior year of high school, I applied to an internship at EF Academy in Zurich. I wanted to apply for a summer internship because I wanted to get an idea of how the real world works within business. I have always been conflicted on what I want to study and work with after high school, and I thought that taking the initiative to apply for internships would help me understand what I enjoy. EF Academy appealed to me because of their internationally diverse environment and international operations. EF Academy works to encourage <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">learning abroad</a>, something that I have grown up with and think that every student should get the opportunity to do.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the internship unfortunately had to be done online. Although this wasn’t ideal, the EF team had put great effort into organizing an internship that I could do from home. Even in the midst of a stressful time for them, they were still able to offer me this opportunity. I received a two-week schedule of tasks to complete every day. The tasks were a range of different assignments, all from writing articles to designing website layouts. I had first thought that it would be difficult to keep up with a workload sitting at home all day, but I was really engaged in my tasks because I found them so relevant. I felt like I was doing something useful to them, rather than being a burden.
One of the key learning points for me was seeing how EF Academy and their employees were able to navigate the special circumstances with the Covid-19 pandemic. It was incredibly inspiring to see how they were able to consider the current situation and assess how they could work around it. Especially as a company who predominantly works with students travelling abroad, they were really challenged to explore their alternatives. I learned a lot about what it means to be adaptive as a company, and how businesses are impacted by global phenomenons. It illustrates “cause and effect” and causation perfectly, which puts what I have learned about in school into real life context.
The work that I did was within sales and marketing, two areas that I am interested in working with in the future. When doing my tasks, I was challenged to put myself in the target audience’s shoes. I had to think from a perspective that isn’t my own, and base evaluations on my past experiences and research. This was a huge stepping stone for me, as it made me understand the real world better. I now better understand the complexity and nuance in creating something that is appealing to a multifaceted audience.
Being an intern at EF Academy in Zurich was an enriching experience. It challenged me in a lot of ways, and ultimately taught me so much more than I would’ve first thought. Not only did I gain knowledge about the business world, but I also enhanced my critical and creative thinking skills. I have grown in just two weeks and I will be forever grateful for this experience.
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<a href="https://www.efacademy.org/">EF Academy International Boarding Schools</a> 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.

My summer internship at EF Academy was an enriching experience. It challenged me in a lot of ways, and taught me so much more than I would've first thought.

My summer internship at EF Academy - EF Academy Blog

My summer internship at EF Academy ‹ EF Academy Blog

My summer internship at EF Academy

Summer internship ef academy

Living and studying in Torbay can be really wonderful! Since you’re only going to be studying here for a short while, it’s important to make the most out of your time here.
Here are a couple of things that will make your experience more valuable.
<h3>1. Join clubs</h3>
We have a variety of clubs for students available and it is a wonderful opportunity to learn new things and getting to know your peers in a more relaxed environment. For example in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademynews/clubs-profile-japanese-cooking-culture/">Japanese cooking and culture club</a> or the Taek-wan-do club, you get to know more people that you maybe didn’t know before who share the same interests.
<h3>2. Budget well</h3>
It is really important for students to learn how to use their money and how to budget it. You could easily spend all your money in just a week so it is important for students to know how much money they have to spend and for how long that will have to be sufficient.
<h3>3. Organize your life</h3>
Living here we have no one nagging at us to do our homework, clean our room etc. that means we have to all those things out of our own accord and organizing our time in a way that we get everything done.
<h3>4. Connect with others</h3>
Staying away from home may be stressful for some students but they don’t have to feel ashamed. The school has Pathway managers that will help you trying to overcome homesickness and the like. Also, all of our staff are always happy to lend an open ear to students and try to help them where were they can.
<h3>5. Be on time</h3>
Make sure to be on time – this is especially important when you live in residence, being late leaving for school or coming back can lead to grounding on the weekends and no one wants to spend them not being able to go out and enjoying time with friends.
<h3>6. Talk about what stresses you out</h3>
Being teenagers, being students there is a lot to worry and stress about. Things like university applications, <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademynews/student-approved-tips-successful-exam-week/">studying for important exams</a>, or deciding your courses based on your future job interests is quite hard and puts us under a lot of pressure.
When you’re stressed about school, you don’t always want to talk to a teacher or peer about those things. That’s why we have independent people to talk to. We have a local priest who works with teenagers and is always happy to listen. We also have a trained and certified counselor that comes to the school to talk with students who might be dealing with something they don’t want to discuss with people on campus.
<h3>7. Find your study space</h3>
Throughout the school, there are plenty of spaces for students to sit down and study. One that’s frequently used is the library. Students like to gather there and study or work together on projects. We also have a designated classroom during lunchtime where students can go to study if they’d like a quiet environment.
<h3>8. …and somewhere to take it easy</h3>
While studying is important, you also need places to take it easy. It’s like when you’re at home, you can’t think about your studies all the time. There are a lot of cool places off campus to meet up with friends and classmates. There are several nice cafes in Torbay. There are also two cafes open exclusively for EF Academy students on Friday nights – Starbucks and Cafe Vinyl.
<h3>9. Go exploring</h3>
A lot of our students come from cities way bigger than the Torquay area. That can make it hard to adapt but luckily, you can go exploring the area. Exeter is just about an hour away by train and you can go there to shop and explore on Saturdays.
<h3>10. Take a trip</h3>
Another great way to explore, keep busy, and get to know other students is by taking a trip. There are many cool trips you can sign up to. Almost every Saturday, there’s at least one thing you can do – f<a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademynews/setting-sail/">rom sailing</a> to kayaking. We also take a lot of interesting trips to cities further away or landmark places like Stonehenge. There’s always something fun to do here!
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YU9hDZlpk9g" width="560"></iframe></center>Studying in Oxford instead? <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademynews/10-tips-studying-oxford/">Read tips for studying in Oxford here</a>.

Living and studying in Torbay can be really wonderful! Here's how to get to get the most out of your time and experience here.

10 tips for studying in Torbay - EF Academy Blog

10 tips for studying in Torbay ‹ EF Academy Blog

10 tips for studying in Torbay

10 tips for studying in torbay

Last week students from EF Academy Torbay visited Southampton University. The trip focused on Maths, Engineering and Computer Sciences so we took first year students with an interest in studying in those areas. After we made the long journey from Devon to Southampton we were greeted by members of the universities admissions teams for a tour around the main university campus.
The University of is a public research university located in Southampton, England. Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities in Britain. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework the university was ranked the 18th best research institution in the United Kingdom for average quality of research submitted.
The origins of the university date back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 following a legacy to the Corporation of Southampton by Henry Robinson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed into the Hartley University College awarding degrees from the University of London. On 29 April 1952, the institution was granted a Royal Charter to give the University of Southampton full university status, allowing it to award its own degrees. The University of Southampton currently has 17,485 undergraduate and 7,390 postgraduate students, making it the largest university by higher education students in the South East region.
The university has seven teaching campuses. The main campus is located in the Highfield area of Southampton and is supplemented by four other campuses within the city.
Following a tour of the main areas of the campus we went into meet members of the Maths department for a talk on the programs that the university offers and the kind of academic research that they are currently working on. We then made our way to the Computer Science department for an amazing, funny and slightly unusual talk by one of the universities leading computer scientists who is somewhat of rising star in the tech world working with company like Google and Facebook .
This was followed by a tour around the engineering department where we met students studying on their phd’s doing research into drones and their application in the commercial sector. We then visited their marine engineering department and had the amazing opportunity of seeing their fluid dynamics lab which is basically a huge and very long pool of deep water that is used to test the effectiveness of ships at speed in water.
This was an amazing visit and had the real wow factor for our students because they got the chance to meet both students and university staff and actually had the chance to hear about the work that they do. It was very inspiring because many of them spoke about the amazing careers that can open up from a degree course at a uni like this but they also saw what amazing and groundbreaking technology and equipment they would have the chance to work with.

EF Academy Torbay visited Southampton University. The trip focused on Maths, Engineering and Computer Sciences so we took first year students.

The brave new world of science and engineering at Southampton University - EF Academy Blog

The brave new world of science and engineering at Southampton University ‹ EF Academy Blog

The brave new world of science and engineering at Southampton University

Brave new world science engineering southampton university

Here Angelina, former editor of Impact Magazine in Torbay writes a letter to June. This is a poem she wrote during the end of her first year with EF Academy in 2017.
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Hi June.
As you are the indication of the beginning of summer, I believe your favorite color is red. 
Welcoming and straightforward, like yourself. 
It’s been a long time. 
We had fun together. Lots of fun. 
Bath, Edinburgh, London and so on, even on the great wildland of Dartmoor. We followed your trail. We chased the sun. 
I still remember the first time when I saw you. You were standing at the doorway, staring at the reception. 
It’s your new home here and mine as well.
“Nice to meet you.” 
I remember you said, smiling like the breeze of spring. 
The ice broke. 
Months passed. 
Back to our part of the world, the messages are frequently sent through the Internet. 
Short break and fresh for the next round. 
“Well, it’s hard to carry on the work for a whole year.” 
Lots of jokes, even some of them weren’t that funny. 
There were difficulties for sure. A few fights and heartbreaks but we have powered through. 
Powered through it all and now, we are standing in front of June. You. 
You were here all the time, in September, January and March. You saw everything and you are used to those tearing scene. 
“It’s not that hard.” 
You told yourself, with drops running down your cheeks. 
Last few hugs and then Goodbye. 
Goodbye, my old friends…
Another few months. 
It’s September again. 
“Hi, there! Glad to meet you!” 
Turning around with surprise, I saw “you”, waiting again at the reception. 
“Welcome to your new home!” 
I smiled back like those old friends did.
To tell you the truth, red is my favorite color as well. 
June is not the season of loneliness or sadness. 
It’s just a break for us to prepare new love for new friends. 
It will be September again. 
Nothing has really changed, right? 
Hi June! 
I will meet you again in September!

Here one of our ambassadors and newly appointed Angelina, editor of Impact Magazine writes a letter to June.

Student poetry: A letter to June - EF Academy Blog

Student poetry: A letter to June ‹ EF Academy Blog

Student poetry: A letter to June

A letter to june

A lot of people are going to tell you various, different ways on how to write a book, me included. However, the first thing that I want you to know, and this is a secret that most people don’t know or don’t seem to understand, is that there is no set method on how to write a book. It’s as simple as that. But then again, not really, nothing is ever that simple. So let me help you along your way with some tips.
The most common obstacle that potential writers face is procrastination. This usually stems from some form of fear. It could be that they fear letting someone peer into their true thoughts, or a fear that people won’t care about or notice what they write, it could even be a fear that people may laugh at them. Perhaps a fear of failure. While all of these scenarios may be frightening, I’m here to tell you that the scariest thing that an artist will ever face in their life, is denying themselves of their creative passions. If you do not write that book, or short story, or song, out of an irrational fear, you will regret it when you lose it. In the face of this Goliath, your need to express yourself creatively should compel you to write what your heart desires.
So, you’ve gotten this far, it must mean that you’ve gained some hope and are ready for the next step. This is one of the easier parts of writing- it’s gaining direction. Just like how you would do if you travelled to a foreign country, you would first want to gain direction or have some idea of what you want to do, the same goes for writing. You don’t have to have every single point mapped out like some mad writers do, and you certainly don’t have to draw out elaborate timelines all over your wall. No, all you need, I believe, is to know where you want to start, and how you want it all to end. Everything in the middle is like life, it slowly comes to you over time. Don’t stress about it or pressure yourself into anything, don’t even pressure yourself into following my advice. Art should rarely be forced, it should flow out of you as if a release of the struggles and frustrations that you’ve held onto in life. Writing, drawing, singing, dancing, acting, all forms of art, they come from the most honest, purest places within us. That is, either genuine glee or immense sorrow.
Once an idea has blossomed in a remote nook of your mind, it’s time to start writing. You might think that you’re not ready for such a daunting project, but you really are. Our minds, whether it intends to or not, usually instills fear into us. In this context, it would chime to every part of your waking body that you’re not worthy yet of doing something of this caliber. Perhaps when you think of a writer, your mind wanders to someone with such strong discipline that they follow strict regiments. For example, Stephen King with his method of writing 2,000 words a day. However, you should also note that for his personal style and with the kind of novels which he writes, he has found that to be the method best suited for himself. Another example, myself. I wrote and published my own novel at 17, yet I’m nowhere near the likes of Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Kevin Feigi, William Shakespeare, or any of the greats. Yet I did it, and so can you. The oldest cliches stand true, you never know until you try. Keep experimenting until you find what’s right for you.
And now for my last tip, because it’s likely that you’re bored of me already and want to get to your own writing. This bit is absolutely crucial. I said at the beginning of this post, and once again somewhere in the middle, that there is no set method to writing and that you shouldn’t pressure yourself into following my tips and advice. However, this tip, you should heed. Never, under any circumstance, should you forsake your personal and creative integrity to write about what’s “cool” instead of what’s real. With this, I mean writing to please others instead of yourself. You may have something that you feel is extremely controversial to write about. Well write it, within rightful law, of course. It doesn’t matter that a lot of people will disagree with you, or a lot of people may hate what you’re writing, you have to stand up for what you believe in. Because if you keep bending yourself backwards to the demands of others like some artists do, then really, your work of art isn’t actually yours anymore. Those aren’t your words, they aren’t your thoughts, that isn’t your beauty. It’s theirs, and you’ve lost your own sense of purpose. Don’t let that happen, always be true and honest to yourself, and you will forever be grateful.
 
Eugene Tan is a current student at EF Academy Torbay. He wrote and published his own book which is available on Amazon which you can purchase <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-Won-Part-One-Entitled/dp/1532977808/ref=sr_1_7/146-9782314-9201541?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506416056&sr=1-7&refinements=p_27%3AEugene+Tan">here</a>. 
 
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If you’re a student who aims high like Eugene Tan, EF Academy could be the school for you.

A lot of people are going to tell you various, different ways on how to write a book, me included.

Your 101 for writing a book - EF Academy Blog

Your 101 for writing a book ‹ EF Academy Blog

Your 101 for writing a book

Write book 101

Last week one of our Student Investor Challenge teams: Team Anonymous, received the exciting news that they had made it into the Semi-finals of this nationwide competition, no small feat as they were competing against 10, 000 other teams.
First year student Cassy Le explains how she and the rest of her team were successful in reaching the next stage of this challenge:
Since the challenge started in October 2015, we have struggled to manage time and find a perfect schedule by which we can meet up and plan out our strategies. Nevertheless, with the help of Ms. Helen Story, our economics teacher, we have instead managed to individually do research, so that when we do meet up we can use our time efficiently.
Another difficulty we faced was with the stock market being in crisis since the start, meaning it has been hard to predict the outcomes of our investments and we soon realised that a lot of it was up to luck. 
Our portfolio decreased significantly in December, as it was during break and we had very little contact with each other. Having lost a little of the hope and enthusiasm that all teams have at the beginning, we took the challenge half heartedly until our team decided to give it our best shot for the last month of the challenge. And as it turns out, with the stock market stabilizing, our portfolio increased drastically in the last two weeks and we made it through to the semi-finals, thanks to the unbelievable performance of our portfolio in January. Surprised, our initial reactions ranged from disbelief to raging laughter for some time, before it settled in that we had actually made it through the next round as one of 500 teams that stood out from the 10,000 teams that participated.
The second part of the challenge, starting in the middle of February, will consist of making a series of predictions for 4 weeks. The teams will be given points according to the accuracy of their predictions and the teams with the most points by the end of that time will have the opportunity to participate in the live finals which will take place in New York!
The Student Investor Challenge so far has brought us mixed feelings. The Anonymous Team (or the Not So Anonymous Team anymore, as suggested by our Headteacher Dr.Paul Ellis), as ironically as we call ourselves, has made it to the semi-final of the challenge and we are excited to see how it goes!
– The Anonymous Team (Cassy Le, Dzung Do Gia Trung, Zhoshy Sabdalin and Shuo-En Tsai)

Team Anonymous, received the exciting news that they had made it into the Semi-finals of this nationwide competition.

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