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<p>In January, we wrote the first post in a three-part series about Business Teacher on the Road John Dohrmann and his adventure around the world. While <a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/01/26/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-the-world-his-classroom-part-i/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Part 1</u> </a>focused on his presentation on finance, this post will highlight the key messages of his lesson on branding and give you an update on where he has been and where he is heading next.</p>
<p>Since the beginning of the year, students in classrooms in Norway, India and China have had the chance to learn from Mr. Dohrmann, a business expert and IB teacher with years of experience building successful start-ups. As a seasoned entrepreneur himself, Mr. Dohrmann has extensive knowledge with the concept of “branding” and how it affects us as consumers.</p>
<p>In his eye-opening presentation, Mr. Dohrmann speaks about the power that brands and their logos have over the buying pattern and behaviors of their customers.</p>
<p>“There’s so much more to a logo than the text and color – they are usually conveying a subtle message about the company and the products or services they provide. Not often do people see an ad and respond by immediately buying the product, but with the best brands, we respond to their message by remembering them when we go to make a purchase,” Mr. Dohrmann said.</p>
<p>He uses a variety of examples using well-known companies, ensuring that his audiences of high school students around the world feel a personal connection to the topic being discussed and understand the important lessons.</p>
<p>“Brand loyalty is something most of us have exercised at some point. Think about your favorite clothing stores, the electronic devices in your backpack, the shoes in your closet or the food in your fridge at home. Repeatedly choosing one brand over another is brand loyalty – think about it the next time you go shopping,” he said.</p>
<p>The 50-minute lesson, which is conducted in English, give students the chance to experience what a real IB class is like and Mr. Dohrmann’s enthusiasm and interactive teaching style engage his young audience in the advanced subject material. Students can apply what they learn in his class to their own personal, real-life situations, helping them fully grasp the business concepts Mr. Dorhmann teaches.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>This post is the second installment of a three-part series that focuses on John Dohrmann’s presentation topics. Keep your eyes peeled for Part 3 in the coming weeks, and don’t forget to read <u><a href="https://efacademyblog.ef.com/blog/2016/01/26/ef-academy-business-teacher-makes-the-world-his-classroom-part-i/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Part 1</a></u> if you haven’t already!</em></p>

In January, we wrote the first post in a three-part series about Business Teacher on the Road John Dohrmann and his adventure around the world. While Part 1 focused on his presentation on finance, this post will highlight the key messages of his lesson on branding and give you an update on where he has been and …

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 2 - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 2 ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy business teacher makes the world his classroom – part 2

Ef academy business teacher makes world classroom part 2

<p>Take a look inside revolutionary companies like Apple and Google and you’ll see more than bright minds creating innovative products and tools that change our lives. If you were to step inside a meeting area at the headquarters of these companies, you would see how these ground-breaking ideas are born. That process has a name: design thinking, a creative problem-solving technique that is centered on thinking like the user and collaborating with others to come up with solutions that fit the desires, needs, wants or issues facing a customer or group of individuals.</p>
<p>At the Global Student Leaders Summit organized by EF Education First, high school students from around the world come together for two days to learn about global challenges such as human rights issues and the future of clean energy. During the conference, these young change-makers attend workshops where they are taught the components of the design thinking methodology and they work together with their peers to come up with innovative solutions to current issues using the interactive strategy.</p>
<p>Savinay Chandrasekhar, the Executive Director of Minds Matter of Denver, uses design thinking in his day-to-day life and has been teaching design thinking to students and adults for several years. Most recently, he was at The Hague for a human rights-focused session of the Global Student Leaders Summit in June where he helped students engage in the methodology.</p>
<p>Two elements of the problem-solving technique that can be particularly challenging are the notions that there is no right answer and that failure is acceptable.</p>
<p>“Until students recognize that there is no right answer, it can be frustrating,” Savinay says. “But when they do come to that realization, they find it is more engaging and leads to creative and innovative solutions. I’ve noticed the same thing with adults.”</p>
<p>When it comes to failure, Savinay says he encourages students to see that it is an opportunity for success – something that goes against how some education systems define failure: an obstacle on the road to success.</p>
<p>When working with students who struggle with “failing,” Savinay says he tells them that while some ideas work, some do not and those are the ones that they earn from along the way. This, he says, builds resilience, which is a fundamental skill in the working world.</p>
<p>Design thinking is best used in situations that do not have a clear answer. It is not ideal for questions like, “What will I have for lunch today?” But it is perfect for questions about human rights or, for example, when brainstorming how to get more students to recycle or compost on campus.</p>
<p>Savinay says that what is key is the mindset, not necessarily using the whole methodology.</p>
<p>“Using parts of the mindset are more valuable in my day-to-day experience and I use them all the time,” he says.</p>
<p>Knowing about design thinking and how to harness the power of empathy, integrative thinking, experimentalism and collaboration are valuable tools that the leaders of tomorrow – the young minds of today – need to be familiar with. Though it will not fix every problem, it is a strong and effective tool in some situations and in the worlds of tech space, economic development, social entrepreneurship and human rights, it is a skill that can even be listed on a resume or CV and mentioned during a job interview.</p>
<p>Overall, Savinay sees three ultimate benefits of the design thinking methodology, “developing the capacity to empathize without judgement, developing the ability to improve creativity by separating the generation and evolution of ideas, and accepting that failure is the most effective way to learn.”</p>
<p>How do you use design thinking at work or in your everyday life?</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>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.</p>

High school students from around the world come together for 2 days to learn about global challenges such as human rights and the future of clean energy.

Design thinking: Creativity, innovation and empathy in the 21st century - EF Academy Blog

Design thinking: Creativity, innovation and empathy in the 21st century ‹ EF Academy Blog

Design thinking: Creativity, innovation and empathy in the 21st century

Design thinking creativity innovation empathy 21st century

<p>High school students in the U.S. who are interested in challenging themselves academically can choose to enroll in rigorous university-preparatory programs such as the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) or the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma, depending on what their school offers.</p>
<p>At EF Academy, we offer the latter because it challenges students to grow outside of the classroom, it prepares students for the challenging and competitive education environment they’ll find at university, and it is internationally recognized.</p>
<p>The structure of the IB program acquires breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, as students are required to study courses from six different subject groups. IB Diploma students must choose one subject from each of the five groups, ensuring knowledge and understanding in their best language, additional languages, humanities, the experimental sciences and mathematics.</p>
<p>“The IB program is different from AP classes because it encourages students to be global citizens who are active in various aspects of school life, to be compassionate toward their peers, and to develop the skills to be life-long learners,” says Patrick Dunn, IB Coordinator at EF Academy New York.</p>
<p>The course structure of the two academic paths is also very different. Those following the AP academic path can select individual yearlong courses, of which there are more than 30 to choose from, while the IB Diploma program is a two-year curriculum that covers Grades 11 and 12 (the last two years of secondary school).</p>
<p>“With the IB program students not only get an academic education in six subjects, but they also learn research skills while preparing and writing an Extended Essay of 4,000 words, participate in a Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) project over 18 months, and learn how to question during the Theory of Knowledge course of 100 hours – all of which AP does not offer,” Mr. Dunn says.</p>
<p>He adds: “With the IB covering topics over a two-year period, versus a one-year program like the AP, much more time is given to developing a richer knowledge of subjects by going deeper into the content of the courses.”</p>
<p><strong>IB and higher education</strong></p>
<p>According to IBO, “several studies commissioned by the IB have concluded that, compared to their peers, IB students tend to go to university at higher rates, go to more selective universities, and perform better once there.”</p>
<p>Some of these conclusions include:</p>
<p>– Former IB students in the U.S. are significantly more likely to attend a “selective” or “highly selective” institution compared to the average U.S. university applicant.</p>
<p>– In the U.S., a comparison of four IB standard level courses and similar AP courses assigned the IB SL courses equal or higher grades than their AP counterparts.</p>
<p>– In the UK, IB students are more than twice as likely to attend top 20 universities than the average A-Level student.</p>
<p>The above research can be found by clicking <a href="https://www.ibo.org/en/university-admission/recognition-of-the-ib-diploma-by-countries-and-universities/ib-diploma-compared-with-other-national-exams/">here</a>.</p>
<p>All of the IB’s studies are available<a href="https://ibo.org/en/about-the-ib/research"> here.</a></p>
<p><strong>From student to global citizen</strong></p>
<p>Finally, one of the IB curriculum’s greatest benefits to students, aside from how it prepares them for university, is how it helps shape them into confident, independent global citizens.</p>
<p>Mr. Dunn says, “Students benefit from the IB curriculum by living a program that aims to help them develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring students, who help create a better world through intercultural understanding and respect.”</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>Choose from the IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma or American High School Diploma program<br>
based on your strengths, age and desired campus location.</p>

At an American high school, such as EF Academy New York, gives you have the option to do the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement (AP) classes/

Breaking down IB: IB diploma vs. AP - EF Academy Blog

Breaking down IB: IB diploma vs. AP ‹ EF Academy Blog

Breaking down IB: IB diploma vs. AP

Breaking ib ib diploma vs ap

<p><em>Caught your attention? Khoa Thien Le, IBY1 student from Vietnam writes in jest the reasons why you may not want to consider IB!</em></p>
<p><strong>Don’t choose IB if…</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>… you don’t want to possess a valuable diploma acknowledged by most universities all over the world.</li>
<li>…you are not interested in developing yourself in a comprehensive way.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
<li>….you are just a bookworm – IB is for those who want to balance studying and participating in extracurricular activities.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
<li>…you don’t want to experience a new language and other cultures in classes such as Spanish, Germany, French and even Chinese.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
<li>…you don’t want to make new friends. IB is an international program so it’s best studied in a multinational environment with many other students from all over the world. IB students are very active and passionate, and always willing to start a conversation.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="6">
<li>…you aren’t interested in applying to and attending a top university.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="7">
<li>…you don’t want to explore topics and issues from many different points of view. IB will make your brain twinge because of critical thinking.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="8">
<li>…you don’t feel brave enough to tackle a 4,000-word essay that will prove your ability and readiness for university.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="9">
<li>…you love the education in your hometown, where you need to study more than ten subjects just for the test and then forget most of them instead of concentrating on only 6 subjects that you are truly passionate about.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="10">
<li>…you are afraid of the pressure of studying and think that you don’t have time management skills.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="11">
<li>…you are not interested in participating in cool clubs like Model United Nations, Literary Magazine or even Student Council.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="12">
<li>…you want to study in a crowded class with more than 40 students where it’s easy to ignore the teacher. IB classes have a maximum of 15 students and everyone is focused and participates by asking lots of questions.</li>
</ol>
<p>IB is not intended for students who don’t want to pursue their passions. It might be scary, but there’s a lot waiting to be explored, so don’t go for this program if you’re not ready to develop confidence in yourself and learning about the world.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>The International Baccalaureate® Diploma is a world-renowned qualification for students who seek a broad and challenging curriculum that helps them develop all the skills needed for success at university. Thanks to EF Academy’s unmatched internationalism, our students live the IB ethos every single day.</p>

Caught your attention? Khoa Thien Le, IBY1 student from Vietnam writes in jest the reasons why you may not want to consider the IB.

12 reasons not to choose the IB - EF Academy Blog

12 reasons not to choose the IB ‹ EF Academy Blog

12 reasons not to choose the IB

12 reasons not choose ib

<p>On Friday April 6<sup>th</sup>, students from EF Academy New York, as a part of a Vietnamese Literature A class, went on a trip to the Vietnam War Exhibition at the New York Historical Society Museum. It was a remarkable experience for our Vietnamese students at EF Academy New York. The Exhibition filled a 3,000-square-foot gallery with interpretive displays, digital media, artwork, artifacts, photographs, and documents. The exhibit provides an enlightening account of the causes, progression, and impact of the war. The invaluable knowledge provided by a different perspective, one from the other side of the front line, was eye-opening. Our Vietnamese students who have always been proud of their nation’s past, experienced another approach to the war, and grew a further appreciation of the history and the lessons that came with the Vietnam War between 1945-1975.</p>
<p>The day was rainy and chilly and the drive to the Exhibition took more than an hour into Manhattan. The first step inside museum we saw a Jeep from the Vietnam War – an iconic symbol in the war that has been mentioned into many great pieces of war poetry and art. We were warmly welcomed by Educators of the museum and were quickly divided into different groups. Each group researched a leader involved in the war, such as Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Diem, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Each group then filled out an information form from exhibition and then one-by-one presented what each had learned about the leaders. This information was all rather new because most of us have never been able to approach the war under the viewpoint of each leader. Following that, we got to learn about the military draft, which is an American lottery system to pick soldiers for the war, which is one of the many reasons why the Vietnam War was opposed by the majority of American people. Moreover, there were many well-drawn panels representing what happened in the two different countries of the war, South Vietnam and America. These panels provided us knowledge about what most American thought about the war and how the American politicians came to the decisions they made over the course of the fight. Furthermore, we were also able to learn how America reacted and thought about the moves from the Vietcong, such as the Tet Offensive and their efforts to get recognized globally. The last, but also the most touching section of the exhibition, was the one that contained the devices and the souvenirs that were left by the soldiers from both sides of the front line. It was emotional to read the letters of passed soldiers that were supposed to be sent to their beloved family.</p>
<p>After the trip to the museum, we went to eat at Saigonese restaurant to celebrate our National Union Day of April. Every single dish brought to us reminded all the Vietnamese students of home. The trip was a step back in time as well as a great source of historical information that gave us a more diverse perspective. It also reminded us of the Vietnamese people of our past, and the beauty of the culture which we should internally preserve.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Written by seniors Nguyen Ha and Dam Minh</em></p>
<p> </p>

EF Academy New York, as a part of a Vietnamese Literature A class, went on a trip to the Vietnam War Exhibition at the New York Historical Society Museum.

From New York to Vietnam - EF Academy Blog

From New York to Vietnam ‹ EF Academy Blog

From New York to Vietnam

New york vietnam

<p>In this article, I am going to talk about a fascinating lecture that I attended on Tuesday, February 5. The lecture was at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford and was organized by Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures. The lecturer was James Maynard, and the topic that he discussed was prime numbers.</p>
<p>I was really surprised when he got on the stage because of his very young age, only thirty years old, that seems young compared to many other lecturers and mathematicians. He studied at the University of Cambridge, did his PhD at the University of Oxford and won many awards for his research and studies. His primary research focus (that he talked about during the lecture) is prime numbers and number theorem. He explained that prime numbers are the building blocks of mathematics and that, despite what many think, they are useful in our everyday lives. In fact, prime numbers are at the base of our mobile phones and laptops, and they are used in the encrypting of our personal data in applications like Amazon and WhatsApp.</p>
<p>He then went into some very interesting challenges and problems that are still unresolved and that many mathematicians, including him, are working on. Another thing that he talked about was his research in finding patterns in prime numbers. To this day, mathematicians are still struggling to find consistent patterns, but they are also developing and working on their theories. I really enjoyed the lecture because I am really interested in mathematics and the number theorem was something that I was already reading about before. The way that Maynard explained the topic was really easy to understand and follow, unlike other lectures which can be a bit boring sometimes. It wasn’t the first lecture that I’ve attended, but it was the first one about mathematics, and I can say that I really enjoyed it and will attend more for sure.</p>
<p><em>Written by IB1 student, Sara Mastantuoni.</em></p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Interested in attending high school in the historic city of Oxford?</p>

In this article, I am going to talk about a fascinating lecture that I attended on Tuesday, February 5. The lecture was at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford and was organized by Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures. The lecturer was James Maynard, and the topic that he discussed was prime numbers. I was …

A lecture at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Mathematics - EF Academy Blog

A lecture at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Mathematics ‹ EF Academy Blog

A lecture at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Mathematics

Lecture university oxfords institute mathematics

<p>Are you curious about what a day actually looks like at an international boarding school? Follow Grade 11 student Eseoghene as she takes you through a typical day in the life on campus at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> in <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/pasadena/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pasadena</a>!</p>
<hr>
<p>I wake up by 6am every morning, because I sleep by 9pm. Sleeping early and waking up early keeps me energized for my morning classes. After I wake up, I listen to a podcast for an hour or I’ll do my incomplete homework that I procrastinate about.</p>
<p><img alt="Dorm room" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19777" height="384" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Dorm-pasasdena.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Dorm-pasasdena.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Dorm-pasasdena-300x203.jpg 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>When it’s 7am, I go to have my bath and then brush and it’s always so silent in the hallways because nobody wakes up till 7:30. I love the tranquil environment early in the morning. I finish having my bath by 7:20, then I go back to my room to get dressed. By 7:50, I’m done dressing and preparing for school. Then I relax in my bed till 8:15 which is breakfast time.</p>
<p><img alt="Day in the life breakfast" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19773" height="379" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1_Breakfast-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1_Breakfast-1.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1_Breakfast-1-300x200.jpg 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>Once it’s 8:15, I start going for breakfast. I get pancakes and watermelon for breakfast most times and then sit on a table with my friends.</p>
<p><img alt="cafeteria day in the life pasadena" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19774" height="382" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Cena-pasadena-1.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Cena-pasadena-1.png 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Cena-pasadena-1-300x202.png 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>Then when it’s 8:50, I start to go for my first class which starts by 9am. I finish my first class by 10:15 then go to my Advisory.</p>
<p>Advisory is always my favorite part of the day, because it’s relaxing and my advisory teacher is nice and she listens to us and helps us to provide solutions when we are struggling with something. Advisory increases student relationships and I personally enjoy it.</p>
<p><img alt="Day in the life students" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19776" height="847" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Esooo.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Esooo.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Esooo-201x300.jpg 201w" width="568"></p>
<p>After the advisory, I got my second class of the day. When my second class is over, I go to have lunch by 12:05-12:50, i think the lunch time is really long to socialize with my friends and really enjoy the food. Once it’s 12:45, I head to my next class, and by 2:10, I finish my class and go to the 4th and last class of the day which is Global leadership.</p>
<p><img alt="Student in class on a normal day" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19770" height="540" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ese-in-class.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ese-in-class.png 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ese-in-class-300x285.png 300w" width="568"></p>
<p>I’m in Global Citizens and I enjoy doing it, because it fosters closer student relationships and helps us to be future Global leaders, here we work on projects that deal with a sustainable development goal. After Global leadership ends by 3:25, I go to my club at 3:30, I’m in Fashion Club and <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/model-un-in-high-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Model UN</a>, when club finishes by 4:30, I am finally done with how my school day goes.</p>
<p> </p>

Curious about what a normal day looks like at an international boarding school? Follow Grade 12 student Eseoghene on typical day at EF Academy in Pasadena!

A day in the life of a boarding school student at EF Academy - EF Academy Blog

A day in the life of a boarding school student at EF Academy ‹ EF Academy Blog

A day in the life of a boarding school student at EF Academy

Day in the life boarding school

<p>Hello everyone! This is Jubilee Au Yeung, from Hong Kong.</p>
<p>I am currently taking the International Baccalaureate program at EF Academy Oxford. As I left my comfort zone to study here in Oxford for the past year, I have found myself in three different kinds of experience that I’ve never had in my life.</p>
<h4>1. Different cultural exposure</h4>
<p>It is amazing how a tiny place can gather people from all around the world. Before coming to EF, I already had a general idea about the cultures of different nations. But after meeting all these amazing people, I’ve gotten to build my knowledge and have made personal connections with them.</p>
<p>During my stay in Oxford, I’ve met and built intimate relationships with people from all over the world. The cultural diversity gives me the opportunity to learn about their cultures, which is invaluable because it has broadened my horizons as an experience I couldn’t have had elsewhere.</p>
<blockquote><p>This unique experience has allowed me to be more open-minded and to not only appreciate the backgrounds of others, but also my own.</p></blockquote>
<p>In this international environment, we’re all comfortable speaking English, despite mistakes we might make. We respect and understand that we are all English language learners, and we have been courageous enough to walk out of our comfort zones to come to a country we know little about and explore it.</p>
<h4>2. A different way of living</h4>
<p>Living in a boarding school is quite different from what I was used to. Although staying in the residence means that we are away from our families and friends in our hometowns, we now get the opportunity to embrace a huge new family – our schoolmates and the EF staff. My life here has not always been easy, due to homesickness and pressure at school, as we are all going through a transition period. However, <strong>I know that I’m not alone, and I have massive support from my friends.</strong> Especially during the exam period when we study together and encourage one another through desperate states.</p>
<p>My friends and peers are patient and keen to help. This has made my life and learning a lot easier. As the school environment is always filled with good vibes and students who genuinely want to learn, this inspires me to have a positive attitude towards my learning experience. Therefore, not only has the boarding school experience trained me to be responsible for myself and thoughtful as I share my space with a roommate, it has allowed me to learn different people’s unique living habits. I’ve built really close and tight relationships with them, as I interact with them every single day.</p>
<h4>3. Different learning styles</h4>
<p>I’ve just completed my first year of IB and I would say “wow”. There is no doubt that IB is a challenging and highly demanding course. However, with the support of my teachers, this enables me to unleash my full potential for learning. I am very grateful that I’ve had an amazing academic tutor, as well as my History teacher, Jason, who was very supportive and gave me guidance along the way.</p>
<p>Using History as an example, I’ve improved a lot since the beginning of the school year. I have learned things I never realized before – like, in order to see the whole and greater picture of the historical story, I have to balance and acknowledge different perspectives. Moreover, as I’m a shy person who doesn’t always dare to share my thoughts in front of a big group of people, the small class teaching method of EF Academy really helps me to be more attentive. I even raise questions in classes now.</p>
<p>In conclusion, my experience at EF Academy Oxford has been plentiful that I realize I have been growing day by day when I look back at the beginning of the year. <strong>What I’ve learned the most here is to embrace and see every challenge as an opportunity to learn, and make the most out of it.</strong> I am looking forward to a new fresh start for the coming school year!</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>At EF Academy, our students use their different experiences to broaden each other’s perspectives.</p>

Jubilee, an International Baccalaureate student at EF Academy Oxford reflects on her experiences at EF Academy, in Oxford, and taking the IB.

Three completely different experiences at EF Academy Oxford - EF Academy Blog

Three completely different experiences at EF Academy Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

Three completely different experiences at EF Academy Oxford

Three completely different experiences at ef academy oxford

<p>When it comes to students at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, their interests and passions are as diverse as the nationalities they represent. In our Student Spotlight series, we shine a light on some of our talented high schoolers and their achievements.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a> student Elisa’s passion for dressage has been a constant for much of her life and taught her many lessons both on and off her horse, Weihestolz. We caught up with her after a recent competition at the Prix St. Georges level to hear more about how she balances her co-curricular passion with her school life.</p>
<h3>Tell us a little bit about yourself!</h3>
<p>Hey! My name is Elisa and I am currently an <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/ib/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB Diploma</a> Year 1 student at EF Academy Oxford. When I am not attending school I am usually in my home country, Germany. Regarding school, I can say that I am definitely enjoying every subject, as our teachers are truly always trying to make the most out of it. But if I had to decide on one subject, I would probably choose Chemistry or German. My free-time is filled with horse riding when I am at home and I enjoy doing different sports when I am at school and take part in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/favorite-clubs-on-campus-model-un-in-oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Model United Nations Club</a>.</p>
<h3>When did you start riding horses? How did you get into dressage?</h3>
<p>The first time I sat on a horse was about 10 years ago and the first time I competed was exactly 7 years ago. Since then I exclusively compete in dressage tests, which was influenced by my first coach, who grew my interest in this quite complex discipline and discovered what I can now call my passion. Even though I enjoy jumping, my mum is truly afraid when it comes to high fences/obstacles, so when they bought my first horse they bought one that really didn’t like to jump!</p>
<h3>How do you balance your school life with training for competitions? Has EF Academy helped you in any way?</h3>
<p>When I applied to EF Academy I was honestly surprised by how I was supported. The school offered to bring my horse with me to Oxford and adjust everything regarding training, transport, etc. As thankful as I was for this, I wanted to focus on my academic studies and therefore decided that I would leave my horse in Germany, but I would be allowed to travel back home on the weekends for important competitions. In the meantime, my coaches continue to train my horse. It’s my responsibility to keep up my own fitness so both me and my horse are in good shape when it’s competition time. I am grateful for the support EF Academy offers me and my passion, and am happy that I can still participate in my sport.</p>
<h3>Tell us about your latest competition, on the Prix St. Georges level. How did it go?</h3>
<p>I have to say I am quite overwhelmed. Firstly, it was great luck that it was even possible to have competitions during this hard time the world is going through right now with the coronavirus. I did not expect too much regarding our results, since I had only two weeks of training beforehand. My coaches and I decided that I would compete in two tests. The first one was a dressage test on a medium level, where my horse Weihestolz and I were able to secure second place. As we normally compete on the next higher level this test was mainly for me to ‘warm-up’ because I haven’t been to a competition since August, when I arrived in beautiful Oxford.</p>
<p>The second day was the harder test, the S* dressage test on St. Georges level. As I was exceptionally satisfied with the second place we secured in the first test, I was more relaxed entering the dressage arena the second time and improved some things compared to the first test, which helped me gain more points and reach a score of 70,556%. I was unbelievably thankful for the engagement of my coaches and especially my mare, Weihestolz, without whom this would not have been possible; I was of course even more cheerful because this result meant victory.</p>
<h3>Have you learned any lessons from dressage that have helped you in other aspects of your life?</h3>
<p>The most important trait I probably gained through doing dressage as a competitive sport is discipline and perseverance, as well as how to deal with mistakes, which helps me tremendously when it comes to studying in school. Dressage is a sport which requires a lot of empathy, as my direct partner is an animal which also has its needs and wants. Also extremely important is the ability to work in a team, since I always have a team around me and my horse (my parents, coaches, grooms, etc.) who all are working together to provide the best possible base with which to succeed in competitions. This ability to work in a team, which I learned through my experience in this sport, definitely helps me with friendships in general very much. Personally, I can say that the sport undoubtedly helped me build a healthy confidence in myself and the actions I take, as I was a very shy person for a long time.</p>
<h3>Where do you plan to take your passion after you graduate?</h3>
<p>Regarding my plans after graduation, I am surely considering studying at a university in a foreign country, but have not decided on a particular one yet. I am certain that I would like to continue doing dressage as a competitive sport no matter where I end up studying at university. I plan on taking one of my horses with me, since I realized that it is not possible for me to live without those faithful and patient companions by my side.</p>
<h3>Do you have any advice for students about balancing their schoolwork with their passion?</h3>
<p>Being organized has always been the most important thing for me, otherwise I would not be able to balance schoolwork with dressage. But it is also extremely important to take a short break from both from time to time and spend some time with your friends.</p>
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<p>At EF Academy, we prepare students for a future of opportunities through world-class academic programs and enriching co-curricular activities to fulfil each student’s true potential.</p>

EF Academy Oxford student Elisa's passion for dressage has been a constant in her life and taught her many lessons both on and off her horse, Weihestolz.

Student Spotlight: Elisa’s journey from dressage to Oxford - EF Academy Blog

Student Spotlight: Elisa’s journey from dressage to Oxford ‹ EF Academy Blog

Student Spotlight: Elisa’s journey from dressage to Oxford

Student spotlight elisa oxford

<p><em>When it comes to students at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>, their interests and passions are as diverse as the nationalities they represent. In our Student Spotlight series, we shine a light on some of our talented high schoolers and their achievements.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a> student Arsalan, from Dominica, is a current IB Diploma student and Taekwondo black belt athlete. He recently started his own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUx2AIax28kJ0FdZMr9ewRA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> to share his training tips and experience.</p>
<h3>Tell us a little bit about yourself!</h3>
<p>My nationality is Dominican but I am originally Persian. I decided to study abroad so I could increase my chances of going to the best universities and experience new cultures. My favorite <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/ib/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IB Diploma</a> subjects are Business Management, Math and Physics.</p>
<h3>When did you start practicing taekwondo? Were you good at it straight away?</h3>
<p>I started taekwondo training when I was five, in kindergarten, with the same coach that I have been working with for the past 12 years. I literally didn’t have any talent in taekwondo. At first, I remember I was the weakest kid in the class, I was so quiet and wasn’t successful for the first five or six years of my career. I lost most of my fights, but then I found a way of winning and how to control myself and my emotions.</p>
<h3>What inspired you to start your own YouTube channel?</h3>
<p>I wanted to make content for people who cannot access a coach. I have been doing strength and conditioning (S&C) training with my S&C coach for four years now and I have gained some experience in how to train to get the best results. It has been challenging so far and I haven’t gotten the results I want yet. I hope the lockdown finishes soon so I can go back to the gym, train with equipment and record pro videos. In lockdown I train every day with my body weight and elastic bands in my room and in the park. I am keeping myself ready so as soon as COVID-19 finishes, I can begin to compete again.</p>
<h3>Has taekwondo taught you any lessons that have helped you in other aspects of your life?</h3>
<p>Yes, it taught me lots of life lessons – such as how to deal with problems in life or school and how to control my emotions and anger in different situations. For example, I know how to deal with losing and have the will power to start over again and try more than before to achieve what I want, and learn from my losses so I don’t repeat the same mistakes. Taekwondo has given me lots of self confidence and discipline and taught me that you need to respect everyone, even your opponent. I encourage everyone to begin martial arts for mental health, or go to the gym and work on yourself and your body to gain self confidence and become the best version of yourself.</p>
<h3>Are you involved in any other activities at EF Academy Oxford?</h3>
<p>Yes, I do Math Olympiad, where we practice specific math questions, and boxing once a week for fun.</p>
<h3>Do you have any words of wisdom for students about finding time to stay active?</h3>
<p>Train at least three times a week – it won’t take up too much time if you can manage it. A healthy mind is in a healthy body, and I think this is more important now than before COVID. Nowadays, there are a lot of people who are dealing with depression and mental health problems. Exercising can make you a happier and more disciplined person. You don’t need to do anything special, you can just go for a run several times a week and lift some weights to make you happier.</p>
<h3>What are your aspirations for the future?</h3>
<p>Going to the best university for architecture and being the university world champion in taekwondo. After finishing my studies, I plan to put more focus on my sport to achieve all of the goals I want to achieve.</p>
<hr>
<p>At EF Academy, we prepare students for a future of opportunities through world-class academic programs and enriching co-curricular activities to fulfil each student’s true potential.</p>

When it comes to students at EF Academy, their interests and passions are as diverse as the nationalities they represent. In our Student Spotlight series, we shine a light on some of our talented high schoolers and their achievements. EF Academy Oxford student Arsalan, from Dominica, is a current IB Diploma student and Taekwondo black …

Student Spotlight: Arsalan, taekwondo black belt and YouTuber - EF Academy Blog

Student Spotlight: Arsalan, taekwondo black belt and YouTuber ‹ EF Academy Blog

Student Spotlight: Arsalan, taekwondo black belt and YouTuber

Student spotlight arsalan

<p>This blog post was written by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy New York</a> student Maksim</p>
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<p>After the <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> drama club helped me realize how much I loved being on stage, I decided to give it another shot in the form of becoming one of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNmueDjr1lksuzBTUG8ZKEw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EFATV</a>’s very own news anchors!</p>
<h3>Keeping the community up to date</h3>
<p>EFATV has a host of hardworking, tireless amazing people along with myself who create weekly episodes for the whole school to watch. We keep our community updated on current in-school events and news, and we provide the perfect outlet for anyone with a project to run or event in mind by helping them broadcast and share it with the school.</p>
<h3>Professional equipment at our disposal</h3>
<p>If you’re a scriptwriter, editor, cameraman, or someone who wants to share the spotlight, this is the place for you! We have fantastic cameras and microphones to work with, a greenscreen down in the maker space where we pop by after school some days to record, and a host of intelligent and creative people brainstorming new segments to add to our show. If you’re a student interested in journalism and any of this speaks to you, we never have enough hands to work with.</p>
<h3>A taste of journalism</h3>
<p>I’ve always wanted to work on stage in one way or another. I’ve never really thought of it as a solid career path, but I’ve always loved acting. Drama club is a fantastic resource for me to work on my creative skills and get a chance to shine. However, at the end of the day, it’s a whole lot of practice for one big moment. I wanted to keep working on my acting ability outside of just one stage, then I found EFATV! I’ve been one of the anchors for EFATV for two years now and I’ve loved every part of my role in the <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/3-reasons-why-join-clubs-boarding-school/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">club</a>! It’s the perfect place to dip your toes in the water if you’re thinking of starting a career in journalism, or at least want a sneak peek of what its like to work at a news station.</p>

The EFATV club is perfect for you if you're thinking of starting a career in journalism, or want a sneak peak of what its like to work at a news station.

Practicing journalism in high school through club activity - EF Academy Blog

Practicing journalism in high school through club activity ‹ EF Academy Blog

Practicing journalism in high school through club activity

Journalism in high school

<p>This interview was written and conducted by <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> Ambassador Snaefridur</p>
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<p>Chloe Lammas is a house parent and boarding coordinator for <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/oxford/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy Oxford</a>. My decision to choose Chloe as my inspiration on campus and someone I look up to is how she undoubtedly helps every student when they need support. Countless students look up to Chloe as a family member on campus. My friends and I have often come to Chloe searching for advice, support, and someone to talk to. Chloe achieves a connection with all the students in the school, becoming guidance and an immense support system for academic success. Chloe manages to organize school events, and boarding schedules whilst still making time for us emotional teenagers. Going to interview Chloe was unquestionable when looking for someone that the school is proud to employ and the students consider their biggest help at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a>.</p>
<h3>What makes EF Academy stand out from other schools in your perspective?</h3>
<p>Our genuinely <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/international-school-why-you-should-go/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">international</a> community makes us stand out, whilst managing all living together, the students genuinely care about becoming like family. Our diverse student body drives learners of this school to push themselves to understand each other and their cultures. We have a student body interested in listening to each other and teaching people around them on their different lifestyles and opinions.</p>
<h3>As a house parent, what do you think are qualities acquired by staff in EF Academy?</h3>
<p>One of the most important qualities the staff shares here at <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> is our global outlook on the world. We have house parents that are flexible and have the house parents learn the importance of building friendships with the students while enforcing guidance and rules.</p>
<h3>How do you think you have affected student success in the school?</h3>
<p>We try and help students understand the importance of switching off when you need a break, so it’s not a hindrance to your studies. We provide a listening ear, and I set up timetables and academic support sessions that have a certain structure tailored toward the students.</p>
<h3>How do you incorporate parents/guardians into everyday aspects of the school and students?</h3>
<p>The truth is we don’t involve parents and guardians in every aspect because we believe in being the support structure for them on campus and guiding them to gain independence while they are away from home. This also correctly prepares students before university.</p>
<h3>What was your most happy experience with the students of EF Academy?</h3>
<p>I love getting off campus and doing something exciting with the students. Apart from that, I was the head of the basketball team, and that made me happy connecting with the students and getting students to build connections together, like integrating the year ones and the year twos together. We also got engaged students who were passionate about sports and introduced them to each other.</p>
<h3>What ideas do you want to impart to the students?</h3>
<p>Always being open to trying new things is one of the big ones and teaching yourself to balance work ethic and ability to balance that with a social life, and we help students learn this skill.</p>
<h3>What makes it so easy for the students to come to you?</h3>
<p>I mean, I am pretty laid back, if I’m honest. I can relate to students because I lived with a host family for a while and learned to pick up skills I needed to connect with students who were away from home. I just try to create an open and honest friendship between <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EF Academy</a> students and me.</p>
<h3>What is your favorite part of being a house parent?</h3>
<p>They can have the ability to understand the students and the new generation. As well as making sure students feel they can come to me, be comfortable and have fun while enforcing boundaries with them, and seeing you guys grow as people.</p>
<h3>What would you say makes you most proud of the students at EF Academy?</h3>
<p>I am so proud of all of you. When you guys are kind to each other, especially when students are cooking and baking in the kitchen, no one gets left out; there is a real sense of inclusivity. We are incredibly proud when you guys graduate, and we see you guys grow and take responsibility for your actions and lives.</p>

Chloe Lammas is house parent and boarding coordinator at EF Academy in Oxford. Get to know her better in this interview written by Ambassador Snaefridur!

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