Learn French in Paris with EF

Prior to the start of my gap year, I did some basic research on other students' successful gap years and the various ways they filled their time. I quickly came across the USA Gap Year Fair, and signed up immediately. After an informative presentation by a general Gap Year Advisor, I met the representatives at EF. I explained to the team that I was looking for a language immersion experience that was time flexible.

Given the other elements I had planned into the year, I knew a standard September through December course would not fit my needs. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that EF courses begin every Monday. I was also happy to be given the option between a student residency and a homestay. After more independent research, I ultimately decided to enlist in EF given their years of experience. Their history in language immersion speaks volumes to their ability to run a course successfully.

Despite having made the initial connection with EF on my own at the USA Gap Year Fair, I was further encouraged by my independent Gap Year Advisor to invest a portion of my Gap Year at EF. Aside from this advice, I enrolled and organized my time at EF on my own, and found this process to run fairly smoothly.

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories is meeting people from all over the world and living literally the "work hard, play hard" mentality in my current job. All of our meetings at EF are always super intense and constructive; sharing experiences, difficulties, and success with each other gives you the keys to motivation and always try to improve.

Participants come from everywhere and their differences are a big part of EF's success and the motivation of our staff is a big part of the happiness of our students. The core values are studied and shared within staff, and their encouragement to make everyone get up and move makes you feel good about being part of EF Education, and for me, EF Ecole de Français.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started as a student and loved my academic year so much that when I finished and had to do an internship, I wrote to EF; I wanted to share my experience and convince others to do the same.

After 6 months, I became an EF employee and was selling what I loved - an academic year. I grew from that role and was chief of sales in France. After the experience in sales, I was offered the opportunity of opening the EF school in Paris which I love and still enjoy a lot.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

There are plenty of fantastic stories from students that we have heard after their return and we are still in contact with many students. We get to know students who stay long term very well, and do our best to help them when they are sad and when they are happy. We love when they come back for a visit, having grown up, and explain how we helped change their lives.

I think the best stories I've heard are about two students getting married, students joining the company, having succeed in their studies in France. When a former student contacts us, and tells us, "I have been studying here, I loved it and now I would like to become a host family too!" It's great to have a student thank as, and want to share what they received from their own host family.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factor in being a successful company is staying small while continuing to grow. I believe the biggest factor in being a successful company is knowing that all staff and students are unique.

Also, open communication between sales and production to present EF as a whole package so we can easily act and help with every step for the students. Being a big team with customer service in mind is one super important point of the company. Offering 7 different languages and being open to new technology all the time constantly keeps these questions in the back of our mind: "what can I do better?" and "what can I do differently?".