Program Reviews

I arrived in Nice in the middle of september, and since a lot happened to me.
I met lot of nice people here and made friends.
Everyone is helpful, kind and full of joy; the activities are always fun and we never get bored!
There are beautiful towns and villages that we can visit each weekend, we can sunbathe on the beach or just have a delicious ice cream in the old town.
At the beginning I was a little afraid because I have never spent so much time away from my family and my country but you could become a part of EF community very easily.
Teachers are funny and cool, you can ask anything from them and all the Staff is also here if you need any help.
I will never regret coming here, that is a really good life experience and memory.
I would highly recommend it, no matter the age!!!

I started studying with the EF Education Program 6 months ago. Since the first day of class we were spoken to in German, and to this day I am in the B2.2 level. I can say proudly that I can communicate with people in German. The school has been very attentive as to my individual needs in order to improve with the language. One month ago I began with the Pre University program, and the teacher gives us courage and motivation to keep learning in order to enter a University here in Germany. There is nothing but motivation from the Staff.
I stay with a host family. I have had to move because my first host family was leaving the country, but I have a very good relationship with the owner of the house I live in right now. The house is clean, comfortable. I come from Venezuela, where we cant walk on the streets without feeling scared. Here in Munich I have not felt unsafe, not even once..

I've spent a semester in EF Tamarindo last year, and I must say it's the best decision I ever made.

I was welcomed in a host family which I eventually started to consider as my own, and I think it's the best accommodation you can chose since you have no other choice than to speak Spanish at all times, and it really is a plus for discovering the culture and the habits of the Costa Rican people.

The school and the teachers were also amazing and always very helpful, and always ready to do more exciting activités !

About the town and the country itself, it's nothing like what we may know in Europe or in the US, they clearly do not have all the equipments we have, but it only adds up to the beauty of the city.

I am currently 6 months into the 9-month program at EF Playa Tamarindo, and it has been extremely useful for the development of my Spanish language skills. I started in September, 2016 at the elementary level and am now (March 2017) at the level of advanced proficiency. By the time I leave, I will be able to communicate almost fluently. The teachers that I've had have been very helpful in explaining grammatical concepts and clearing up any questions I have.

As far as the living situation, I absolutely adore my host family. In fact, I don't think I could have had a better experience in this department. They are warm and welcoming, as are the majority of people in Costa Rica. It didn't take long for me to feel at home and become integrated into their lifestyle. Therefore, I would say the host family option is highly recommended. Not only does it accelerate your language development, but you also gain meaningful relationships.

Finally, there's the location itself. If you like to explore and experience rich cultural traditions, this is your place. There are endless opportunities to practice adventure sports, countless beaches to see, and several cultural activities in which to participate. Yes, Tamarindo itself is a very touristy area, but you can move around easily with buses and taxis. The school also schedules trips a few times per month on the weekends. I've personally crossed many items off of my bucket list.

I have stayed 6 months in Rome, with the EF school here, and it is hard for me to find the right words to describe this journey! Today I am so incredibly happy that I made this choice, and my stay in Rome has been amazing, fantastic, unique, "veramente bellissima!" I recommend you all to do the same as I did! I am 27 years old, but you are never to old to explore and to follow your dreams! My dream was Rome, and I don't regret following it a second! Today I have friends all over the world- i have homes all over the world, i can speak italian with italians and I have tasted the real italian cuisine, and I don't want to go back! With the help of wonderful teachers here at EF, I feel that i have finally cracked the "italian-code" and I am in love with this language! The staff at the school is always there to help you, guid you, teach you, comfort you (when you feel a bit homesick) and motivate you! After this experience I have decided to continue my journey in Rome, and I am moving here when i finish school. Thank you so much, EF-Roma, for this wonderful experience! Un grandissimo abbraccio!

I arrived to Nice in the middle of September and as soon as I got to meet everyone, I already knew it was going to be amazing.
Since the first day with my Host Family I felt like I was at home.
I met unique people, I met a lot of friends and I even fall in love with one of my closest friend.
Nice has given me the best experience I have even had and I would not change all this time here for anything else!
I feel like I am finally geting to know who I am and what I want.
I think EF Nice was for me my way to start showing who I really am.

My experience at EF Nice have been great so far. The school has found an excellent balance between learning and joy which results in some great improvements.
The city itself has a lot of sightseeing to offer due to its History and easy access to a great variety of museums.
During spring and summer, this city definitely does justice due to the high amount of visitor.
The school building is very close to the beach, it is a very welcoming building with a great lounge, cafeteria and extremely friendly and enthousiastic people.
The wide variety of activities always found a way to keep you occupied and make the best out of your stay.
You will be surprised how quickly you are able to learn French!
The staff at school takes your problems very seriously and won't hesitate to help you with whatever is on yourmind.

I was quite nervous walking into the EF Paris school, but any previous apprehensions I had quickly faded away upon stepping through the door. I was Immediately greeted with a big smile and an enthusiastic "Bonjour!" by a staff member who seemed to love her job a bit too much. After a brief placement test and a walk through the school we, the new students, were given a little tour of the neighborhood where the school is located. The tour culminated on the roof of the famous Galleries Lafayette, one of the largest and nicest shopping centers in Paris, so we could see a view over the city. Even after doing a lot of research and reading/watching all of the reviews I could find, I was still pleasantly surprised with EF Paris.

The school itself is very modern and chic, and it has lots of areas outside of the classroom for students to interact and practice their french. The classrooms themselves are on the smaller side, seating only about 15 students, but this makes for a better learning environment and connection with the teachers. Speaking of the teachers, they are all very passionate about teaching French and making sure you use your new found language skills as much as possible. You can also expect to develope personal relationships with your teachers. For example, I went and watched one of my teachers perform in his improve troup on a Sunday afternoon. Not only was it another way to get out and explore Paris, but it was also great French comprehension practice.

The EF staff does a good job placing students into classes that will challenge them, and my placement felt right from the start. But if you do feel as if you are placed in the wrong class, it is not difficult to switch. You can expect to speak and learn a lot of French in your time here, and if you put in the work, you should expect to leave with a much better understanding of both the French language and culture.

-Oliver Welch

I am from Malibu, CA, USA. I came to Nice in the beginning of 2017 to perfect my French, but also to get a little time away from everything back home. Not only is this trip a study but also a vacation. I love France, I really can't, nor do I think I ever will get enough afit. Paris is such an amazing city that I spent some time in but Nice is a very special city. This place has already made it's way into my heart and it will stay there for the rest of my life. The study experience is truely so special and amazing here at EF; I have been learning so much and meeting the best of friends and relationships that I hope I can hold for the rest of my life. I really will never be able to thank my dad for sending me on such an amazing voyage and giving me the opportunities that I have been given because of him. I am only here for another 2 and a half months but I am going to make each day count because I know when I leave, I will always be wanting to come back.

When coming from the western world, one always "underestimates" China (culture, traditions, food, people, etc...). We've always thought is such a different country compared to what we are used to, however, you do not realize until you don't come here. I mean it in a really good way, despite the culture differences, one grows up extremely fast by being in China, specially as a person. Furthermore, the help received by EF Staff has been more than useful.

About Beijing, there is not much to say rather than what you already think about it. Huge and bustling city where you will always be able to find whatever you need, being a mix of the most traditional chinese culture and the most modern west traditions.