Program Reviews

My experience with EF was an amazing one. Both centers I communicated with (USA and Japan) were extremely helpful. No matter how many questions I had along the way (trust me, I had many) were answered in a courteous and timely manner.
Once I went abroad, I found EF to be very organized. My homestay was amazing, and the experience of being in Tokyo has given me memories I will keep forever.

The two weeks I spent in Barcelona with EF contributed to one of the best summers of my life.
For starters, Barcelona is an amazing city. There is so much to see, particularly in the arts. It's a perfect city for walking around and getting lost, and the public transportation is very easy.

Upon arrival, EF does a placement test so that you are in a class in which everyone is at your level, which is great. The classes are small, and the teachers are all truly amazing—passionate about what they do, patient, entertaining, and curious about learning from the students as well. The classes mostly revolve around conversation, which I personally loved because I feel that this is what most Spanish classes lack. Not to mention, the conversations address really interesting topics.
The classes are small and lively, and there's just an overall pleasant environment. The teachers are super approachable, and I found myself talking with them outside of class a lot!

The social scene is amazing—I met people from all over the world, people I never would have had the opportunity to talk with had it not been for EF. The program also organizes a lot of activities, so you are bound to meet new people who might not be in your classes.
As for housing, EF has many families they can set you up with to meet your needs. I actually ended up changing families after my first week (I went from a single room to a double), and the person in charge for Accommodation was extremely helpful and attentive to what I was looking for, as is the rest of the staff!
One thing I really loved about this program is the freedom it gave me. I have never been so independent in my life and I truly loved it. I never felt lonely, nor overcrowded, and the activities EF organizes aren't mandatory (though they are really fun!).
Simply put, I strongly recommend this program. I really did advance my Spanish skills, and I had such a fun time. I definitely recommend staying with a host family and a roommate. You can learn a lot from your host family and it's nice to have someone living with you. For anyone who is worried about the presence of Catalán, as I was, I can assure you it is not at all a problem, and it did not interfere with my learning.

I really could go on and on about my two weeks in Barcelona! I encourage anyone who wants to learn Spanish while enjoying a city full of art, amazing architecture, great food, and a strong student presence to go with EF. I will be signing up with EF once again this summer to spend 3 weeks in Madrid!

I have to say that the program offered through EF Madrid in Spain has made my Spanish experience a richer one. I enjoyed all the outings we did that took me to different parts of Madrid to experience the culture and people. The authentic sites for tapas, tablao flamenco, Spanish art and history, views of the city, sporting activities and also just getting to know my classmates while we hung out with the teachers. The trips to see areas outside of Madrid were awesome too. My Spanish grammar and vocabulary have improved a lot and I am not afraid to speak with native and non native speakers about any topic. I miss the school and the experience and would return in a heartbeat.

EF Roma is located right in the center of Rome, and you can really feel it. In between classes, which are never long but are mighty informative, you have access to really everywhere in the city. Teachers are fun but still good teachers, classes are long (and sometimes confusing for those completely new to language) but still keep your attention. For those looking for a social scene, EF provides activities all around the city from Wednesday night parties to adventures in Florence, Venice, and many more locations.

After staying in Japan for 2 weeks with EF, I was able to make a lot of friends from all over the world. I really enjoyed the different varieties of activities that were offered (ranging from festivals, and yukata experiences)

One thing I didn't like was how we had to somehow manage our classes with the activities, but other than that. I loved the freedom I had in Japan, yet I knew I was safe because of EF.

I would totally go back to EF Tokyo if I was given the opportunity.

I had a great time! The staff and school is amazing, and the city is awesome! Lots of things to see and do. The teachers were absolutely great. I especially loved Marianne Pechabrier's class. Overall it was an exciting and unforgettable adventure. I'd go back right now if I could!

I had the most amazing experience living the language in Malaga Spain. Everyone should get a chance to particle in this program... there is a whole new world out there with he most incredible people! My host family was wonderful, they welcomed me like they knew me forever and I felt as though I was apart of their family from day one. I had incredible support from the school and the classes were very informative. I also made friends for life! I still speak to my friends that I met that summer and we Skype every week. I emerged myself into the culture and improved my Spanish language skills. I felt safe, comfortable and truly had the summer of my life! I will never forget my summer in Spain and I am so grateful to EF for making this experience possible.

My 17 year old daughter just returned to the U.S. 3 days ago from her one month stay in Japan. She was enrolled in EF’s Japanese Language Intensive Course in Tokyo. She was a beginner and there were others in her class at the same level. She found the classes to be quite personalized and enjoyable. She learned quite a bit in 4 weeks. And she made friends with classmates from, Norway, German, Switzerland and many other places around the world. She also met many students who were taking EF’s Japanese Language Intensive Course for 4 weeks or more.

My daughter chose to live on her own, in the EF Residence called Comfort Tama Plaza, instead staying with a host family. She had a single room with a small balcony that overlooked the courtyard. She felt safe in the residence and in the neighborhood. She commuted every back and forth to class in Tokyo. The train station was only a 5-7 minute walk and the commute was approximately 20 minutes.

This is the first time that my daughter has been out of the country, and I must say, the EF travel coordinators were excellent when helping us plan her EF experience. They answered all of my questions the months leading up to her trip. They helped with transportation. (They picked her up from the airport and took her to the airport.) They even offered to book her flight. Also, they have an EF portal for students to meet one another and make connections before they arrive to Tokyo.
I highly recommend EF. It was a wonderful experience for my daughter.

I had an amazing 3 months at the EF Costa Rica school. Not only did I learn significant conversational Spanish, but I made lifelong friends, surfed a lot and explored the beautiful country of Costa Rica.

This was a 2 part program - the first week was in the traditional city of Madrid where I stayed with a Spanish hostess in La Latina neighborhood. The morning after I arrived, I set off on foot with minimal instructions to find the El Rastro flea market - a Sunday event and long rambling outdoor marketplace that stretches through streets, alleys and neighborhoods. I was thrilled to find artisans selling their own wares (no "made in China") as well as the typical newer product and convenience items. There was an antiques section as well down by the park.

I was 59 years old and my roommate and classmate Helen was 81! She was no ordinary 81 - a retired neurologist, she spoke classic Latin, Greek and also Italian as well as her native French. She and I navigated the little streets to the train, then across town and the one block walk from the station to the school in the northern section of the city. Classes were fun - we were in a beginners class, but no English allowed! No "spanglish" either I might add! Our instructor, Abel Rey, had a fantastic dry sense of humor and everyone in our class, ages late teens to...81.....enjoyed our time there.

In that class, Helen made a comment that all should take to heart. When Abel asked her what she had done for vacation the prior year, she answered "climbed a mountain". He was astonished. "But isn't that dangerous?" he asked (in Spanish, translating here). To which she answered: "Better to die on a mountain than on a sofa!"

Our evenings were spent sometimes with the class and activities coordinator Mario, and other nights on our own or with our hostess Merche. We explored Plaza Mayor, a flamenco bar, some of the corner bars, and of course the shops between Puerto del Sol and Callao! The parks are wonderful as well - with gardens and lake (Jardin de Buon Retiree), the park with the Egyptian monument, and the lesser known event at Plaza del Cortes (the government offices center) where a large mechanical clock performs at 6 pm to the delight of all in the area!

Somewhere during that week, I made the breakthrough that I came for - I stopped translating and started speaking Spanish. No word-for-word construction anymore, just a flow of vocabulary to express what I wanted to say in the language. Vocabulary may have been simple, but that simple change made all the difference in moving forward in my studies.

As I headed to the airport for to go to my 2nd EF week in Malaga, the first light of dawn, the madrugada, was on the horizon. And young people were still milling around the nightclubs. Madrid is an all night city!

Malaga is a wonderful seaside town - though I will say that the program is more populated with those in their late teens and has a different dynamic. Classes were a little larger, but the staff ever helpful and the beaches and port a delight. My other half flew in for the week and we dined in the port in the evenings, watching the Spanish Navy, the large boats, the cruise ships, and the city lights as they flickered on - from the promenade to the Alcazaba road that led up the hill to Castel Gibralfaro.