Program Reviews

A flexible and well rounded experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in an exciting new culture. EF Tokyo is an extraordinary experience for any person looking to better themselves through learning another language. With a team of employees who really care, and are invested in every single student who walks through that door. You will feel motivated and encouraged to do your best, upon your first step into your first day there. And even though the team does stress a more traditional and serious learning environment, flexibility is a truly abundant resource. They are there to help you learn and will accommodate if you are having troubles, or speed you along forward if you excel. In short, you are not a number to EF, you are an opportunity to best represent everything they stand for and you are made very aware of that. Learners of all kinds can feel welcome here, even if you are the kind of person who would rather learn on your own in the privacy of your own home, you will feel an almost immediate comfortability with your instructors and find your flow in the city easily. (If this sounds like a dream, then you should pinch yourself.) Because where this is a top-notch language center, it was also an outstanding experience. With the members of the team, both on a person to person basis and on an administrative level, you are encouraged to live your time there to the fullest and find your place in the pulse of the city. With the many, wide and varied activities that are offered to students, you become more connected to the land and people day after day, growing ever more fond of your experience.

I had wanted to visit China for a long time, and the absolute best way to immerse yourself in the language and culture is by living with a host family. The host family I stayed with was actually my favorite part of the trip. They were incredibly welcoming and provided me with everything I needed and more, making sure I was comfortable in their house and outside of it, getting around in a foreign city by myself. When I didn't have classes they would even go out of their way to show me things around the city I would never have known about otherwise. They were like a second family and soon Beijing felt like a second home too. The school was conveniently located five minutes away from a subway stop and a street filled with places to eat between classes. (There's a lady there who sells the BEST milk tea.) The teachers are warm and accommodating, and make sure the level you're placed in is a good fit for you, and not too challenging. (Just make sure to get to your classes nice and early!) The school's guide was great, we always had activities to sign up for - everything from a day hiking the Great Wall to a three-day train trip across the country to Xi'an. I'd recommend you to do whatever you can fit into your schedule! It'll just add to the completely awesome and unique experience.

Everything about the EF Language program in Barcelona lived up to and surpassed my expectations. The teachers and staff were great, fun and supportive, and the campus was beautiful. It was also very centrally located near the beautiful neighbourhood of Gracia as well as more touristy destinations such as Casa Batlo by Gaudi. Not only did I have a great time, but I also improved my Spanish significantly and felt comfortable conversing with the locals. Highly reccomend!

If it wasn't for the vibrant social life and fun staff, my experience would have been completely different. I had the most incredible time, meeting people for all over the world and the welcome nights were so much fun. My Spanish could have improved a bit more but would not have changed it for the world.

I went to China for the first time in my life and spent two weeks in Beijing with loads of activities and things to see. I met some amazing people and the classes were really interesting, but unfortunately for me, I spent too much time on the social side than in class. I was put in a host family which was really far from everything, which meant that when I went out, I would have to either get the first train home or stay at a friends house; the taxi drivers would never want to take me as I think it was a bit too far out. But this was a few years back so things might have changed.

I constantly thought about it but always pushed the dream into the back of my mind until the summer of 2015.
My 3 weeks in Barcelona, Spain turned out to be a life-changing experience beyond my wildest expectations. New friends, new stories, new language...all of these taught me lifelong lessons that I will carry with me forever.

Beginning the first day of your program, you will take a placement exam that will help the school determine the best classroom to place you in. This is just one of the things that EF does to help their students: accommodation. The school accommodates to your needs and makes sure you are learning the language at your individual level. I met people that had never learned Spanish a day in their life, and others who had been learning for 8+ years; the diversity of students is huge. Erase every bad memory you have of a high school language teacher who shoves grammar into your head 24/7. The teachers at the school understand the difficulty of learning a language and put all their efforts into making a conversational, upbeat class environment; it's absolutely incredible.

Essentially, this is how friendships are formed. After attending the scheduled clases for the portion of the day, the rest is up to you. There are many activities planned by the school that encourage students to connect; some you may be interested, others not so much. Regardless, you will never be bored and I vow to that. It's amazing stepping off the plane into a country not knowing anyone or anything, and the next day forming friendships and traveling around the city like you truly belong there.

Host families are unique to everyone. I had roommates come and go for 3 weeks straight; one day it was just me and another student, and the next day there were 5 students living under the same roof. This is where your language is really put to the test because everyone had a different level of their speaking abilities & understanding Spanish.

Time abroad definitely puts your independence and capabilities to the test. These days spent away from home are very valuable and every activity offered to you should be taken advantage of because you never know when you will have that opportunity again. I learned to appreciate times like "getting lost in an unknown city without any cell service" because it essentially proves that even the experiences that seem bad in the moment, turn out to be the best stories you'll look back on later.

Whenever people ask what about it is so great, I always tell them the same six words "You won't know until you go."
Put aside all of your doubts, anxieties, and hesitations because facing my fears and spending my limited weeks in Barcelona introduced me to unforgettable experiences. Learning a language is so unique when you essentially "Live the Language."

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.