EF Reviews

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.

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.