EF EDUCATION FIRST EST. 1965 / ISSUE 1: 2016www.ef.com/year

EXPLORERTHE

A year abroad with EF

10 Benefits of a Gap Year

ANTONIO’S ADVENTURE

New homeA teacher recommended EF to me as his son studied with them. Shortly afterward, I enrolled on a 9-month course at EF Atlanta. Right from the start, I felt at home. It was my first time in America, and everyone was so helpful. I can’t thank the staff enough for all their help and encouragement. In fact, I’m still in contact with them; I even met one member when they came to Rome. You become like a family!

Language development One of the main reasons I de-cided to take a gap year was because of how important a second language is – not only for career development and

travel but also for life in gener-al. My English at the start was very basic, but I left with a B2 level – I even started dreaming in English!

Atlanta lifeYou live the real, local life 24/7, so you are always practicing your English while getting to know your new city. Also, the friends you make are from around the world, so the only way to communicate is through English. My friends and I picked up a lot of Amer-ican expressions from mixing with local people, which helped us connect with the city and its way of life. Next month I am going to Brazil to meet my EF friends – I can’t wait!

Memorable moments I tell everyone that it was the best experience of my life, but it’s always hard to pick one highlight as every day was special. There was always something to do, and I have made unforgettable memories. But, I would say, the main benefit upon returning home is the fact that I secured a job in Rome that requires both Italian and English.

Antonio Tomafrom Italy EF Alumni and world traveler

“It’s so much more than a language course – it’s a life-changing experience.”

YOUR YEAR, YOUR WAY

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[NAME] [JOB TITLE, COUNTRY]

International Language Centers

Call New York home

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Discover Brighton

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We spoke with Loudmar Portilho, Activities Coordinator at our brand new Brighton school, to find out why the city is known as London-by-the-Sea.

INSIDER’S GUIDE TO BRIGHTON

So, Loudmar, what do you love about Brighton?As soon as I arrived in Brighton it felt like home. It’s an incred-ibly welcoming city – a city that embraces diversity and encourages individualism. It’s a student city, so it’s the perfect place for meeting new people.

Where are your favorite secret spots?I am a food lover, so right now, I can’t get enough of Brighthelm Gardens, which is street food market serving up dishes from around the world. In the summer, I spend a lot of time at OhSo Social Beach Bar & Restaurant, close to Brighton Pier, and with winter around the corner I will for sure be visiting Valentino – my favorite cocktail bar. This tiny but sophisticated first-floor bar is hidden next to The Theatre Royal, above a restaurant, so it’s easy to miss the unassum-ing entrance. One of the things I love most about my job is sharing secret spots with my students. It’s not just a one-way dialogue, however, as the long-term students are always

telling me about new places to eat and drink that they’ve discovered. It’s great!

We hear you’re a big coffee fan. What’s your cafe of choice?The coffee culture in Brighton is out of this world! Seriously, I’ve never known a city of this size with so many options. The independent cafes are a great way to connect with the individual spirit that I love about Brighton. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be The Mock Turtle Tea Shop, which is famous for its tradi-tional cream tea.

OK, on weekends, where do you visit?Where to start? We call Bright-on ‘London-by-the-Sea’ for a reason – there is always some-thing going on. It has a great live music and theatre scene as well as cafes, bars and res-taurants – especially close to the seafront. The nearby Seven Sisters Country Park is an absolute favorite of mine – it’s a great alternative to city life. And then, of course, there’s

London, which is perfect for a weekend trip as it’s only one hour from Brighton.

Let’s talk the unmissable! What do you have to see and do in Brighton?As much as I love discovering the hidden gems of this city, there is something equally magical about the places Brighton is famous for. The Marina, North Lanes, Brighton Pier, West Pier, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Wheel, Seven Sisters, The Devils Dyke and the beach make Brighton a really, really special place to live.

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR HOMESpend 6, 9 or 11 months studying at any of EF’s 44 schools, which now includes state-of-the-art centers in the sun-kissed cities of San Diego and Sydney and Germany’s fun-loving capital, Berlin.

Europe’s Capital of Cool is home to an eclectic range of contrasts that will constantly surprise and entertain you. Located just a short walk from Potsdamer Platz, EF’s centrally located school is surrounded by cultural activities – including theaters and galleries – and quirky bars and cafes.

Berlin’s best coffee shops:Funky, hip cafes are in no short supply in Berlin. With its youth-ful, easygoing vibe and plentiful space, the city’s become a mecca for people looking to set up shop and serve up great coffee. Find the best cups at www.ef.com/CoffeeCulture

World-class coastline, a near perfect climate and some of the best street food in the US: Welcome to EF San Diego, situated just a short walk from the beach, Californian bars and transport links to the famous Gaslamp District.

24 hours in San Diego:Nearly everything worth doing in this city takes place outdoors – which is just fine with us! From surf lessons on Mission Beach to the city’s famous fish tacos, this is how to experience San Diego like a local: www.ef.com/Sunny-SanDiego

Australia’s largest city is a lively, sun-soaked destination filled with possibilities. Spend your downtime site seeing, surfing or sunbathing before develop-ing your language skills at our school in a popular student neighborhood.

The city with 100 beaches: Boasting more than 100 beaches, balmy weather, cut-ting edge cuisine, and cultural and linguistic diversity that would rival any global metropo-lis, this quirky city Down Under truly is one-of-a-kind – and we’ve got the facts to prove it: www.ef.com/SydneyIn-fographic

BERLIN SYDNEY SAN DIEGO - POINT LOMA

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1. Learn how to hail down a taxi

2. Develop strong opinions about your favorite bagel stand

3. Confidently give directions to a tourist

4. Navigate the subway like a pro

5. Hold your own in a con-versation about American sports

6. Obsess about coffee. Con-stantly

7. Say yes to trying new bars and restaurants...

8. ...but know your favorite eating and drinking spots

9. Get funky with your fashion choices. Anything goes

10. Dream of returning as soon as you leave

What’s new at EF New York?There are a lot of wonderful things happening at EF New York. We have been renovating our beautiful campus and are very proud of our new spaces. And of course, it is all about our activities. It is impossible to get bored at EF New York!

What makes New York such a special city?NYC has a special vibe – each of the five boroughs has a distinctive feel, and I just love being present in the different areas so that I can feed my senses. You don’t have to do something specific to enjoy spending time in the city. I especially love walking around

areas of Manhattan such as Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side, and as a native Brooklynite, I cannot get enough of Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope.

What are your favorite secret spots in NYC? My favorite “secret” spots have visitors exploring the outer boroughs. I love Astoria in Queens, City Island in the Bronx and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn – which, during the Christmas holiday is amazing. Since most visitors like to spend a lot of their time in Manhattan, I would say my top “secret spots” include Eataly on 200 5th Avenue – it’s a must for food lovers! Then

there is The Staten Island Ferry, which is a commuter ferry that goes between Staten Island and Manhattan. It provides amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and is absolutely free! Also, take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and explore the Brooklyn side. Be sure to visit Juliana’s and Grimaldi’s – two amazing pizzerias with an interesting history. See which “slice” you prefer.

Speaking of New York food, what’s your favorite?I really love a good bagel! The best bagels are from Brooklyn. They say they are the best because of the Brooklyn water.

Where do you like to visit on the weekend?I love to go to some of my favorite restaurants on the weekends. My top two favorite restaurants to visit are Otto, which serves delicious pizza, pasta and gelato, and Fran-cisco’s Centro Vasco, which is a Basque seafood restaurant boasting amazing lobster. I also enjoy walking through Central Park, which is beautiful any time of the year and has activities you can do during all four seasons.

Live on EF New York’s 25-acre campus that overlooks the Hudson River and gain lan-guage fluency in classes equipped with the latest learning technology.

EF has transformed the school’s old library into a modern residence that features an auditorium, computer rooms and spacious bedrooms.

Enjoy the tastiest of stays in The Big Apple with meals from Crave, EF New York’s newly designed kitchen.

HOW TO GET A NEW YORK STATE OF MINDJump off the tourist trail and become a real New Yorker with these 1o tips:

GET TO KNOW EF NEW YORK

Traditional American campus New residence State-of-the-art kitchen

Meet Rachel – School Director of EF New York, native to The Big Apple and bagel enthusiast. She sat down with us to talk all things New York.

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DISCOVER THE WORLDBECOME MULTILINGUAL IN UP TO THREE DESTINATIONS

EF International Language Centers 2016-2017 www.ef.com

Multi-Language YearStudents and adults ages 17 and above

ADVANCED DIPLOMA PROGRAMSFOCUSED LANGUAGE STUDY ABROAD

Academic Year AbroadUniversity students and adults

EF International Language Centers 2016-2017 www.ef.com

EF Education First Zurich, Bärengasse 25, 8000 Zurich / Tel. 00351 9631 9531 4 / email@info.com / www.ef.comContact us

10 WAYS A GAP YEAR CHANGES YOUR LIFEYou’ll gain more than just language fluency on a gap year with EF – you’ll be part of a true cultural exchange that provides you with the confidence and life skills that a classroom in your home country could never teach. So dust off your passport, pack your bags and head abroad to benefit from all of this:

Whatever your academic goals, we have the program for you. From long-term language programs to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, EF will ensure you enroll on the course that suits you best.

1. Gain language fluency: Study up to three languages

2. Develop new skills: Custom-ize your course with Special Interest Classes

3. Connect with other cultures: Spend 6, 9 or 11 months exploring new destinations

4. Meet lifelong friends: Make friends from over 100 countries

5. Think outside the box: Travel fuels creativity

6. Your confidence will sky-rocket: You’ll recognize you can do anything, anywhere

7. Learn to adapt to new situations: You’ll face fresh challenges every day

8. Become more employable: Gain certificates for lan-guage exams

9. Calirfy your future: Get advice from EF staff

10. Feel at home anywhere: Choose from 44 destina-tions in 16 countries

MULTI-LANGUAGE YEARSee the world with your year abroad by combining up to three languages in three EF schools. Choose from English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin and Japanese and pick your dream destina-tions from 40 EF Language Centers in 16 countries.www.ef.com/multilanguage

ADVANCED DIPLOMACombine long-term study abroad with a curriculum focussed on a specific aca-demic or career-related area. At the end of your nine-month program, you’ll receive an EF Advanced Diploma, while on a six-month program you’ll receive an EF Advanced Certificate in English.www.ef.com/diplomas

HULTGo global with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hult. You’ll study a cutting-edge curriculum at state-of-the-art campuses in cities renowned for business innovation.www.hult.edu

GO FURTHER:Search The EF Blog for gap year advice,

career tips and language learning expertise.www.ef.com/blog

OTHER PROGRAMS

MEET THE SEPTEMBER INTAKEWith quarterly intakes throughout the year, you’re free to join the adventure when it suits you best.

EF Staff welcome students from around the world.

Explore #EFmomentSee the gap year adventure unfold through our students’ own pictures and videos at www.ef.com/efmoment

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