www.ef.

com
INTERNATIONAL
LANGUAGE
CAMPUSES

Student handbook
Everything you need
to know for your
adventure abroad
7
Welcome to the EF Family
Learn a language, make new friends
and create memories for life at one of
our 54 destinations around the world.
Dear student,
Your EF Language Course is
the start of a great adventure
abroad. We’ll do everything we
can to make sure that you enjoy
your stay – with dedicated
support, an innovative learning
method and a full schedule
of leisure activities. Set some
goals for your journey in the
coming months. It’s going to be
one to remember.
This handbook will provide
all the information you need
for your stay abroad – from
arranging a transfer to booking
excursions. Take time to read
through it and be sure to
12 Languages
52 Destinations
100+ Nationalities
bring it along with you to your Content
destination. You never know
when you’ll need to find out 05 What to expect
more about doing laundry or 06 Experiencing a new
catching the bus to school. culture
09 Before you go
Speak to a member of EF staff if
you have any questions. We’re 1) Study
here for you around the clock –
and all want your experience to 12 Your language program
be a memorable one. We look 13 How you’ll learn
forward to welcoming you.
Sincerely, 2) Live
Your EF team 16 Accomodation FAQs
17 Make yourself at home
20 Your freetime
3) Support
22 Your school team
23 Our school code
24 The elements of a
successful course
25 Become an Ambassador
27 Things to remember
28 Notes
 What to expect
You’re in for an exciting adventure.
Know what to expect from your EF
experience – and what we expect of you.
What to expect from
your language course
- Information about the course
location before departure
- Staff to provide support and
answer questions around the
clock
- Teaching that blends
classroom lessons, interactive
tools and cultural immersion
- Accommodation in a
homestay or residence
- Assistance if you wish to
prepare for a language exam
- A wide range of leisure
activities – either free or for
a small cost
- A course diploma and a
language certificate, which
requires 80% attendance
Pick your perfect
living situtation on
page 16
What to expect from
your homestay
- Experiencing a new culture
- Enjoying meals at your
homestay
- A one-hour maximum
commute to EF’s language
campus
- Sharing twin accommodation
with a student from another
country
What to expect from
your residence
- A one-hour maximum
commute to EF’s language
center
- Sharing your accommodation
with a student from another
country
What we expect
from you
- At least 80% attendance in
class
- Respect for your homestay
hosts, fellow students and
environment
- Obeying all laws and
regulations applicable in the
country and school
- Staying neat at school and in
your homestay or residence
- Telling EF Staff if something
feels wrong or does not meet
your expectations
Experiencing a new
culture
10

You'll soon be immersing yourself in a

different culture – tasting new foods,
uncovering unique traditions and
making new friends. We're here for
you all the way.

Discovering another It shapes your identity – and Conquer culture shock

culture
Culture is a mix of beliefs,
customs, art and language that
define a society or population.
It’s learned from family,
teachers and friends, knowingly
and unknowingly. Your culture
determines how you perceive
yourself, the way you relate to
others and what you consider
important.
makes it easy to connect with
people from your country.
Behaviors and practices are
easy to see, but our attitudes
and core values aren’t as simple
to pinpoint. Immerse yourself in
a new culture by reflecting on
what you’re most excited to try
or learn about your destination’s
culture.
Culture shock can begin as
the initial excitement of your
destination subsides. You may
feel uneasy or homesick, which
leads to identifying drawbacks
of the new country. It’s not
uncommon to experience
physical symptoms like trouble
sleeping or losing your appetite.
Rest assured that this period of
adjustment will pass.

Take steps towards understanding

a new culture:

Friends Activities Adjust Goals Grow

Make friends Keep busy – Decisions are Set goals. You’ll Remember that
from countries from studying to best made after be reminded of you’re growing
other than your playing a sport. you’ve adjusted to your Language every day –
own. your destination. Course’s purpose. don't give up!
 Dominique Jaegger, Switzerland, EF New York
“Studying abroad with EF
gave me the opportunity
to make so many new
friends – it was an
incredible experience. ”
Graziella Bianchi, Italy, EF London

“ My time in London was

fantastic. I lived with a
great host family and my
host sister was amazing! ”
 Before you go
13
Your trip is right around the corner.
Be sure you don’t miss anything
before you leave – from applying for
visas to getting airline tickets.
EF Campus Connect
Log on to EF Campus Connect
– a social network exclusively
for EF students. Use it to
take your placement test, get
in touch with your future
classmates, reserve an airport
transfer, join our Ambassador
Program, practice your
language skills or explore your
destination. Check your inbox
for the email you received with
login details upon enrollment –
and log on at
www.ef.com/campusconnect
Passport
Make sure that your passport
is valid for the duration of your
stay abroad and six months after
your return. If you’re required to
have valid identification while at
your destination, your passport
will work for this. Before you
leave, make a copy of it to bring
along to your destination and
one to leave at home – this will
come in handy if your passport
gets lost.
Visa
We’ll provide the instructions
if you need to apply for a visa
prior to departure. You’re
responsible for your visa
application, so be sure to start
applying in time and pay all
fees required for the application
process. You can always get in
touch with your local EF office
for more information regarding
the visa you need to travel
abroad.
Travel protection
It is mandatory to be insured
during your language course.
Erika has been the exclusive
insurance provider to EF
customers for 20 years. Our
EF staff are familiar with this
insurance company and know
what to do and where to call
in case of an emergency. They
also have claim forms at hand
to help students with minor
issues.
Flights
Your local EF office can help
with arranging your flights.
Our travel services ensure
competitive prices and flexible
tickets – which means you can
rebook your flight. Once your
flight booking is completed,
enter your trip details into EF
Campus Connect, so the school
staff and your homestay hosts
know when to expect you and
can arrange your transfer from
the airport.
Transfers
Your local EF office can help
with arranging transport to and
from your destination's airport
– which you can reserve over
the phone or on EF Campus
Connect. Students who choose
to use our transfer service will
be met at the airport by an EF
Representative and driven to
their accommodation’s front
door. Please keep in mind that
we have many students arriving
at the same time, so you may
have to wait a little while for all
students to arrive.
EF Pre-departure
Meeting
You’ll find out more about
life at your destination, get a
packing list and meet fellow
classmates at our EF Pre-
departure Meeting – which we
recommend you attend. You’ll
receive an email invitation to
your Departure Meeting, which
you can attend either online or
in person.

Medicine
If you take medicine, it’s
important that you bring
enough of your prescription
to last for the duration of your
trip – unless you’re sure you
can get a prescription at your
destination. Tuck away any
extra medicine, glasses or
contact lenses in your carry-on
luggage.
Phone numbers and
addresses
Make sure that you have the
phone number and address
of your local EF office, airport
transfer service, EF school and
Checklist
Sign and return the
 Apply for the required
Code of Conduct
Sign and return the

Terms&Conditions
Sign and return your
 Arrange transfers
medical form
Take the Placement Test

on EF Campus Connect
Ensure you have a valid

passport
14
accommodation filled out at the School supplies
back of this handbook. These
will come in handy if you need Bring pens and notebooks
to communicate flight delays or along with you to your
changes in your schedule. destination. Should you choose
to bring a dictionary with you,
we recommend bringing one
Money translated into your native
Bring enough money to cover language, as well as one in your
public transport expenses for study language. You’ll receive
the first week of your stay. You all additional course material
may want to bring a little extra upon your arrival to school.
in case you’d like to purchase
snacks or souvenirs. You can
request the currency used in
your destination from your local
bank.
Pack medicine

visas
Get travel insurance Exchange money into your
 destination’s currency
Book flights
 Get school supplies


Enter your flight details

into EF Campus Connect
Attend an EF Departure

Meeting
15

Study.
\'stə-dē\
Learning a language with EF
is more than just classroom
study – you'll also hone your
skills by practicing in real-world
situations and in technology-
enhanced lessons.
Your language program
Gather all the information you need
to know about studying abroad
with EF – from what your first day
of school will look like to what to do
when you’re absent.
Your language level
Before you leave for your
course destination, you’ll need
to log on to your EF Campus
Connect account and take our
language test. We’ll use your
results – along with an oral test
on your first day of school – to
make sure you’re in the right
class. There are 6 different
stages and each stage has 2
different levels (i.e. B1-1, B1-2).
A1 Beginner
A2 Elementary
B1 Intermediate
B2 Upper Intermediate
C1 Advanced
C2 Upper Advanced
Your first day of school
You’ll start learning on the first
day of your course, and most
of our students arrive at their
destination the day before it
begins. Your first day will be
spent getting ready for your
studies ahead and meeting
classmates and teachers. You’ll
also receive your timetable, as
well as information about your
school and destination city.
Your timetable
Your timetable is structured
based on which program you’re
studying. You’ll have either 32,
26 or 20 lessons per week,
each lasting for 40 minutes
– mostly organized in double
lessons lasting one hour and 20
minutes.
Attendance
It’s really important to attend all
of your classes – but, if you’re
ill or can’t make it, be sure to
let the Academic Office know.
If you’re ill for three days or
more, you’ll need to bring a
doctor’s note with you when
you return to class. If you’re not
sure how to get a doctor’s note,
talk to the staff at your school.
Please remember that we’ll
have to send you a warning
letter if your attendance gets
close to the minimum of 80%.
If you're under 18, we’ll also
have to contact your parents
or sponsors if your attendance
continues to decline.
16
Changing or extending
your program
The Academic Team can advise
you on all the different study
programs that EF offers. If you’d
like to change your program or
extend your stay, just come see
us. We can also prepare you
for official language exams in
your study language (English,
German, French, Spanish,
Italian, Mandarin and Japanese)
if you reserve them in advance
– and they're available at your
course center. Talk to your
school's Academic Team to find
out more about exam dates,
costs and availability.
 How you’ll learn
17
Our innovative learning method
guarantees that you’ll make
maximum progress in your studies.
And you’ll have our support around
the clock.
General language
lessons
Sixteen of your lessons will
focus on general language
skills like vocabulary, grammar,
reading, writing, listening,
speaking and pronunciation. A
further four (two for the basic
course) Project Sessions will
improve your research and
communication skills through
practical work tailored to your
interests.
Special Interest
Classes (SPINS)
In addition to your General
Language classes, you’ll have
some Special Interest Classes
(SPIN classes) for subjects
that you’re interested in or that
you’d like to use for your career
or education goals. The SPIN
class options you can choose
from depends on what program
you’re enrolled in and which
classes are available during
your stay. You can also take
online SPIN classes.
Lectures
You’ll have two lecture sessions
every week. Each one will focus
on a different subject – like
history, art, local culture or
current affairs.
Outside the classroom
Traveling to another country
to learn the language means a
lot of opportunity to practice.
To really advance your fluency,
speak the language outside of
the classroom and make friends
with students from other
countries. And remember, don’t
be afraid to make mistakes!
Homework
Your teachers will give you
homework to complement your
work in class. Ask your teacher
if you’d like extra homework,
practice or assignments.
Monitoring progress
To check that you’re at the
right learning level, there will
be class tests and quizzes each
week. We’ll also give you a
progress test at the end of each
study stage. You can follow
your progress on EF Campus
Connect.
Proof of your success
EF offers language exams in all
the languages that we teach.
If you’ve attended at least 80%
of your classes, you can take
the EF Standard English Test
(EF SET) in your final week
at school (English courses
only). This test evaluates
your language level using the
internationally-recognized
Common European Framework
of Reference standards.
18
19

Live.
\'liv\
Whether you’re going on
a weekend excursion with
friends or bonding over dinner
with your host family – you’ll
live the language with EF.
Accommodation FAQs
Sit back and relax – whether you’re
coming home to a local family, living
at a residence in the heart of your
destination city or staying steps from
your course center at an EF Campus.
What should I do if I damage
something in my EF Homestay?
At an EF Homestay, any
damages or breakages you
cause should be resolved
between you and your
homestay hosts – but we can
help if needed. It’s best that you
offer to pay for any damages
you cause or claim them on
your insurance.
How do I keep my valuables
safe?
Keep your passport, return
ticket, money, traveler’s cheques
and anything else valuable in
a safe place (i.e. your locked
suitcase). Tell your school staff
immediately if anything goes
missing.
Do I have a curfew time?
If you’re 16 or 17 years old, you
have a curfew for returning
home. This may vary from
destination to destination but
please respect the times you
are given, they are for your own
safety. If you’re between 12
and 15 years old, your curfew
is 10pm every day – including
weekends.
What should I do if I want to
stay out?
You may only do so if you’re over
18. Always tell your homestay
host or Residence Advisor if
you’re not going to spend the
night at home or you're going
away for the weekend. If your
hosts are expecting you home
and you don’t arrive, they will
report you as missing to the
police. When going out, it’s a
good idea to only carry exactly
what you’ll need – like small
amounts of cash, your EF ID and
a copy of your passport.
Can I change my homestay host?
Please visit the Accommodation
Team at your EF school if you're
not comfortable – as it's one
of our top priorities. Changes
are usually made during the
weekend – and we'll need
parental consent if you're under
18. Please keep in mind that it
is not possible to change your
homestay based on distance
from school and that it may
not be possible to change your
family immediately during busy
times of the year.
Can I stay in my own
accommodation?
If you’re between 12 and 15 years
20
old, you cannot stay in your own
accommodation. If you’re 16 or
older and staying in your own
or private accommodation, you
must tell EF about address and
telephone number and update us
of any changes during your time
with us. Remember, it’s your res-
ponsibility to deal with landlords
and letting agents, not EF’s.
What is a EF Homestay like?
Our homestay hosts come from
all walks of life and from a wide
range of ethnic and religious
backgrounds, reflecting the
multicultural society of your
destination. Our homestay
demographic is represented
mostly by middle-income
households.
There’s no typical homestay.
Among EF hosts there are
people of all ages; including
young professionals,
middleaged or retired people,
couples without children,
families or single parents with
children of any age and single
people. This means that there
might not be children of your
age in the homestay. It’s one of
the reasons why we usually try
to place you with students of
your age range. However, you
may be the only guest in your
homestay.
 Make yourself at home

21

EF Homestay - If you get hungry during the

- You can always access the
day, you’ll need to buy extra
Stay in an EF Homestay for internet at your EF school.
snacks for yourself.
maximum cultural exchange. Ask your homestay hosts'
- Your hosts will wash your bed
Keep in mind that each permission to use the internet
linen but you’ll need to clean
homestay host is different and at home. Remember, never
your own clothes, either at
unique – just like your family download any illegal material
home or at a local laundrette.
back home. from the internet, either at
- Ask your hosts how it works in
school or your homestay.
their house and speak to your
Some important things school staff to find out more
about how much a laundrette
to remember
costs.
- You may be sharing a room - Always ask your hosts before
in your EF Homestay with using their home telephone to
another student of the same make a call. It’s usually easier
gender from your EF course to buy a prepaid phone card
center. from the Activities Office at
- You’ll be given a key to the your EF Course Center.
house – but if you lose it,
you’ll have to pay for a new
one.
- You should always ask your
hosts’ permission before
bringing friends back to the
house.
- Enjoy breakfast and dinner
during the week and all meals
during the weekend.
- Be sure to let your homestay
hosts know if you're going to
miss a meal.
- Part of living abroad means
trying dishes you might not
have tasted before. If there
are certain foods you really
can’t eat for any reason, let
the staff at your EF Course
Center know.

EF Campus Living allows

you make new friends
from day one.

EF Residence or EF
Campus Living
Whether you choose an EF
Residence or EF Campus Living,
you'll get the chance to meet
new friends and share your
experience of living in another
country. An EF Residence
is usually off-site, while EF
Campus Living is usually just
steps from your classes. The
location of EF Residences can
vary, but they’re always located
near local amenities and public
transport links.
EF San Diego
22
Some important things - It’s a good idea to prepare for
to remember your stay abroad by planning
a weekly budget. Remember
- You may be sharing a room
that you’ll be sharing space
with other EF students. The
with other students.
number of students in your
- Alcohol is not allowed on any
room varies depending on
of EF's premises, including
your destination and your
our residences and campuses.
specific residence.
- You may need to bring an
You’ll find out who your
accommodation deposit along
roommates are when you
with you to your destination.
arrive at your residence.
Given there are no damages,
- Nationalities of students
this will be returned upon
staying together in an EF
your departure.
Residence vary greatly, so
it’s a great opportunity to
connect with people from
around the world.
- Meals provided depend
on your destination and
residence. Many residences
feature shared kitchens where
you can prepare your own
meals. Speak to your local
EF office or school staff to
find out more about catering
options.
23
Your free time
Make the most of your trip abroad –
explore your destination city, go on a
weekend getaway or just play a game of
cards.
Exciting weekly
timetables
Activities organized by EF
make it simple and fun to learn
more about your country of
study, meet friends, practice
your language skills – and take
home some great memories.
You can get a new weekly
schedule every Monday from
the Activities Office or log on to
www.ef.com/campusconnect
to find out what’s been planned.
Excursions
We organize day and weekend
trips to the most famous cities
and main attractions in the
country, available throughout
your stay. You’ll find these trips
advertized in advance with
posters around the school, as
well as on EF Campus Connect
and Facebook. Simply sign up
in the Activities Office, where
you can find more information
on all the excursions offered by
your EF Course Center.
Independent travel
If you’d like to travel by yourself,
our Activities Team is always
available to offer helpful advice
and suggestions. You’ll also find
guide books, magazines and
folders full of useful information
about places to visit.
EF student card
You’ll be given your EF student
card on the first day of school.
Always keep it with you, as
it will be used to identify
you within the school or EF
accommodation. You can
usually use this card to get
discounts around the city
in restaurants, shops and
attractions – find out more at
your school’s Activities Office.
18+ Activities
The legal drinking age in
many countries is 18 years old,
although the exact age depends
on the specific country you’re
staying in.
24
EF will host parties off-site. For
some of these events, you must
be the minimum drinking age or
older to attend.
You’ll need to show a valid ID,
such as a passport or national
identity card. Drink responsibly
– and we recommend traveling
home in a group for safety.
Items for sale
You’ll find plug adapters,
postcards, EF souvenirs, SIM
cards for mobile phones and
other useful items for sale in
your school’s Activities Office.
Sports equipment
If you need sports equipment,
check with the EF Activities
Office to see if you can borrow
things like footballs, tennis
rackets or ping-pong paddles
and balls.
25

Support.
\sə-'port\
We’re here for you.
Regardless of whether you
have a question or just need
some friendly advice.
Your school team

26

Raise your concerns, ask your

important questions and let us know
how we're doing – we’re here to help.

School Director
The School Director is the head
of the school and manages
school operations and staff.

Director of Studies &

Academic Director
Talk to the Director of Studies
regarding any academic related
matters.

Residence Advisor
Any queries regarding
residence life should go to the
Residence Advisor.

Accommodation Manager
& Housing Director
Any queries regarding host
families should go straight to
the Housing Director.

Teachers
If you think you’re in the wrong
class level, let your teacher
know – they'll give you the
support you need.
 Our school code
27
You deserve the best experience –
that’s why we have a school code.
Follow our guidelines for the
experience of a lifetime.
Why have a code?
Our school code was created
together by EF school staff
and students to make sure our
campuses are happy places to
be. It’s essential that you stick
to the following guidelines at
all times: please read through
the guidelines on the next page
carefully.
What happens if I
break a rule?
Our school code is important to
us – but any national laws are
much more serious. If you break
any EF rules or local laws like
persistent absence from class,
disruptive behavior or a criminal
offense, we reserve the right to
terminate your course.
The elements of
a successful course
28

To ensure maximum progress, Actively participate in class Attend all your lessons – you
speak your study language at and complete all homework. need at least 80% attendance
all times. to graduate and take the final
language exam.

Arrive to class on time – you If you’re going to miss a class Keep your mobile phone
won’t be allowed in if you’re because you’re sick or for any switched off in class and don’t
more than 10 minutes late. reason, let the school know bring food or drinks to lessons.
immediately.

Your property is special – Always treat your fellow Most importantly, you must
and so is ours. Make sure students, staff and homestay always follow all national
you take care of it. hosts with respect. and local laws.
 Become an EF Ambassador
29
Earn rewards by simply sharing
your EF experience. There’s no
commitment – share as much or as
little as you’d like.
How it works
Join an international
community of EF students and
earn rewards by sharing your EF
experience. Signing up is easy.
Go to the site www.ef.com/
ambassador or click on the
"Ambassador" tab on your EF
Campus Connect profile and
follow the steps to sign up. Any
questions? Give your local EF
office a call.
Share
You’ll earn points simply by
sharing the EF experience. There
are many ways to spread your
message – from posting things
on Facebook to hitting the
streets with EF flyers in-hand.
Earn
Receive great rewards – like
movie tickets, a new iPad or
even a free language course
abroad by earning points
through the activities you do
and friends you recommend.
Travel
Earn enough points and we’ll
send you to an international
Ambassador Meeting, on a free
course abroad or on next year’s
globetrotting Ambassador Tour!
Sign up
Simply go to www.ef.com/
ambassador or to the
Ambassador tab on your
EF Campus Connect profile
to sign up.
 30
Andrea Beltrando, EF New York

“Being an Ambassador is
incredible. It gave me the chance
to meet new friends and the big
opportunity to fly to Zurich for
the global meeting.”

A year in the life of an EF Ambassador

Month 1 Month 3 Month 6 Month 9 Month 12

Become an EF Share your EF Soak up your Attend a study Join our top
Ambassador experience with EF experience abroad fair with ambassadors
as soon as you your friends abroad. Tell EF’s staff – and at one of the
enroll in your and invite them your story and tell everyone international
course. along on the remember it all about your EF Ambassador
adventure of a with a blog. trip to earn Meetings.
lifetime. rewards.
 Our safe learning promise

31

The safety and well-being of our students

and staff remains our top priority. Across
hundreds of EF office and campuses
around the world, dedicated EF staff are
working around the clock to again be
able to welcome students.

Health monitoring Increased cleanliness Social distancing

- Temperature checks are taken
daily on campus
- Our general rule is that all
students and staff wear masks
on campus. If you do not
have one our school staff can
provide for you.
- Signage is displayed
throughout all campuses
reminding students and staff
to practice preventive health
measures
- Hand sanitizer stations are
located at multiple locations
on campuses and residences
- Disinfecting surface wipes
are available throughout
the campus including in
classrooms
- We’ve increased the
frequency and extended the
level of routine cleaning on all
campuses and residences
- All campuses practice social
distancing of 2 meters apart
or follow specific local
regulations
- Signage is displayed
throughout all campuses
stating the social distancing
regulations
- We monitor the number of
students per classroom to not
exceed the maximum amount
- Customer service areas such
as campus reception are
equipped with protective
plexiglass to protect the
safety of our staff and
students

We continue to follow local and international authorities’ advice

and guidelines, while monitoring and adapting to ensure the health
and safety of our students and staff.
Please get in touch with us if you need any advice or assistance.
Things to remember

32

This contact information will come

in handy during your stay. Be sure to
fill it all in before you leave for your
adventure abroad.

My local EF office
Address:

Phone:

Email:

Skype:

You can find the following information on EF Campus Connect.

My transfer service
Address:

Phone:

Emergency phone number:

My EF School
Address:

Phone:

School Director’s name:

My accommodation
Address:

Phone:
EF International Language Campuses
01 42 61 50 22
www.ef.com

EF Bureau de Paris
5, avenue de Provence
75009 Paris
Métro Opéra
Tél. : 01 42 61 50 22
info.lt@ef.com
my.ef.com