Frequently Asked Questions

Could I start to learn a new language in another country even though I don't speak a word of that language now?

Absolutely. There is no better place to learn a language than in the country where it is spoken. The school books on beginners levels are illustrated and easy to understand. Host families and school staff are used to talking to foreign students and usually manage to understand pretty well. Some of our schools are specialized in teaching students that are pure beginners. Please call your local sales office for more details.

How much can I expect to learn after a 2 week course? A 4 week course? A 12 week course?

EF teaches languages on 8 different levels, from beginners to advanced. On average a students advances one level each month. However the amount of progress that the students make depend on a number of factors, such as their motivation, study habits, and even how close their mother tongue is to the target language. Your talent and motivation will certainly speed the rate of progress, but it's hard to overemphasize the value of skilful teachers and well-equipped schools.

How many weeks can you study?

You can study for as few as two weeks and as many as you'd like. That's the flexibility of an EF programme.

Do I get a diploma after the course?

When you complete a four-week or longer, you can receive the EF Course Certificate along with an EF Academic Record, documenting your language achievements. You may also request an official academic certificate from Suffolk University for an administrative fee of £7.50. Present your linguistic credentials to academic evaluators and potential employers with confidence.

Will EF prepare me to take any official exams?

We offer exam courses that have been designed to give our students the essential language skills that form the basis of several official language exams, such as the Cambridge Exams, The Oxford exams and the TOEFL test in English, as well as similar exams in French, Spanish, German and Italian.

How will you know my language level?

The first day in school all students take a diagnostic placement test, which will test your reading and listening comprehension as well as grammar and vocabulary. During the course students' progress is monitored closely by the teacher.

Can a student on a very advanced level of the language go on an EF course?

Of course! We offer eight different course levels from beginner to advanced. If you are at the advanced level your course will focus on fine tuning your language abilities to gain the subtleties and nuances of your study language.

Are your courses accredited by our government or any other official authority?

Our schools in England are recognised by the British Council and ARELS (Association of Recognised English Language Services). Our schools in the US are accredited by ACCET, and some of our European schools are members of EAQUALS (European Association for Quality Language Services). Please call your local sales office for further information.

What is the Efekta™ Language Learning System?

The Efekta™ System is a revolutionary new way to learn a language, integrating face-to-face learning with the latest in interactive technology. It allows you to maximize your time abroad by focusing on your needs and interests. The formula is simple: better teaching plus state-of the art technology equals faster and more personalized learning.

What are the Efekta™ iLABs?

EF’s exclusive iLABs are innovative language labs, equipped with state-of-the-art computers. In the iLABs you can complete online tutorials, complementing your face-to-face classes. These online tutorials match your face-to-face classroom topics and help you work on your specific needs. Our iLABs go beyond the normal language learning lab by even helping you to track your progress by using the Efekta™ Progress Tracker.

What is the Efekta™ iTracker?

The Efekta™ iTracker can be found in the iLAB and is one of the most advanced and thorough language assessment and student evaluation tools used. This learning evaluation tool continually updates and monitors your progress in six main areas: speech clarity, confidence, verbal expression, grammar accuracy, conversation range and listening. This provides you, your teacher and your Academic Counselor with instant assess to your strengths and weaknesses. By knowing where you stand, you and your teacher know exactly where to concentrate your learning.

What are the EF Efekta™ PodEnglish videos?

The EF Efekta™ PodEnglish videos are the latest learning improvement of EF, fun language learning videos that you can watch in the iLab or on the go in your iPod.

How will you know my language level?

The first day in school all students take a diagnostic placement test, which will test your reading and listening comprehension as well as grammar and vocabulary. During the course students' progress is monitored closely by the teacher. At our English schools your language level will be determined by our Efekta™ Fluency Test and your progress will be monitored both by your teacher and our exclusive Efekta™ iTracker.

What if I don’t make the progress that the Efekta™ System guarantees?

If you attend all your classes and do all the assignments, we guarantee you will advance one learning level every six weeks (or 12 weeks for higher levels). If you don’t make the progress that our system promises, you will study for free until you do.

Can I live together with a friend in a host family?

Yes. Just let us know which friend when you book. If you wish to change to stay with a foreign friend that you just got to know during your course you would have to ask the Accommodation Officer who will try to accommodate you.

Will I get my own room?

If you book a single room and pay the single room supplement. If not you will share a room with a student from another country.

Will my host family live near my school?

We try to find families that live close to our schools. In smaller cities our students do not have to travel more than 10-20 minutes by bike or bus. However, in larger cities and in the US they would have to be prepared to travel up to 40 minutes or an hour.

Can I change host families if I don't get along with my family or roommate?

In each school we have an EF accommodation manager that is there to help our students solve any problem that they might have. If it means a change of host family is necessary they will do what they can to help find a more suitable host family. If a student requests to share rooms with a friend, this can usually be arranged.

Can you take an EF language course but exclude accommodation if you choose to stay with friends?

Yes, you can. We will then deduct the accommodation cost from the course fee.

What qualifications do my teachers have?

All of our teachers are experienced and have specialist qualifications in the teaching of their native language to international students.

Will there be teachers who speak my language?

Probably not. Even if they were able to speak with you in your native language they are not supposed to speak in a language other than the study language in class.

What happens if I get sick during my course?

Our experienced school staff will be able to ensure that you receive medical assistance should you need it. EF can provide you with ERIKA medical insurance which will cover the cost of any medical fees that you incur while on an EF course.

Can you help book the flight ticket and the airline transfer?

Yes, EF will help you book your ticket through our own travel agency which will give you contract prices from some of the leading airlines in the world. We will try to find the best possible connection for the best possible price. You can also choose to book our transfer service, which means that an EF representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your host family or student residence.

What insurance coverage do you recommend?

We offer a tailor made medical and travel insurance for our students from ERIKA Insurance. This insurance is designed especially for students travelling abroad. It gives you the best possible coverage at a very competitive price. Before you leave your home country you will get all the necessary documentation plus insurance certificates. The EF staff in our schools are all well acquainted with this insurance and will be able to help you file a claim if necessary.

How long in advance should I send in my enrollment form?

Our courses are very popular and fill up quickly. If you are thinking about traveling during our peak seasons June-September and January-March we recommend you to book several months in advance. However, you should always check with your local sales office. There might be spaces left only a short time before courses start due to last minute cancellations.

Do I need a Visa and if so can you help me to get one?

Your local sales office will be able to give you all the necessary information about visa requirements, and in many cases will help you with the procedure.

Can I get special payment plans?

Please contact your local sales office for special payments plans and conditions.