EF Stories: Gianna Arnold From Switzerland at EF Cambridge

When my family and my best friend arrived at Zurich Airport, it suddenly hit me that I wouldn't be seeing them for three months. Of course, there's Skype and Facetime, but when you're used to seeing these people every day, the idea is a bit intimidating.

Arrival in Cambridge

Nevertheless, during my apprenticeship, I couldn't stop thinking about finally going to Cambridge. So, while saying goodbye, one eye shed a tear, and the other beamed with joy.

When I landed in London, I couldn't wait to get to the residence and settle in for the next three months.

Since I had already made friends on the MyEF app, I couldn't wait to go to school and meet my friends whom I had been chatting with for months.

Quick tip: take advantage of the MyEF app and try to make friends before you arrive at your destination; it will make your first few days easier.

Experiences with My Accommodation

The first week was a bit of a culture shock, but I quickly adapted to everything. I stayed in the "Tripos Court" residence because I wanted to make independent decisions and not be tied to meal times in a host family.

I was fortunate with my new friends; the kitchen was mostly clean, and if something wasn't right, we just sorted it out among ourselves. I was very happy that we all had single rooms so that we could have some privacy when needed after a weekend trip or other excursions.

As the first week passed, everything became much easier, and speaking only English was almost normal. Since I had friends who were neither from Switzerland nor Germany or Austria, we had no choice but to speak English.

Leisure Activities in Cambridge

We did something almost every day, whether it was exploring the small town of Cambridge and its colleges, punting on the Cam, going to the cinema, bowling, or simply having lunch in one of the many small restaurants.

On weekends, there were always cool trips, such as to Oxford, Brighton, or even Edinburgh. If you have the opportunity to go on these trips, go! It's always fun and allows you to see places you might never have thought of visiting otherwise.

Experiences with the EF Language School in Cambridge

The school is modern, and there are plenty of places to study, chat, or just hang out with friends. Classes are 80 minutes long, and we usually had half a day of school (of course, it depends on the course).

We had up to 2 SpIn classes, which are elective courses that you can change every 5 weeks. These SpIn classes can be creative or academic, allowing you to try new things that you might not have time for in your daily life. I had Performing Arts, British Life and Culture, Business English, Writing and Grammar, and Global Issues.

Additionally, every 5 weeks, we had a Progress Test, which showed us whether we were at the right level or whether it would be better to move up or down a level. I started with C1.1 and completed my course with C1.3.

(The school courses are structured the same way in all EF schools.)

If I had the opportunity to go on a language stay again, I would definitely choose EF again. My time here in Cambridge was unforgettable, and I now have friends all over the world.

Conclusion

Many people always say that a language stay is the best thing you can do. I was skeptical before my trip, but now I can only agree. I can recommend Cambridge to anyone who might not want to go too far away but still wants to experience a different culture. It's worth it!

The EF team in Switzerland and in Cambridge is just fantastic! :)"