Experience for a lifetime

Marina Stienecker, 18, Germany

School: 4, Host family/Student residenz: 5, Learning success: 4, Activities: 5, Value for money: 4

In Summer 2011 (when I was 16) I spend 3 weeks together with other german students with EF in Brighton.

I chose the ABIPrep course. At this time it was the course that fit the most because I had to make

a big decision depending on my LKs for the A-level. (German Abitur)

After all students arrived at a meeting point in Brighton we were picked up by our host-families

which bought us to the place we called 'home' for the next few weeks.

Every morning there was enough time for having breakfast with the family before we went out

for school.

The first day of school, organization issues and our timetable were set done. Afterwards

we had to do a quiz/test so that our english skills could be determined, because 

there is a 4-Level system that devides us in groups depending on our skills.

The next day lessons already started :)

Every day we had three blocks of 90min. Two of them were held by a german teacher who exactly knew which stuff is important for our A-levels and the other block was held by a native speaker. This course was about speeking freely about a given topic.

After or before classes and on the weekends we had a nice activity program.

We went on two trips to London, Sealife, Devils Dyke or the Pier for example. Did a lot of sports and funny stuff.

So the programm wasn't all about teaching it was also about meeting new people, doing things with them together and being active.

We also got tasks for at home like watching a movie in english language or doing an interview with native speakers.

In the end of the course, we wrote a test again. This time it was used to determine our level according to the cambridge english level test.

On the last day we got our results.

Everyone passed and we had a little party with lots of fun stuff before we got the rest of the day of to do whatever we like to do.

For example going shopping the last time or spend some more time with our host families.

All in all it was an experience for a lifetime.

I met so many people during my course and because of the special Ambassador program, after my course.

I'm still in contact with many of them.

Furthermore I got more self confident, self consistend and I feel more safe using the english language