Press Releases

EF Education First and Peking University Set up a Research Program for Advancing English Teaching Studies

Japan Ranks 22nd of 54 Countries in EF Global English Proficiency Index

The Boston Globe  - Boston, 03 II 2013

Education First aims to bridge barriers with exchange

The Boston Globe features Bertil Hult's profile who started EF Education First nearly 50 years ago with only $700. Today the company has 34,000 employees in 55 countries and organizes student trips and language courses around the world.

WBUR 90.9FM (NPR News Station)  - Boston, 26 XII 2012

EF EPI featured on WBUR, Boston's NPR

EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) author Kate Bell was featured on the Morning Edition on WBUR 90.9FM, Boston's NPR News Station, discussing the EF EPI.

Here is a short excerpt:

Study author Kate Bell says countries in northern Europe embrace English as a tool; “Those countries really just see it as a tool, a necessary tool, like math, reading, or science and they teach [English] to a higher level to all students in schools…”

Inc.  - International, 20 XII 2012

World's Coolest Offices: Your Picks

EF featured in Inc.com as one of the "World's Coolest Offices".

The Best and Worst Cities in English

It’s official: women are better at English than men. World’s largest English proficiency index reveals Scandinavians on top and Libya the worst of 54 countries

Wired  - , 30 X 2012

EF Classroom App Ushering in Paperless Education of the Future

There was a time when the most interactive thing about a classroom was the chalkboard. The grating chalkboard eventually gave way to the whiteboard, which has recently given way to...

New York Times  - International, 29 X 2012

Low English Levels Can Hurt Countries' Progress

Countries with poor English-language skills also have lower levels of trade, innovation and income, according to a report released last week.

The report ranks 54 countries where English is not a native language, with the top five being Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Norway. The bottom five were Colombia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Libya.

The Economist  - New York, 29 X 2012

English where she is spoke

Last year we looked at the first-ever global survey of English-language skills by EF Education First, a teaching company. This year, EF has produced its second study of the same subject. It's worth revisiting for the changes between last year and this one.

Forbes  - New York, 26 X 2012

English - The Language of Global Business?

With China’s growing economic might, is Mandarin becoming the preferred language of business? Not anytime soon, says a newly released study.

Management Thinking Blog  - , 11 X 2012

Mind your language (skills)

EF EDUCATION FIRST BREAKS GROUND ON NEW 300,000-SQUARE-FOOT NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN CAMBRIDGE, CREATES 400 JOBS

Time Magazine  - , 27 IX 2012

Hult Challenge Selected by President Clinton and TIME

The Hult Global Case Challenge is selected by President Clinton and TIME magazine as 1 of the 5 top ideas changing the world today. See why the Hult Prize and it's US$1,000,000 in start-up capital is the program for budding social entrepreneurs.

The Boston Globe  - Boston, 25 IX 2012

New NorthPoint project making a big splash

EF Education First’s new $125 million, 300,000-square-foot headquarters will be situated at the foot of the Zakim Bridge. Construction is to begin Tuesday and be completed by spring of 2014.

EF Education First and Moscow State University Announce Research Collaboration

Global Superstar WILL.I.AM Meets Summer Dance Winners and Performs in Front of 4,000 EF Students

EF Englishtown ranks #1 for learning English for the third consecutive year

 - Japan, 02 VII 2012

Rakuten's English Policy: Just Speak It

When Rakuten Inc. introduced an English-only policy for company communications in May 2010 as part of founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani’s push to globalize the Japanese Web commerce firm, critics questioned the wisdom in forcing staff to communicate with each other in their non-native tongue.

 - International, 21 V 2012

A Way Up For Women in Business

EF Englishtown Releases Language Education’s First Social Game, English Tower

 - International, 09 V 2012

Hodges: The UK's Looming Brain Drain

Wall Street Journal  - International, 09 V 2012

Language Barriers Blamed for Miscues

Nearly half the executives at global companies believe language barriers have spoiled cross-border deals and caused financial losses for companies, says a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by EF Education First. 

Monocle  - International, 09 V 2012

Speaking Volumes

In the past three years, Swedish language-teaching company EF has tripled in size and has left its competitors speechless. We profile the family firm that is transforming the industry.

 - International, 04 V 2012

Bailey: Language Barriers and Miscommunications are Stifling Growth

Poor Communication and Language Skills of Employees are Constraining International Growth Prospects of Companies

Internationally Sponsored Training Academy Opens in Iraq to Teach Young People Key Skills to Succeed in Business

 - China, 18 IV 2012

EF China featured in Interior Design Magazine- “Creativity is Born Here”

EF’s Classroom app shortlisted for British Council Digital Innovation prize

EF Englishtown Selected as a Finalist in Two CODiE Award Categories

EF Englishtown Announces New President: Andrew Wait

London

CNN and Hult International Business School Partner to Broadcast Hult’s Global Case Challenge Public Service Announcement

Zurich

In a difficult job market, EF opens new schools to respond to demand for multilingual professionals

Shanghai, China

EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions named “Best Corporate Training Product” by Xinhua Daily

 - New York, 04 XI 2011

5 Myths about MBAs

Should I get an MBA? More and more people seem to be asking that question, with a 9.9 percent drop in applications for two year MBA programs, the third consecutive year showing decline. Meanwhile, more specialized degrees, like a Master of Finance, are seeing increases. Is the MBA no longer about training tomorrow's captains of industry and more about training the next Richard Fuld, last CEO of Lehman Brothers and infamously dubbed the "Worst CEO of All Time"?

Moscow, Russia

Russian Ministry of Education and The Republic of Tatarstan choose EF

London

EF Releases Its Latest Mobile App: EF MyWords, the Ultimate 5 Minute Word Workout

From Forbes China Magazine, China

The Day Steve Jobs Called

 - Washington D.C., 06 X 2011

Young MBAs Compete to Solve Global Problems

Solving the world’s most pressing social challenges takes passion, dedication, innovation and a good business plan, which is the idea behind the Hult Global Case Challenge. 

Sao Paulo, Brazil

EF Chief Technology Officer Dr. Enio Ohmaye speaks at TEDxESPM

Zurich, Switzerland

EF releases three new “Live the language” films depicting student life in L.A., Vancouver and Sydney

Hong Kong

EF Englishtown named number one at TopTenREVIEWS

London

Singer Ke$ha Meets Winners of EF Dance Contest and Performs With 3,000 Students Dancing Along

Hong Kong

Upgrades to EF Englishtown—new features, to the school

Zurich

Three Students Clinch Dream “Global Internships”, chosen from over 19,000 Candidates

Hong Kong

EF’s Breakthrough App for Kids Hits #1 in More Than 50 Countries

San Fransisco

EF.com named “Best Education Website” by Sitecore

 - London, 07 VI 2011

The Guardian - Russia in race for Olympic English

Cambridge, UK

Cambridge University funds unique EF Education First research project

 - New York, 14 V 2011

The Wall Street Journal - English Spoken Here

Sochi, Russia

EF is named Official Supplier of Language Programs for the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014

 - London, 27 IV 2011

Students compete to win $1m water project funding

Currently, some 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, and more than 2.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. Based on innovative ideas presented at the second annual Hult International Business School Global Case Challenge a few weeks ago, solutions can be identified to help solve the water scarcity issue.

Lucerne

Scandinavians at the top, Russia, Turkey and South American Countries score low in English language skills

 - USA, 30 III 2011

The Financial Times - China: better English students than India?

Colombo

Over 10,000 Sri Lankan university students to receive EF English language training sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Colombo

London

EF Englishtown Receives Prestigious eLearning Award

Shanghai

EF’s CIO named China’s Top Innovator

London

Hult races up Financial Times Global MBA Rankings

 - New York, 23 I 2011

The New York Times - Business Schools With a Social Appeal

Hong Kong, China

Learn English Anytime, Anywhere with EF’s free Mobile English App

Zurich, Switzerland

EF Opens Four New International Language Centers Abroad, to Meet Young People’s Demand for Hip and Exotic Study Destinations. In its new brochure for 2011, EF International Language Centers announces four new centers, including Bristol and Singapore.

London, United Kingdom

EF to Choose Two Torch Bearers for the 16th Asian Games Among EF Students in China; Ongoing Selection Process Based on English Skills and International Outlook with Winners to be Announced in July

London, United Kingdom

EF Education First Launches Educational Research Partnership at the University of Cambridge to Study English Language Learning

Lucerne, Switzerland

EF Education First Unveils New English Training System – Learn English up to 50% Faster.

Brazil

EF Education First will be the Official Provider of Language Courses for the “Olá, Turista!” (Hello, Tourist) Project

London, United Kingdom

EF Education First and University of Cambridge ESOL Collaborate on a Groundbreaking English Language Assessment to Rate Language Skills on a Recognized Global Scale.

London, United Kingdom

EF Education First Seizes the Opportunity to Invest in Economic Downturn and Extends Qualifications of all EF Teachers Worldwide

Shanghai, China

EF is Recognized as a "Top 10 brand of Foreign Language Training" in China.

London, United Kingdom

Hult International Business School Joins Prestigious Financial Times Top 100 World’s Best Global Business Schools

London, United Kingdom

EF and Cambridge ESOL unveil a ground-breaking global collaboration to fundamentally improve the way students learn English.

Stockholm, Sweden

EF Makes the Biggest Climb in Best Places to Work List

Lucerne, Switzerland

EF Pledges USD 800,000 in Disaster Relief for China and Myanmar

Hong Kong, China

EF Founder Bertil Hult Runs With the Olympic Torch

Hong Kong, China

EF Named Official Language Training Services Supplier of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games