Gaining confidence abroad: Tessa’s EF experience

Meet Tessa, a 21-year-old fashion student from Belgium. Tessa has been traveling with EF since she was 17 and has studied at EF Malta St. Julian’s, EF Honolulu, and EF Miami Beach. Now, as an EF Ambassador, Tessa loves to share her experience with the world. Read on to discover her favorite classes and activities, and the impact that studying abroad, immersing in local culture, and making friends abroad had on her life. 

Let’s dive into Tessa’s story.

What did you enjoy most about your EF experience abroad?

My self-confidence boost! I was quite introverted when I was younger, and I think that was the biggest change during my first trip. Also, I made a lot of friends, and I'm so grateful to still be in contact with all of them. I also enjoyed the responsibility of traveling alone. I think it’s an amazing experience.

Tell us about the English language course you took with EF and your classes.

I like the SPIN classes the most because we practice conversation. In some classes, we learn about different topics, like politics. So I learned a lot about different cultures and countries. My favorite class was surfing in EF Honolulu. I even did it in my free time, because I wanted to get better at it.

What was your English language level when you started? And what is it now?

I learned a little bit of English at school, but I never really practiced it — I never spoke it. I just learned a few words, but with EF, it’s not the same. I started with B1, and every year I got better and better. And this summer I got my C2. So I’ve improved a lot, and I'm happy with that. Especially now that I'm going to work soon, it's amazing that it's getting so much better.

What are some of your favorite places you’ve discovered with EF?

If you're in Hawaii for a while, I recommend you check out different islands. It was only around $50 to fly to Hawaii’s Big Island, and it was amazing! It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in the whole world. We even went to visit an active volcano. That is the thing I remember the most. 

Did you find anything difficult about studying abroad, and what helped you overcome it?  

The first time, I got a little bit scared, because all of a sudden, I had to speak English, and that was a big step. In Belgium, I never spoke English. But after I met some friends during my studies, and realized they had the same level of English as me, my confidence grew. I also think that for your first trip, it’s best to live with a host family. It feels like coming home. Even though I loved both living options, host family and residence, living with a host family during my first trip was a great choice — I adjusted much faster, and it felt comfortable.

What was your experience like with a host family?

I stayed with a super sweet couple, and they had a young child. They were really warm, welcoming, and heartfelt. When I arrived, they showed me some local places on the map. Dinner was always ready, and we ate together — it was a great experience.

What were your favorite EF activities?

I love being in the water, so I enjoyed the boat tours and swimming with turtles. That was one of my favorite ones. I also did a helicopter tour — it was worth every cent. In Miami, on the first day, I took a tour of the whole city, and I met a lot of friends doing that activity.

Can you tell us about the people you met on your language course?

When I was 17, I met a girl at EF Malta St.Julian’s. And recently, I found out that she's studying at my school in my small village — we even grabbed dinner last month. It’s just so nice that you stay in contact, even if it's been four years. I think that's pretty crazy. 

Where would you like to travel next with EF?

I just planned my next EF trip — I'm going to EF Singapore, as I wanted to go somewhere safe and discover an entirely new culture. I've never been to Asia, so I thought it would be a great first destination. I’m going to live with a host family because I want to see the culture. I think it's really important to learn about it.

Inspired by Tessa’s story? Your own EF language journey could be just around the corner.