EF language school

Placement organization

Name of organization: EF language school
Town/city: Cape Town
Country: Zuid-Afrika
Website: http://www.ef.com/aya/destinations/south-africa/cape-town/

Name of student: Maaike Kruitbosch

Specialist area: MT
Placement period: 2013-2014

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Language school
Organization’s activities: EF language school provide English language courses. Besides the course the provide accommodation, internship programmes, volunteering programmes and activities for the students.
Target group of the organization: people who are 16+ and want to learn English
Company culture: The culture at EF language school is really informal.

Number of employees: 20
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? activities, accommodation and reception cover
Brief description of your daily activities: – Academic department support (administration, planning, certificates, evaluations)
– Activities (organization, assisting or being in charge of the students during the activities, welcome packs, Facebook page management)
– Administration (company prospection, posters)
– Accommodation (support & help provided to the Accommodation Coordinator)
– Reception Cover (welcoming students, walk-ins, suppliers, answering the phone & student’s questions)

Brief description of your company assignment: My company assignment is to make a competitor analysis. I have to compare 8 different language schools in Cape Town.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: The supervision by the organization is good. The company culture is really informal and my supervisor has an open door policy, so I can walk in to her office whenever needed. If I need some help or advise for my company assignment I can go to her and talk about it.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? Flexible, sociable, team player
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS office
English: Intermediate
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? the company arranged the accommodation
How did you go to work every day? by foot

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? yes, studentvisa
Do you need a work permit? no
How did you arrange the necessary documents: you receive a list of documents needed when you apply for a visa at the embassy
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? 1 month
Did you need certain vaccinations? Yes
How long in advance? 3 months, because you have to go back after 1 month for your 2nd vaccination

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? It depends on your level of English.

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 750
Accommodation (monthly): € –
Local transport (monthly): € –
General costs of living (monthly): € 400
Costs of visa: € 50 + 900 deposit
Costs of work permit: € –
What did the company pay for/to you? accommodation, meals at work, 150 Euro’s per month to cover food costs, airtime etc.

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
I received some information about the South African culture at the embassy and some information at school.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? yes, the working rhythm is different then in Holland

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: maaike_kruitbosch@live.nl

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: In Cape Town the safety is different then in Holland. When it is dark you can not go out on the streets by your own (but you can easily go with a taxi). Take the advise they give you about safety regulations and then you will be fine.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: in Cape Town: Table mountain, Cape Point, Wine tours, visit a Township, Surfing, beach day

Surrounding Cape Town: Garden Route, Whale watching, safari

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link