Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Internation-al Language Cent-

ers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice is recognized with the Label Qual-ité Français Langue

Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are mem-

bers of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town and Nice are

accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bourne-mouth are members of:

All EF Courses are recog-nized by Hult International

Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

Academic Year AbroadFor adults and Students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

www.ef.com

EF Singapore

Important Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

SingaporeA dynamic city rich in contrast and color, you’ll find

a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and ar-

chitecture here. Brimming with unbridled energy, this

little dynamo in Southeast Asia embodies the finest

of both East and West.

Contact details:15 Carpenter StreetSingapore 059904

Section ...... Topic

1 ............Introduction to EF

2 ............Welcome to Singapore

3 ............Weather watch

4 ............Travel & transfer service

5 ............School information

6 ............Academics

7 ............Accommodation & meals

8 ............Money matters

9 ............Phones, faxes & Internet

10 ..........Health care & insurance

11 ..........School activities & excursions

12 ..........Transportation

13 ..........Expectations

14 ..........Singapore culture & living tips

15 ..........Adjusting to a new culture

16 ..........EF school calendar & holidays

17 ..........Checklist

Contents - Singapore

Dear Student

Thank you for choosing to study at EF in Singapore.

The EF school in Singapore has only recently opened,

and has some great facilities for you to use, and we’re

in a great location. The school is located right in the

middle of the Quays district in Central Singapore, just

a 5 minute walk from an exciting range of some of

Singapore best attractions, shopping and restaurants.

Whether your stay is for only a few weeks or a few

months – there is never a shortage of things to do

and see, and the staff at the school all look forward to

meeting you and making your stay with us a memo-

rable one.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

Best wishes,

Antonio Codinach, School Director

EF International Language Center,

Singapore

3 Singapore

2. Welcome to SingaporeSingapore is a country, a city and a tropical

island all in one destination. It is made up of

not just one island but a main island with 63

surrounding islets. The main island has a total

land area of 682 square km, so it takes less

than an hour to get from one side of the island

to the other.

However, its compact size manages to have

4 million people call Singapore home, and it’s

grown to become one of Asia’s most modern,

cosmopolitan and dynamic cities.

There are endless choices of things to do

outside of your studies. Chill out on the golden

sand beaches of Sentosa Island or go bargain

hunting along world famous Orchard Road.

Soak up the sights and sounds of the cultural

districts, Chinatown, Little India and the Arab

Quarter. Singapore also has some of the best

wildlife attractions in the world, the Singapore

Zoo and its famous Orangutans and White

Tigers, the Bird Park and of course the Night

Safari is not to be missed.

Why not take a weekend to visit our neighbors?

You take can a short 45 minute ferry ride over

to some of the islands of Indonesia, or a bus

will take you up to Malaysia. Alternatively you

can stay in Singapore and jump on board the

Singapore flyer – and on a clear day you can

see these countries in the distance.

3. Weather watchSingapore is a tropical climate, located just north

of the Equator. The Singaporeans like to joke that

they have 3 seasons, hot, hotter and hottest! The

island is warm and humid all year round. This

makes it ideal for those who enjoy sunbathing,

swimming and other water sports. But for those

who do not enjoy the tropical climate, Singapore

is sheltered from the worst effects of the sun with

air-conditioning in almost all of its shops, hotels,

office buildings and restaurants.

Rain falls throughout the year, with more con-

sistent rain in November to January. Showers

are usually sudden and heavy, but also brief and

refreshing. Make sure to pack an umbrella for

the rainy days, sunscreen for the tropical sun

and a sweater for the air-conditioned areas.

Average Temperatures range from:

Spring: 24° to 31°C (75° to 88°F)

Summer: 24° to 31°C (75° to 88°F)

Autumn: 23° to 31°C (73° to 88°F)

Winter: 23° to 31°C (73° to 88°F)

Check www.weather.gov.sg for Singapore

weather forecasts.

4. Travel & transfer serviceTransfer service

If you have booked our transfer service from

the airport to your accommodation, you must

inform the EF Office in your home country of

the exact details of your flight (airline, flight

number, date and time) at least one month

before your arrival.

When you arrive at the Singapore airport,

please go to the pre-established meeting point

in your arrival letter. Look for the EF greeter

who will be holding up an EF sign. If after wait-

ing for 30 minutes you still haven’t found the

greeter, please call the transfer number (+65

9113 3467). You can also go to the Information

Desk where you can ask someone to help you

contact the EF greeter.

It is a good idea to purchase a phone card

while you are at the airport so that you can

phone home to let your family know you’ve

arrived safely. When calling from Singapore, re-

member to omit the zero between the country

code and city code.

Students Arriving Independently

If you are staying in a homestay and plan to

arrive independently, remember to contact EF

or your homestay hosts with your arrival details.

Please go straight from the airport to your host

family. Your family will be expecting you shortly

after your plane arrives. There are three main

1. Introduction to EFEF Education First welcomes students of all ages from every corner of the world to learn a language where it is natively spoken. Our innovative curriculum, the EF Efekta™ System, integrates face-to-face learning in a classroom with studying outside the classroom using the interactive learn-ing tools in our online iLab. An intensively structured academic program along with an array of educational and social activi-ties results in a fast and fun way to learn a language.

EF students come from diverse back-grounds and like you, they have chosen a program to enhance their language skills as part of their academic or career plan. Many have planned for years to take advantage of this opportunity.

A large percentage of EF students apply their new language skills by taking a recog-nized exam, such as Cambridge, TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS. Successful completion of such exams provides the necessary language qualifications for university and for professional endeavors. Many students view their time with EF as a chance to explore educational alternatives while im-proving language and study skills. Students wishing to study at university can access information and make informed academic choices through our EF University Place-ment Service.

A great aspect of an EF program is the variety of nationalities at our schools. We welcome you to join this international com-munity where you’ll experience life and language with EF. We take great pride in our continuing dedication to our mission - breaking down barriers of language and culture.

4 Singapore

methods of transportation from the airport into

the city:

z Public Bus: Public bus service 36 goes to

the city. The first bus arrives at around 0600

hr and the last leaves at midnight. A single

fare costs below $2 SGD and takes about an

hour. Bus stops are located under Terminals

1, 2 or 3. Please prepare the exact fare as no

change will be given.

z Train (MRT): The Changi Airport MRT Station

is located under Terminals 2 and 3, and is

linked to the arrivals and departures by esca-

lators and lifts. The first train arrives at around

0530hr and the last leaves at 2318hr. A

single fare to the city costs about $2.70 SGD

(inclusive of $1 SGD refundable deposit) and

takes approximately 25 - 30 minutes. Tickets

are available at the station.

z Taxi: Taxi rides from Singapore Changi

International Airport to our host communities,

range anywhere from $10 to $40 SGD. There

are normally plenty of cabs available, so there

is not usually a wait. It is a good idea to keep

a record of the driver’s number, which should

be on an ID card on the dashboard of the taxi,

and to ask for a receipt, in case you have any

questions about the fare. All taxis in Singapore

charge their fares based on the meter, it is

illegal to offer a set price for a journey.

5. School InformationThe EF school’s central location puts students

in the heart of this spectacular city. The school

is located in the heart of the Quays district off

the Singapore River, walking distance to Clarke

Quay, Boat Quay, Chinatown, the Heritage

quarter and a huge range of local sights and

attractions.

EF Singapore has been totally refurbished

recently following the new EF corporate design

code. Classrooms are air conditioned, spa-

cious and well equipped, with new furniture

and audio/visual equipment. The school also

boasts a large 17-seat computer lab, and a

separate self-access center where students

have use of additional computers for personal

email or self-study.

On our 5th floor we have a spacious student

lounge equipped with a study area, student

library, table football, table tennis, 42” plasma

screen, Nintendo Wii console and sofa area.

Our roof terrace over looks the city landscape

and is the perfect place to enjoy the sun, join

an EF BBQ and relax with friends.

Most students spend their free time enjoying

Singapore’s warm weather at the cafés at Boat

or Clarke Quay, relaxing at Fort Canning Park,

exploring China Town and Little India or shop-

ping at some of the best shopping areas and

malls in the world.

The staff

The staff is looking forward to meeting you

on arriv al and welcoming you to the school.

During your time with us, we will do our best to

ensure that you settle in as easily as possible,

and make sure your time here is a happy and

beneficial one. On your first day at school, you

will meet our friendly and experienced staff

who will be on hand to help and advise you

throughout your stay.

6. AcademicsEF language courses give students the opportu-

nity to study the English language and the local

culture for as long, and with as much intensity,

as suits the student and his or her needs.

EF Level Placement Test

Within 24-hours after booking your course, you’ll

receive your personalized EF username and

password for the online EF campus called My

EF. Before traveling, you will take the EF Level

Placement test online. This test will measure

your language level and ability, grammar and

listening comprehension abilities. Using your test

results, our academic team will place you in one

of six different language levels. When you arrive

at the school, you will receive your schedule as

part of your orientation as well as further activi-

ties and information.

As your English language skills become stron-

ger, you will be promoted into the next language

level. You may speak with your teacher if you

feel you have been placed into the wrong level.

Please note: lessons are arranged in blocks and

you may have alternate morning and afternoon

classes. All students will receive 2 consecutive

days off – usually on the weekends.

Orientation

When you arrive at the school you will take the

EF Level Placement test, if you have not done

so already. You will also have an orientation that

will acquaint you with the school, the accom-

modation and life in Singapore. You will receive

your class schedule, a map of Singapore and

other important information about the school

and the city. The activities coordinator will speak

to you to find out what you like doing in your

free time and will take all new students on a

short tour of the local area and the city to help

familiarize you with local banks, post offices,

shops, restaurants, and snack bars.

General English Classes

General English classes focus on the develop-

ment of the four skills of speaking, listening,

reading and writing. They also include work on

grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Special Interest Classes

Depending on your course type you may also

select a number of special interest (SPIN)

classes. SPINs allow you to improve your

English through the study of a wide range of

subject options. Admission to some of these

will depend on academic and linguistic level

and availability of places. The selection of SPIN

classes varies throughout the year and a stu-

dent may not be able to repeat the same SPIN

class. Each lesson is 40 minutes in length.

Class size

The average class size is 14 students with a

maximum of 17 students.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes.

Consistent failure to attend class, for what-

ever reason, may result in expulsion from the

program with no refund of course fees. It is

important to note that in order to be eligible

for an EF certificate, students are expected to

participate in class and must attend at least

90% of all classes.

Homework

You are expected to complete all assignments

set by your teachers in General English and

Special Interest classes. If you are taking an

examination preparation class you should ex-

pect at least one hour of homework per night.

Assessment

You will be assessed at regular intervals through-

out the course. Assessment is based on atten-

dance, participation, attitude and performance.

5 Singapore

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

iLab Learning

All English language school courses include

six iLab sessions per week. iLab sessions

complement and reinforce classroom learning

in an interactive online learning environment.

Please note: iLab is not included in the EF

Basic Course.

Exams

You may enroll for several different public

examinations during your course. Some can

be taken at the school itself, others must be

taken at an external examination center and

booked several months in advance. Please

note: you will be responsible for the cost of all

exam registration fees, which cannot be paid

at the sales office.

EF University Placement Service

EF offers a University Placement Service (UPS)

that provides guaranteed admission into a

university or college for qualified students. If

you are interested in continuing your studies,

you are encouraged to talk with the University

Pathways Manager at your school.

University Transfer Credit

Through our partnership with Southern New

Hampshire University (SNHU), EF students

may be eligible to receive university credit for

their coursework.

7. Accommodation & mealsHomestay and student residence accom-

modations are available at the school. Every

effort will be made to match you with another

student who does not speak your language.

The Director of Housing is available to help you

with your housing needs.

You are expected to keep your rooms clean

and free of damage. You will be charged a fee

for any damages that occur during your stay.

Homestay

Arriving in a new country and living with a new

family can often be a strange experience but

you should settle in once you have adjusted

to the Singapore way of life. Homestay ac-

commodation not only helps students with

their English study, but also enhances your

enjoyment of your stay by giving you a real

Singaporean experience. Remember, you are

not staying in a hotel; you should have com-

mitment, flexibility, a sense of responsibility, an

open mind and willingness to share.

Families choose to host international stu-

dents because they want to learn about

other cultures and people. Students who live

in a homestay must respect the family and

their home. Likewise, the family will respect

the student. As you get an in-depth look at

Singapore life, you will realize that Singaporean

culture is not the same as your culture, and

therefore, family life may be quite different. The

relationship between husband and wife, the

roles of family members, the relationship with

or discipline of children and the relationship

with pets are just some examples. If you are

open-minded about these differences, life in

the family will be a great learning experience.

There is no stereotypical family. Host families

may consist of 1) mother and father without

children, 2) single mother with children, 3)

mother, father and children, 4) retired couple,

5) widowed woman, or 6) single father with

children.

Unless you have paid the single supplement

and a single placement has been confirmed

to you by EF, you will be placed in a twin room

with another student. You are responsible for

all transportation costs to and from the host’s

home. You may be placed up to one hour away

from the school. At the homestay, all long dis-

tance calls should be made using a calling card.

Prepaid cards are available at local shops.

The host will provide bed linens and towels.

You will need to provide your own personal

toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, tissues,

etc.) You will be responsible for keeping your

room clean, doing your own laundry, and

completing light housework as a member of

the household.

EF carefully chooses appropriate homestays

for its students and requires a long-term com-

mitment from hosts. Therefore, changing hosts

is considered a very serious matter and will

only be considered by the Housing Coordina-

tor as a last resort.

Meals in a homestay

Students staying in a homestay will have break-

fast and dinner every day of the week provided

by the host. Students are responsible for buying

their own lunch during the week, Monday

through Friday. All meals for homestay students

will be provided at home on the weekends.

Student Residence

Residential accommodation is offered in our se-

lection of International Student Residences and

Hostels located a short distance on public trans-

port to the school. All residences offer excellent

facilities, which are available to all residents

including: a personal study area or desk, Internet

6 Singapore

access, community facilities and TV lounge.

All students will be required to pay a non-

refundable administration fee upon arrival ($50-

$55) and a security deposit on arrival which will

be refunded on departure if the room is left in a

clean and undamaged condition.

z Student International Campus $300 deposit

& $53.50 administration fee

z Radius International City Lodge $150 (up to 3

weeks) or $400 (4 weeks or more) deposit &

$50 administration fee

z Vinga International Student Hostel $100

deposit per week & $30 administration fee

Linen will be provided and washed on a regular

basis for you. Students will be responsible for

keeping their rooms clean and tidy. Smoking is

not allowed in any part of the building or in the

residence grounds.

Meals in a student residence

At Vinga International Student Hostel there is a

small stove to prepare your own meals, though

cooking utensils are not provided. There are

no meals available for purchase at Singapore

International Campus and Radius International

City Lodge, and no self catering facilities are

provided. There are good and affordable res-

taurants and cafés located a short walk from

all three residences.

8. Money MattersCurrency

The Singapore dollar (SGD$) is the basic mon-

etary unit in Singapore. Paper currency comes

in denominations (values) of $2, $5, $10, $50,

$100 and $1000 and $10,000. Coins come in

denominations of $.01, $.05, $.10, $.20 and

$.50 and $1.

Banking

If you are here for 6months or longer you

should open a bank account at the start of your

course. During orientation, the EF staff will be

on hand to help you open one with a local bank.

Money for expenses

Just like in any other big city, you should not

carry a large amount of cash around with you in

Singapore. If it is lost or stolen, it is very unlikely

that it will be covered by your insurance policy. It

is much safer to have your money in the form of

traveler’s checks. You will need about $200-

$300 SGD a week to spend, especially if you

want to take part in excursions and trips.

There are a number of banks near the school

where you can change money and cash

traveler’s checks; they are normally open from

9:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Saturday, but it’s

a good idea to cash some traveler’s checks at

the airport when you first arrive.

You will also need to take money for learning

materials used in class and for any language

proficiency exams you plan to take.

Credit cards

We strongly recommend that students travel

with either a Visa or Master Card. Credit cards

enable you to rent cars, reserve hotel rooms, pay

for exams and do various activities which may

be more difficult with cash or traveler’s checks.

If you want to use your credit card to withdraw

Singaporean money from an automatic teller

machine, you should only use machines in

Singapore that are attached to a bank. If the

machine is attached to a bank and the ma-

chine takes your card, you can easily get your

card back again by going inside the bank and

asking for it. You cannot get your card back

easily if the machine that has taken it is not

attached to a bank.

9. Phones, faxes & InternetTelephone

Public payphones are available and calls

may be made with coins, a credit card or a

telephone card. Instructions are given in each

telephone box. Local shops sell phone cards,

which are a very cheap and convenient way

of phoning overseas from public and private

phones in Singapore. Please use these phone

cards when phoning from your homestay or ask

your parents/friends to call you. We recommend

that students expecting to stay for a long period

of time come with or purchase a mobile phone.

Telephone numbers in Singapore generally

consist of 8 numbers. Due to the small size

of Singapore, there are no long distance calls

within Singapore. Most mobile phone numbers

will start with the numbers 8 or 9.

How to dial

For local calls you don’t need to dial the area

code - just the subscriber’s number.

For international calls, you need to dial 001 fol-

lowed by the national code, area code (without

the 0) and subscriber number.

‘Reverse charge’ or ‘collect’ calls

If you want the person you are calling to

pay for the call you need to make a ‘reverse

charge’ or ‘collect’ call. First dial 8000-111-

111 or 8000-112-112 t0 speak with an

operator and say that you would like to make

a collect call. The operator will ask you for your

name and then ask the person you are calling

whether he/she will accept the charges.

Directory Inquiries

If you don’t know the number you need to call,

you should dial 100 for the local Operator, and

104 for the international Operator assistance.

Fax

All EF schools use fax machines to conduct

business. You can send faxes from the school

at a cost of $5 SGD per page. The school can

receive faxes for you and does not charge for

this service.

Internet

There is a fully equipped iLab computer suite

and two Internet kiosks located on the 2nd and

3rd floor. There is also Wi-Fi access throughout

the school. Students may bring their laptops

and are able to use the free wireless internet

access in the student lounge areas.

You can also set up a hotmail, gmail or yahoo

account via the school’s student computer

center, in order to send and receive emails

during your stay. It is a good idea to bring the

email addresses of your family and friends with

you so that you can send them your new email

address. If you already have an existing web

email account, you should be able to access

your existing account from Singapore.

10. Health Care & InsuranceIf you feel ill while you are in Singapore, talk to

your homestay hosts or the EF staff. They will

arrange for you to see a doctor. We strongly

advise you to get travel insurance before you

leave. If you have any personal problems,

there is always someone who you can talk to

confidentially.

7 Singapore

Immunizations

EF requires that all students attending EF

Singapore carry proof that he or she has been

immunized against measles I and II, polio,

TBC, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus

if necessary. Please note that it is not sufficient

to have had the diseases as a child. If you do

not bring this documentation with you, you

may be required upon arrival in Singapore to

obtain the immunizations at a local hospital or

be refused entry to the country (this amount is

not covered by insurance).

Insurance

All students traveling to Singapore are encour-

aged to have travel and medical insurance

upon starting their program of study.

Read your insurance policy document carefully

before you leave home and bring all relevant

documents with you when you come to

Singapore.

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority, we

have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-made

travel insurance package for EF students with

Erika Travel Insurance, an international insur-

ance expert. The policy protects you against ex-

penses incurred through accident or illness, and

provides coverage for loss or theft of baggage

and personal effects. It also provides coverage

against interruption of your EF program due to

illness as well as liability and legal expenses.

The EF staff is trained to assist with your Erika

Travel Insurance questions and claims. When

you are sick or injured the last thing you want

to do is deal with such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsActivity Program

The EF Activities Coordinator arranges a regu-

lar schedule of local activities, day-trips and

weekend excursions to area attractions. The

cost of these trips is not included in the cost of

the course.

Weekly activities

There is a weekly program of activities at EF

Singapore – BBQ’s, visits to the Singapore

Flyer, China Town, the National Museum of

Singapore, the Asian Civilization Museum,

cinema nights, sports and more - at either no

cost or minimal cost. The Activities Coordinator

will also organise sports games, Wii tourna-

ments and excursions depending on student

interest and participation.

Weekend excursions

The EF activities coordinator arranges all kinds

of outings and sporting events for students to

go on during their free time. These will be during

the evenings and at weekends. Some of these

excursions will be free of charge while others

will be at an additional cost. The number of trips

and the cost depend upon the time of year and

the number of students wishing to participate.

Other activities in the area include:

z Nature walks through the Botanic Gardens or

Nature reserves

z Bike rentals along the East Coast Parkway

z Shopping along the World-famous Orchard

road

z Martial Arts classes

12. TransportationPublic transportation

The public transport in Singapore is excel-

lent, frequent and air-conditioned! There are

currently 4 Underground MRT Train lines, and

a wide ranges of buses to all destinations, and

a light rail system on the North of the island.

Taxis are also cheap and plentiful. To travel

on public transport simply purchase an ezlink

travel card for $15 (including $10 of travel

credit). You can then top this card up with ad-

ditional funds at any MRT station.

All forms of transportation are a short walk

from the EF school. The Clarke Quay MRT train

station is two-minute walk from the school;

buses pick up passengers on the next block.

The weekly cost of travel from school to home

will cost between $15 and $25 SGD. Ask your

host family to advise you on the best way to

travel to and from the school.

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of anticipating a

new experience. Remember that many of your

expectations may have been formed by the

unreal world of TV and movies. Arrive at your

course center with an open mind!

What you can expect from EF:

z Supportive staff, available for guidance and

encouragement.

z An academic program which combines

language, special interest, and culture-

oriented classes.

z Full program of local activities and excursions

at special EF rates.

z Accommodation in either homestay or stu-

dent residence.

z All designated meals.

z EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

z EF Course Certificate for International

Language Students with 90% attendance

and good academic standing.

z Preparation classes and/or materials for appro-

priate standardized language exams and avail-

ability of University Placement Service (UPS).

What EF expects of you:

z To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

z To attend at least 90% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

z To be respectful of your homestay hosts,

your classmates, your teachers and your

community.

z To keep your room and shared areas clean.

z To speak English at all times.

z To abide by all laws, rules and regulations of

your host country, state, campus and school.

What you can expect from your homestay

hosts:

z A comfortable, clean place to live.

z Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to meal plan;

breakfast and dinner at home Monday-Friday

and all meals on the weekends.

z Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

14. Singapore culture & living tipsPassport and Visa requirements

Everyone entering Singapore needs to hold a

8 Singapore

current passport and when necessary, an appro-

priate visa. Students coming to study on an Eng-

lish course of 4 weeks or fewer can usually enter

Singapore on a Tourist Visa. Students coming for

longer courses will need to enter on a Student

Visa and will have to be a full-time student.

Student’s Personal Information

The school may make student’s personal

information details available to the Ministry of

Education and the Immigration Checkpoint

Authority and the Consumer Affairs Association

as required.

Food

The multi-ethnic nature of the Singaporean

culture is perhaps best exhibited in the variety

of food enjoyed by Singaporeans. Their food is

influenced by Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, In-

dian and Western cuisines. You can’t go home

without trying the famous Chilli crab, Singapore

noodles and Laksa Soup! Experience the

traditional local Hawker stalls and Hawker food

centers that are prominent around the city and

offer unbelievable value and great food!

Mail (Singpost)

The mail service in Singapore is relatively

inexpensive and quite reliable. For best results,

be sure to write the complete address and full

postcode. Postal rates vary with destination

and weight. The local post office will be able

to supply you with stamps and any necessary

information.

The nearest Post Office to the EF school is at:

133 New Bridge Road,

Chinatown Point

Singapore 059413

Hours

Mon - Fri: 9.30 am - 6.00 pm

Sat: 9.30 am - 2.00 pm

Sun & all public holidays: Closed

Alcohol

The legal age for purchase and/or consump-

tion of alcohol is 18years old. You will be

expected to show identification (passport)

when purchasing alcohol in a liquor store or

bar. Many nightclubs are only open to people

who are 21 years and older. Some clubs may

be open to 18 and older. There are also very

strict rules regarding “driving under the influ-

ence” of alcohol.

Smoking

Over the past few years, smoking is consid-

ered more and more a health hazard to those

who smoke and those people around smok-

ers. If you smoke, you will be asked to do so

in certain areas or most of the time, outside.

Many restaurants do not allow smoking at all

unless there is a separate room for smokers. EF

Singapore is completely non-smoking and most

homestay hosts will not permit smoking in their

home. While EF recognizes your right to smoke,

we kindly ask that you behave courteously and

follow the rules of your school. You must be 18

to buy tobacco products in Singapore.

Appliances

Electrical sockets in Singapore operate on 230

volts so, if you come from a country, which

operates on a different voltage, you will need

a transformer before you use your equipment.

You might also need an adaptor for any fitted

plugs. These can be bought in Singapore.

Tipping

Tipping is not overly common in Singapore,

and the government actually does not encour-

age tipping, so it’s not always expected. If you

have taken a longer taxi ride, you can round

up to the nearest dollar if the driver has been

good – but again these is usually no expecta-

tion of a tip. Major shops charge a 5% Goods

and Services Tax, with an additional 10%

service charge in restaurants, and 1% govern-

ment tax added to hotel bills.

Sales Tax

Expect to pay 7% sales tax on your purchases.

Remember that a certain percentage will be

added to the net total when you purchase

something from a store or when you pay for

food and beverages in restaurants.

Store hours

In general, the following rules apply:

z Department stores and shopping malls:

Monday to Saturday 10am to 11pm in the big

department stores.

Sunday 10pm to 10pm

z Supermarkets: Monday to Saturday 9am to 11pm

Sunday 9am to 9pm some 24 hours.

z Small retail stores and grocery stores may

close every night at 6pm, not open on

Sunday

15. Adjusting to a New Culture The EF community is more than a group of

students who have come together to learn

English. It is also a multi-cultural group of

young adults who are eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates.

One’s culture is made up of values, beliefs,

arts, traditions and practices of a specific com-

munity or population. Our culture affects how

we view ourselves, how we relate to others

and what we value as important in life. We are

often unaware of how much our culture affects

our lives.

You may have already had some exposure to

the new culture you are about to experience.

While some parts of this culture may already

seem familiar to you, experiencing a new

culture first-hand will prove exciting. You will be

meeting students from all over the world who,

like you, are looking forward to spending a year

learning and living a language, both inside and

outside the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experi-

ence periods of fatigue and discomfort when

you are uncomfortable. Culture shock is what

sometimes happens when we try to meet chal-

lenges of our new culture by using the values,

beliefs, and attitudes of our own culture. As

visitors to a new culture, we must learn that

cultural differences are merely different - not

right or wrong.

It is a good idea to bring traditional objects

from your culture to share with other students

and your host to teach them about your

country.

Tips on coping with change

Remember that change does not come with-

out some effort! We humans need a certain

amount of stress to motivate us to learn new

ways of being. Learning always involves some

form of change. You should try the following:

z While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you,

9 Singapore

try not to isolate yourself by being only with

others from your home country. Keep reach-

ing out to your host, roommates and other

students.

z Put off making major decisions such as an

accommodation change, until you feel more

“at home” with the culture in general.

z Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that we can help you.

z Set goals, no matter how big or small, and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. For example, set a goal that you will

speak English at all times.

z Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture, to meet

others and to explore your new surroundings.

Relax, take a deep breath and reflect back on

the days before leaving your home country

when you were excited about your new ad-

venture. Try to refocus this former excitement

towards your experience.

Keeping a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis, you will be able

to reduce the impact of culture shock. You will

have a record of your academic and personal

progress to look back on in days and years to

come. Be sure to note changes in:

z Language skills

z School performance and involvement

z Campus/host adjustment

z Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase of

adjustment.

Bring pictures and Items from home

If you have room in your suitcases for some

music, a costume, pictures, or some typi-

cal crafts, it would be good to show other

students, as well as to decorate your room

to make it seem like home. We have seen

costumes and drums from Korea, dancing and

music from Austria and a piñata and tortillas

from Mexico. Please bring pictures of your

friends, family and surrounding area.

Important telephone numbers

16. EF School CalendarAcademic Year Schedule

The Academic Year is divided into three terms.

(See the applicable start date below for your

program’s specific term and break schedule).

January 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 6 Jan - Sun 8 Jan

Term 1: Mon 9 Jan - Fri 9 Mar

Holiday: Sat 10 Mar - Sun 25 Mar

Term 2: Mon 26 Mar - Fri 1 Jun

Semester Departure: 2 Jun 2012

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 11 Jun - Fri 17 Aug

Departure: 18 Aug 2012

April 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 13 Apr - Sun 15 Apr

Term 1: Mon 16 Apr - Fri 1 Jun

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 2: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Semester Departure: 8 Sep 2012

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 3: (Year) Mon 24 Sep - Fri 30 Nov

Departure: 1 Dec 2012

June 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 8 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 1: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 2: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Semester Departure: 17 Nov 2012

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan

Term 3: (Year) Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Feb

Departure: 9 Feb 2013

September 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 21 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 1: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan

Term 2: Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Mar

Semester Departure: 9 Mar 2013

Holiday: Sat 9 Mar - Sun 24 Mar

Term 3: (Year) Mon 25 Mar - Fri 31 May

Departure: 1 June 2013

January 2013

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 4 Jan - Sun 6 Jan

Term 1: Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Mar

Holiday: Sat 9 Mar - Sun 24 Mar

Term 2: Mon 25 Mar - Fri 7 Jun

Semester Departure: 8 Jun 2013

Holiday: Sat 8 Jun - Sun 16 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 17 Jun - Fri 16 Aug

Departure: 17 Aug 2013

Please note: there will be no classes on

public holidays.

School holidays

The EF International Language Center in Sin-

gapore recognizes the following public holidays

when there will be no classes. If your arrival

falls on one of these dates, please check with

the school staff upon your arrival for an exact

orientation schedule.

2012

1 January - New Year’s Day

23-24 January - Chinese New Year

6 April - Good Friday

1 May - Labour Day

6 May - Vesak Day

9 August - National Day

19 August - Hari Raya Puasa

26 October - Hari Raya Haji

13 November - Deepavali

25 December - Christmas Day

2013

1 January - New Year’s Day

11-12 February - Chinese New Year

29 March - Good Friday

1 May - Labour Day

25 May - Vesak Day

9 August - National Day

TBD - Hari Raya Puasa

TBD - Hari Raya Haji

4 November - Deepavali

25 December - Christmas Day

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where neces-

sary) It’s a good idea to make copies of

these and pack them in your suitcase

just in case. You don’t need to carry your

passport with you while you are in the

Singapore but you must keep it and your

other documents in a safe place while you

are in the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

with proof of insurance in English, if you

have secured Erika Travel Insurance from

EF, you do not need to have anything

translated.

■ Immunization documents with a copy of

them in English

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on hiring or buying a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+65 9113 3467 ________________________________________