On the first day of class, our students had a fantastic opportunity to connect with one another through interviews — each one interviewing a peer and writing a short text about them, practicing listening, speaking, and writing along the way.

Marvin, Switzerland

From Lucerne — rivers, lakes, bridges, and mountains 10 minutes away. He’d like to try surfing during his 11 weeks and see koalas, dolphins and kangaroos.

Nadine, Switzerland

From Zurich. Body pump at the gym, restaurant outings with friends. Over 11 weeks: learn to surf, explore Byron Bay, improve English.

Cris, Spain

From Villena, 30 minutes from the beach. Swimming, hiking, friends and drinks. In Australia: surf, English, and travel after class.

Sara, Spain

From Sant Joan de Llobregat near Barcelona. Yoga, thriller books. To-do over 11 weeks: travel to Japan, a Bali retreat, and improve English.

Cristina, Spain

From Valencia. Skating, restaurant-hopping, thrillers. Wants to improve English, visit Sydney, and explore.

Erika, Japan

From Chiba (Tateyama). Cats Mimi and Ane, swimming and snowboarding. Hopes: paddleboard the river, weekend in Sydney, level up her restaurant job.

Nils, Switzerland

From Saland near Zurich. Walks his dog Zeus, plays American football. Surfing, travel, and skydiving on the list.

Greta, Switzerland

From Tesserete — small village near the mountains. Volleyball, swimming, snowboarding, and a Formula 1 fan. Wants to pass her exam, travel Australia, and try skydiving.

Mariko, Japan

From sunny Okayama. Beach days, yoga, cafés. Goals: study English, enjoy Byron Bay with friends, see Australian wildlife.