EF: Language trips are still very popular with teenagers and young adults
Graduation in the bag - and now? For example, a language study trip with EF (Education First). The USA remains the top destination, Asia is on the upswing and the desire to travel meets price consciousness.
School and university graduations are over, summer vacation is finally here. Many young people ask themselves: what's next? Many decide to go on a language study trip during this time, often in combination with an internship or social commitment. Experience abroad, together with initial work experience or volunteer work, is welcome in working life and at universities or training institutions.
According to the latest data from EF, language travel for young travelers between the ages of 16 and 25 continues to be in high demand. EF is one of the world's leading providers of international education programs and is headquartered in Switzerland. Current searches on the web confirm the language travel trend. Compared to the same month last year, for example, interest in "gap year" in particular rose by 70 % in May 2025.
USA remains top destination
Despite political challenges, the USA remains by far the most popular destination for young language travelers - with a slight increase in demand compared to the previous year. The weak US dollar could be an additional incentive. It is followed by England and Australia.
The top 5 EF language schools are currently located in Nice, Malta, San Diego, Honolulu and Miami - three of the top 5 are therefore in the USA. "The USA continues to fascinate young people - be it because of the language or the international flair. For many, a longer stay there is still exactly the experience they are looking for," explains Simone Moser, Deputy Managing Director of EF Switzerland.
Japan and South Korea are on trend
Japanese is becoming increasingly popular with Swiss language students - not least due to the worldwide hype surrounding manga, anime and Japanese pop culture.
While English continues to be the most frequently booked EF program, interest in Japan is growing rapidly. The new EF language school on the 36th floor of the Shibuya Sakura Sage, with a spectacular view over Tokyo, in the middle of the world-famous Shibuya intersection (known from "Lost in Translation", among others), may also be contributing to this. Added to this is the currently weak yen, which makes traveling to Japan particularly attractive.
South Korea is also continuing to boom - fueled by K-pop and K-dramas. EF has expanded its offering in Seoul to meet the growing demand. "Inspired by pop culture and the desire to experience a different culture locally, more and more young people are discovering Japan and South Korea as fascinating places to learn a new language," says Simone Moser.
Price awareness: Malta and Australia on the rise
The strongest growth this year was in demand for longer stays in Malta, followed by Australia. EF sees this as a clear trend towards more price-conscious decisions. Malta scores with sun, sea and a comparatively low cost of living - ideal for young people on a budget.
Australia, on the other hand, offers the opportunity to combine a language course with Work & Study. This not only allows you to gain valuable experience abroad, but also to finance part of your expenses through casual jobs in the country.
Orientation for life
For many teenagers and young adults, the focus of a language study trip after graduation is not only on language training but also on personal development. They simply want to "get out and about", get to know themselves better, gain experience, make international contacts and gain orientation for their future career path. "Language trips offer young people an ideal opportunity to find out which path they want to take. At the same time, the new language skills open up new opportunities," says Simone Moser.
60 years of EF (Education First)
EF is an international education company headquartered in Switzerland, specializing in academic education, training and cultural exchange programs. Since its founding in 1965, EF's mission has been to open the world through education. EF has language schools and offices in over 60 countries worldwide and has been the official education partner of several Olympic Games and is the official language service provider of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes for 2025 and 2026. EF is headquartered in Zurich, with offices in German-speaking Switzerland in Basel, Bern, Lucerne and St. Gallen.
Source: www.efswiss.ch
