Mattis K Petersen, Emma van Dijkum and John Ennis (EF London Global Branding team members) participated in the "Tough Mudder Challenge" last weekend in the muddy Midlands of the United Kingdom.

According to a global report out today, almost half of executives (49%) admit that communication misunderstandings and messages lost in translation have stood in the way of major international business deals and resulted in significant losses for their company. Brazilian and Chinese companies have been affected even more so with 74% and 61% respectively reporting financial losses as a result of failed cross-border transactions. This is of concern given many businesses are looking to new markets to unlock opportunities and grow their companies overseas.

The annual Financial Times Global MBA Ranking of business schools found Hult provides students with the most International Experience, based on overseas curriculum and learning opportunities. This rank was further supported by Hult’s climb to #3 in International Business beating rivals such as Insead and London Business School.

EF is moving faster than ever. EF Shanghai Men and Women’s running teams both came through the finish line first in the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Shanghai 5.6k Run.

Forget endless drills, boring lessons, and out-of-touch books –English language learning has been turned on its head with EF MyWords, a new mobile 5 minute word workout.

Thailand is currently suffering from the worst floods of the last five decades, if not the worst floods ever to hit the country. The flooding started in July in the north of Thailand and millions of cubic meters in run off-floods have reached the capital about a month ago. The inner city of Bangkok, where the EF office is located, is still currently protected by sandbags and dykes but some districts are already under 80 – 200cm of water. The EF Thailand staff have decided to help out...

EF English First Indonesia’s “EForever” loyalty program included a search for our most loyal student. This was measured by course certificates accumulated. It turns out the winner has no fewer than 56 EF certificates in her collection!

Cultural Care Au Pair’s philanthropic program—Cultural Care Kids First Foundation (Kids First)—has been fundraising for children in need worldwide since 2003. It was just this summer, however, that the Kids First Foundation was granted official non-profit status in the United States after submitting a 501(c)(3) application earlier in the year.

Hult Global Case Challenge (Hult GCC), which brings together college and university students from around the world to help solve critical social challenges, today named Howard McNally as its Chief Executive Officer.

As part of its renewed commitment to the teenage learning market, EF English First is set to launch its most ambitious course ever for 10 to 13 year olds in the form of the new Trailblazers.