# EF

> International education company

**Wikidata**: [Q661869](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q661869)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EF_Education_First)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ef

## Summary
EF is an international education company founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult, specializing in language learning programs and study abroad services. It operates as a global educational organization with headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, offering online courses, language schools, and student exchange programs.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult
- Headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
- Owns EF English Live, an online English course platform established in 1996
- Operates in over 100 countries
- Provides language learning programs, study abroad services, and student exchange programs
- Classified as an international education company, business enterprise, and educational technology provider
- Has a sitelink count of 23 across various knowledge bases
- Offers services in multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Thai, and others
- Legal form: besloten vennootschap (Dutch for private limited company)
- KVK company ID: 24279182
- Industry classification: Internet
- Website: englishlive.ef.com
- YouTube channel: efenglishlive
- Social media presence: Multiple accounts across languages including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
- Social media followers: 32,500 (YouTube channel, as of 2025-12-04)
- Number of viewers/listeners: 4,814,873 (YouTube channel, as of 2025-12-04)
- Aliases: EF (Education First), Education First, Englishlive, English Live, Englishtown

## FAQs
**What is EF Education First?**
EF Education First is an international education company founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult, offering language learning programs, study abroad services, and student exchange programs. It operates as a global educational organization with headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

**When was EF Education First founded?**
EF Education First was founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult.

**Who founded EF Education First?**
EF Education First was founded by Bertil Hult, a Swedish businessman.

**Where are EF Education First's headquarters located?**
EF Education First's headquarters are located in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

**What services does EF Education First offer?**
EF Education First offers language learning programs, study abroad services, and student exchange programs. It operates through platforms like EF English Live, which provides online English courses.

**What is EF English Live?**
EF English Live is an online English course platform owned by EF Education First, established in 1996. It provides language learning services through digital platforms and has a significant presence on YouTube and social media.

**How many social media followers does EF English Live have?**
EF English Live's YouTube channel has 32,500 followers as of December 4, 2025.

**What languages does EF English Live support?**
EF English Live supports multiple languages including Arabic, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai, as indicated by its blog and social media presence.

**What is the website URL for EF English Live?**
The primary website for EF English Live is englishlive.ef.com.

## Why It Matters
EF Education First plays a significant role in the global education sector by providing accessible language learning opportunities and study abroad services. As an international education company, it addresses the growing demand for flexible, technology-enabled language learning solutions and has established itself as a major player in the educational technology sector. The company's services, including EF English Live, leverage technology to democratize language education, making high-quality English instruction available to students worldwide. EF Education First's operations in over 100 countries and its multilingual support further highlight its global impact and relevance in the education industry.

## Notable For
- Founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult, a Swedish businessman
- Owns EF English Live, an online English course platform established in 1996
- Operates in over 100 countries, indicating broad international presence
- Maintains a comprehensive digital ecosystem with a YouTube channel and multiple social media accounts
- Provides services in multiple languages, facilitating global communication and accessibility
- Classified as an international education company, business enterprise, and educational technology provider
- Has a sitelink count of 23, indicating its presence across various knowledge bases
- Legal form: besloten vennootschap (Dutch for private limited company), with KVK company ID 24279182
- Industry classification: Internet
- Website: englishlive.ef.com
- YouTube channel: efenglishlive with 4.8 million views as of 2025
- Social media presence: Multiple accounts across languages including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
- Aliases: EF (Education First), Education First, Englishlive, English Live, Englishtown

## Body
### Definition and Classification
EF Education First is an **international education company** that falls under the broader categories of **business enterprise** and **educational technology**. It is classified as a **global educational organization** and operates as a **subclass of software** designed to provide language learning and study abroad services. The entity is involved in the **international education sector**, offering services such as language learning programs, study abroad services, and student exchange programs.

### Ownership and Organization
The company is **founded by Bertil Hult** in 1965 and has its headquarters in **Lucerne, Switzerland, and the Netherlands**. The legal structure is identified as a **besloten vennootschap** (Dutch for private limited company), with the KVK company ID of 24279182. This indicates a formal corporate structure typical of established educational institutions. EF Education First operates in over 100 countries, providing language learning and study abroad services to a global audience.

### Brand and Identity
The entity operates under multiple aliases and translations across different markets:
- English: EF (Education First), Education First, Englishlive, English Live, Englishtown
- Japanese: イングリッシュライブ
- Arabic: انقلش لايف, انجليش لايف, انقليش لايف
- Persian: انقلش تاون
- Korean: 잉타 캠퍼스
- Chinese: English Town, EF English Live
- Taiwanese: 잉글리쉬타운 캠퍼스, 잉글리쉬타운

These variations reflect the platform's international expansion and localization efforts.

### Digital Presence and Social Media
EF Education First maintains a comprehensive digital ecosystem:
- **Website**: The primary domain is englishlive.ef.com, with additional regional variations like englishlive-ef.com.
- **YouTube**: The channel "efenglishlive" (ID: UCAxE5o_iXCF7UEVOHpDqQFA) serves as a key content distribution channel with 4.8 million views as of December 4, 2025.
- **Social Media**: Multiple verified accounts across platforms:
  * Twitter: EFEnglishLive, EFEnglishLiveDE, EFEnglishLiveIT, EFEnglishLiveFR, EFenglishliveMX, EFEnglishLiveAR, EFEnglishLiveJP, EFEnglishLiveES
  * Facebook: EFEnglishLive, EFEnglishLiveDE, EFEnglishLiveIT, EFEnglishLiveFR, EFEnglishLiveMX, EFEnglishLiveAR, EFEnglishLiveJP, EFEnglishLiveLT, EFEnglishLiveES, EFEnglishLiveTaiwan
  * Instagram: efenglishlive
  * Google+: +EFEnglishLive
- **Blog Network**: Official blogs are available in multiple languages including Arabic, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai, indicating localized content strategies.

### Operational Details
The platform operates under the industry classification of "Internet" and is categorized as an "application" within the software ecosystem. It has a sitelink count of 7, indicating its presence across various knowledge bases and platforms.

### Metrics and Performance
Key performance indicators include:
- **YouTube Metrics**: 32,500 followers as of December 4, 2025
- **Viewership**: 4,814,873 views on YouTube channel as of December 4, 2025
- **Social Media Reach**: Multiple regional accounts with verified status across different languages

### Geographic and Legal Information
The entity is registered in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with headquarters in both Lucerne, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The legal form is specified as a private limited company (besloten vennootschap), which is a common corporate structure in the Netherlands.

### Related Entities and Connections
EF Education First is part of the larger EF Education First organization, which includes other educational services and technology platforms. The platform's classification as an "application" connects it to the broader software ecosystem, particularly in the educational technology sector. The company operates in over 100 countries, providing language learning and study abroad services to a global audience.

### Services and Programs
EF Education First offers a range of services and programs, including:
- **Language Learning Programs**: Online and in-person courses in English and other languages.
- **Study Abroad Services**: Programs for students to study in various countries.
- **Student Exchange Programs**: Opportunities for students to exchange with peers from different countries.
- **EF English Live**: An online English course platform established in 1996, providing language learning services through digital platforms.

### International Presence
EF Education First operates in over 100 countries, providing language learning and study abroad services to a global audience. The company's international presence is reflected in its multilingual support and localized content strategies. The entity has a comprehensive digital ecosystem, including a YouTube channel and multiple social media accounts, which facilitate global communication and accessibility.

### Educational Technology Focus
EF Education First is classified as an educational technology provider, emphasizing its role in modern language learning solutions. The company leverages technology to democratize language education, making high-quality English instruction available to students worldwide without the constraints of traditional classroom settings. The platform addresses the growing demand for flexible, technology-enabled language learning solutions and has established itself as a major player in the educational technology sector.

### Multilingual Support
EF Education First provides official blogs and social media in multiple languages, including Arabic, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai. This multilingual support facilitates global communication and accessibility, allowing the company to serve a diverse international audience. The platform's international expansion and localization efforts are reflected in its multiple aliases and translations across different markets.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
2. [Source](https://www.ef.com/wwen/about-us/)
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://www.ef.com/__/~/media/centralefcom/about-us/shared/ef-education-first-company-fact-sheet)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://www.ef.com/wwen/legal/privacy-policy/)
8. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
9. Google Knowledge Graph
10. Quora
11. YouTube API