About Us

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EWAS (English with a Smile) was established in 1983 by Gadi Bossin (PhD English) and Joel Tal (MSc Education). Bossin and Tal are experienced educators whose shared vision has been to develop the EWAS methodology for teaching English to young children. Their focus has been on developing and distributing learning programs that are both effective and fun for pupils and teachers alike. 

Over the years, here in Israel and abroad, approximately 150,000 children from different native language backgrounds have participated in EWAS classes. Thousands of teachers have attended EWAS Teacher Training Workshops. 

In Israel 

Based on extensive work in Israel in both the public and private sectors, EWAS acquired valuable practical experience in teaching pupils from various language backgrounds. 

From 1984 through 1994, approximately 20,000 young children learned English the EWAS way in both Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking school systems and community centers. In the Hebrew-speaking communities, schools typically absorbed large numbers of immigrant children who were native speakers of Russian, Amharic (Ethiopians) and Spanish (Argentineans). 

In 1995, EWAS was certified by the Israel Ministry of Education as an approved program for third-grade English classes. From 1995 through 2000, Eric Cohen Books published and distributed EWAS materials in Israel. During those years, approximately 27,000 pupils learned English implementing EWAS methods and using EWAS materials. 

In 2002, Michele Horowitz, the Chair of the Program Selection Committee for English Studies in the Israel Ministry of Education (MoE), wrote this to EWAS: 

"We are very pleased to report that after examining dozens of programs from both foreign and Israeli publishers, we have recommended your 'Bobby English and the Bears' for the pilot program for the first grade." 

In Asia 

EWAS sold a master franchise to a Korean company in 2001. Several franchisees in cities around the country opened state-of-the-art EWAS centers teaching preschool and primary school children. 

In April 2003, Professor James E. Alatis, endorsed EWAS methods and materials. Alatis was President of TESOL International and Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University. His evaluation of EWAS reads as follows: 

"Of the multitude of English language programs designed for young learners on the market today, it is rare to find one that is not only based on sound pedagogical principles but is also designed to enable teachers to put into practice these principles in a clear, 'user-friendly' manner. . . . English With A Smile provides teachers with a set of guidelines for best-practices in teaching English to young children." 

In September 2003, EWAS established a joint venture with Yizemanni, a Chinese company located in Beijing. The company trained teachers in EWAS methods and the use of EWAS materials and taught preschool and primary grade children in private and public kindergartens and schools. 

In 2010, in cooperation with EWAS Elite English (Korea), Bossin and Tal utilized EWAS know-how and content in the adaptation and upgrading of three EWAS programs. The adaptation featured a talking pen and media books. 

EWAS Relaunch

Recently, Bossin and Tal teamed up with an expert in international business development, management, and marketing—specifically with many years in the education franchising industry. Together, the three have decided to relaunch EWAS as a program within the newly established A Smile Education Group (ASEG).