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EDUCO

Why choose EDUCO?

We are a non-profit association concerned with promoting student-centred teaching/learning through the application of theatre and drama practices. Accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, EDUCO utilizes the power of theatre and drama within a didactic framework to successfully teach English to Italian children all across Italy.

Our touring Theatre In Education company, TEATRINO, is acclaimed within both academic and theatre disciplines for an extensive repertoire which is the largest and most diverse of its kind in Italy. Drama is used as a powerful and effective ESL tool.

In addition to Teatrino, we offer other projects which include; Theatre In Education (TIE) Days, English Summer Camps (held across Italy for Italian students), CLIL workshops(Content and Language Integrated Learning), and Teacher Training workshops.

EDUCO recruits actors, performers, musicians, tutors, teachers, and trainers from all over the world who are native English-speakers.

Website
educoitaly.com
Founded
2006

Reviews

Default avatar
Clodagh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Summer '23 with EDUCO

I had the most incredible Summer of my life with EDUCO this Summer. Not only did I get to develop my teaching skills in such a fun friendly environment, whilst finding a new love for language teaching, I met the most amazing people whilst travelling Italy. My time at orientation was amazing, as learning was made so much fun but yet was so beneficial, I couldn't believe how much I learned in a week. I got to travel to Sanremo, Milan, Bologna, Venice and Naples as part of EDUCO and stayed with the most amazing Italian host families. If I ever encountered any difficulties during the Summer, I was always certain I could rely on Sophia, Kuba or Charlie for a bit of advice or a management issue. Coming back to the classroom in Ireland, I feel so much more confident in my teaching ability and am equipped with so many fun language learning resources, tips and tricks, as well as memories from the Summer of a lifetime. Thank you EDUCO

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Daniela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GRAZIE MILLE!

Educo is an absolute gem! 🇮🇹✨ I can't stop raving about the incredible experiences I had. From the moment I signed up, I knew I was in for something special, and Educo Italy exceeded all my expectations.

Let me start by saying that Italy itself is a dream destination. But what makes Educo truly exceptional is how they enhance every aspect of your Italian adventure.

The mentors during orientation week were a bunch of absolute rock stars. Their passion for their job is infectious, and they go above and beyond to make sure you feel ready to work.

The host families were wonderful! They immediately made me feel at home. This experience is essential for understanding Italian culture and language. They took me to absolutely fantastic sites that I would never have been able to visit if I had been on my own.

Camps were a lot of fun! The kids are adorable and it was impressive how much they learned in only a week. It definitely made me think about how education should always be enjoyable. The kids began speaking little to no English on day one, and by Friday, we were having fluent conversations. I'm sure it's because they learn via play (the best way to learn!).

Educo Italy is the perfect blend of learning and adventure, where you can explore beautiful Italy while offering a top-notch education.

Grazie mille Educo!

Pros
  • Learning about Italian culture
  • Learning different methods of teaching
  • Traveling
Default avatar
Stef
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great way to meet people!

I had a great time in Italy with Educo. Really appreciated the opportunity to connect with Italians, and explore their beautiful country :)

I did two camps in the alps, including a residential camp. I loved this! You get to stay in a motel/hotel with your students and do additional fun activities with them after class. Not that Educo classes aren’t fun, though! There’s lots to look forward to, if you enjoy singing, water balloon fights, and getting painted as an animal ;) But still - the residential one was cool, cos we went hiking and biking in the alps, had a bonfire night (with s’mores!!), and did lots of just dance and karaoke! Awesome ways of getting to know my students better :)

Keep in mind that on such a camp, I shared a room with 4 other tutors. While they were all respectful, it can be tiring to be around people for so long (teaching your regular 9 - 5, and then doing activities until 10pm - with meals in between). You won’t have a hell of a lot of downtime or privacy. Personally, I was fine with it, because I really like being around people and chatting, and I did also sometimes sit out of activities/tutor gossip seshes so that I could relax and have some me-time. Taking breaks when you need them is absolutely crucial, and no one will judge you for that. Even with host families (especially after Saturday travels, when your journey time can be 6, 8, or 10 hours!).

Please also be aware that you’ll likely be eating pizza and pasta most of the time. As in, for lunch and dinner every day. Probably unsurprising, but it was an adjustment for me, as I don’t eat that much Italian food at home.

Also! If you get Kuba, James and Yel as your orientation tutors, you’re going to have a blast!! These folks were so goofy and funny (peak theatre kid energy), and really motivated our group. I was so pumped to teach afterward!

See some pics below of some the cool spots we went to! (I didn’t include photos of the kids, cos I wasn’t sure about privacy).

Thanks Educo, and Sophia for organising it all! (She responds very quickly). I’m glad to have met so many cool people from Italy, and around the world :)

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Mia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Educo Experience

I had a fantastic Italian summer experience and would highly recommend to anyone looking to travel who wants to have somewhere to stay and some extra cash! I was able to see 4 cities and meet some incredible people!

The teaching was fun and I felt prepared as the training is a solid week and is high quality. It is 8 hours Monday-Friday and the weekends are busy with transfers so be prepared to work hard. It’s overall very rewarding, just be prepared 40 kids speaking Italian all at the same time, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Educo is very organized and ensures details such as transfers, host families and other things are taken care of. They really are awesome!

Pros
  • Housing and Food
  • Fun people to meet
  • Awesome way to travel while working
Cons
  • You will need to memorize songs and sing them, just a heads up
  • Goodbyes are hard because the helpers and families are awesome
Default avatar
Jerome Isiah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

EDUCO Summer Camps

The organization provides a week long training which in my opinion really helps you when you start with the summer camps as the trainings have all the necessary information that you need. The camps are really fun for the most part but prepare a lot of energy as you would need it. The children were nice and very fun to be with and you get to stay with a host family for the duration of the camp. My experience with the host families have been amazing and they were all so nice and accommodating. I have made a lot of friends through EDUCO and if you are up to exploring Italy’s hidden gems while making friends and creating beautiful memories together, then I recommend participating in the program.

Pros
  • Getting to explore less known but amazing parts of Italy.
  • Immersing oneself in the Italian culture.
  • Opportunity to learn new things about the world and yourself.
Cons
  • Constant social interactions which may be tiring for some.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Valeria

Valeria is a Peruvian-Italian multidisciplinary artist and educator born in Lima, Peru. A classically trained actor and graduate of Capilano University, she works in different settings within the arts industry. From creating drama curricula for schools, to teaching Shakespeare at one of the biggest Shakespeare companies in Canada, to working as an actor in theatre, film, and TV, and working behind the scenes in arts administration, Valeria is constantly inspired by the impact that the arts can have on others and continues to bring awareness on the importance of theatre in education.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

One of my colleagues, a fellow drama teacher, shared her experience with me and gave me the information to look into it. I loved the idea of doing a professional development experience in one of my ancestral countries that fit so perfectly with my mission as a teacher and artist. Not only did I get to travel and reconnect with one of my cultures, but I also grew immensely as an educator.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Educo provides you with everything you need to know to confidently start the TEFL-PP summer camps during an intense one week of orientation and training that tutors pay 200€ for. The didactic team covers everything from etiquette, to songs, to lesson planning, games, etc. Every year, teachers have to pay for their plane tickets to Italy and back, but once you’re working with Educo all your accommodations and travel from city to city are covered by the company. We usually stay with host families who generously provide us with our own room, meals, and occasional family outings. On the weeks that you don’t have a host family to stay with or you are placed on hold, Educo will place you in an apartment or Airbnb and provide you with a 50€ grocery stipend, plus a lunch stipend.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

While this is an opportunity that allows you to travel and have an immersive cultural experience, be prepared to work and teach for full days (Monday-Friday from 9AM-5PM). So much of this experience also depends on your mindset, goals and what you hope to get out of it. I always want to grow and learn professionally so every year that I get to work with Educo, I learn something new that helps me become a better teacher and team player because I love the work that we do. So, my advice would be to always conduct yourself in a professional manner as you would at any other job and prioritize the work that you do over the opportunity to vacation Italy.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Educo has a variety of camps that end at different times (I.e. PON Projects end at around 2 PM or residential camps are a full day experience) but this is the most common schedule in the majority of camps from Monday to Friday:

9 AM-9:30 AM: Morning Circle with camp songs and games
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: English Lessons 1 & 2 with a small break in between them. Tutors have complete ownership of their classes and lessons. You can follow the Educo manual for each lesson or you can assess based on the students you have and their level of English. This is my favourite part of the day!
12:30-2PM: Lunch
2PM - 2:30 PM: Camp Choir (We get to teach the kids different songs in English that they will hopefully perform during the final presentation)
2:45- 3:45PM: Activity (Water Games, Scavanger Hunt, Olympics, etc) or Final Show Prep
2:30 - 2:45 PM: BREAK
3:45 - 5PM: Cont’ Activity & Wrap Up
5 PM: Students Leave
5PM - 5:30 PM: Debrief & Staff Meeting

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was feeling like I did not have enough information to succeed, as someone who wants to prepare way ahead of time and have everything set up. Because of the nature of the camps, we’re always on the go and it was an incredible lesson for me to learn how to be more spontaneous and flexible to rapid change in my environment. Now I’m up for anything and ready for the challenges that come with the situation feeling confident that I have the support from staff, the manual, and my colleagues and school staff when needed.

Write and answer your own question.

Be ready for this adventure and stay true to who you are throughout it! It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sophia Trozzo

Job Title
International HR Manager
Sophia is international HR manager for EDUCO's summer camps program since 2016. In addition to overseeing the recruitment process for over 200 educators annually, she is also responsible for allocating tutors to camps across the country and serving as their first point of contact throughout the program. She is based in Sanremo, but coordinates nationally with a team of EDUCO collaborators.
A group of participants posing in matching t-shirts

What is your favorite travel memory?

I have so many wonderful travel memories! It would be impossible to only choose one.

Snorkelling along the coral reef in Egypt's Red Sea, camel riding at sunset in the Sahara desert, racing (literally) through the Hermitage in St. Petersburg with my 13 month old daughter, solo travelling through Vienna, Prague and Budapest during the Christmas holidays, living in Paris (my favourite city) as a student, are only a few of the many treasured experiences that come to mind.

Unlike other countries, I've had the privilege of getting to know Italy profoundly and over a long period of time, largely thanks to my work teaching and recruiting for EDUCO. Some of my most precious memories in La Bella Paese include: long train rides from the north to south (I recall one particular journey of 12+ hours from Elba Island to Ricadi, Calabria where I watched one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life from my window), hiking in the mountains near Bergamo, having my taste buds awakened by Puglia's delightful and original culinary traditions, drives along the Amalfi coast, and day trips to Liguria's small, colourful fishing and mountain villages.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I moved to Italy from Montreal (Canada) in the summer of 2015, to begin a career in education in the country of my roots. Since then I've worked with dozens of people from various educational backgrounds - each of whom have shaped my vision for my work. My Italian language skills have greatly improved and I've gained invaluable insight into working within a bilingual environment. I've learned that providing young people with opportunities to work and travel in a foreign country is an enormous responsibility that, when taken seriously and carried out with passion, reaps immense joy and can even change lives.

But the biggest change for me personally undoubtedly came from becoming a mom. The experience of giving birth in Italy, away from my family and friends, and now raising my daughter here, has added an entirely new and incomparable dimension to my relationship with this country. I want to do the best work I am capable of, for her. I want her to grow up in an Italy that recognises the importance of learning languages, that celebrates ethnic diversity and cultural exchange. And I'm so happy she will grow up with access to my work environment, because it provides a window into all of that, and much more.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Each summer I receive dozens of emails from tutors who have completed our program and gained new perspectives. People write to say that, following our program, they are considering changing careers, or want to find full time teaching work in Italy, or that they've made friends for life. Sometimes they write to thank me for sending them to a location they were initially hesitant about, or for trusting them to handle a certain type of project or assignment. There is nothing more satisfying then seeing the people you've recruited grow, professionally and personally, over the course of a summer.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Hands down our camps! I spent three summers as a tutor on our program and they are among some of my best experiences. EDUCO camps offer an incredible opportunity to travel to unique parts of Italy while doing meaningful work with children and meeting people from all across the world. Our tutors come dozens of countries, including: USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

In addition, you get to live with Italian families, who offer you a direct link to the culture - an opportunity to learn more of the language, the local secrets and specialities, and indulge in their region's cuisine. Your accommodation is provided and EDUCO covers all transport between camps, so your expenses (apart from your flight of course) are few to none. Plus, you earn a generous study grant for each week in camp, and a TEFL certificate following completion of the program.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are always striving to be competitive and attract the best talent for our programs. We recognise that this means setting a standard that is attractive for applicants across the world.

Currently, we provide the highest compensation of any summer camps program in Italy (and among the highest in the EU). We are the only company in Italy that offers a Theatre in Education program for children. We also provide outstanding networking opportunities on a national level, following the completion of our programs, with many of our recruits going on to accept full time or part time work in Italy via our collaborators and contacts.

Our staff are demonstrated experts in their respective fields and are continuously building on their education and training in order to provide the best for our new recruits.

EDUCO is a network of dozens of dedicated individuals across the Italian peninsula, from north to south. I don't think it can be stated enough, how difficult an undertaking it is to harmonize so many projects across great geographical and regional differences, but we do it! And I believe we're successful at it because, at the core of what we do is a strong human component. We are always feeding off of one another for ideas, ways to communicate better or synchronise our messages more thoroughly. Each year we involve over 100 000 Italian children and teachers in our programs. What we are able to accomplish on a national level annually makes me especially proud.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The biggest factor in EDUCO's success has been strong, visionary leadership. Leadership that, at its core, allows the best characteristics and abilities of every person in our network and on our team to flourish. This, coupled with our ability to adapt to the needs of an ever changing world, and a gradually changing Italy, has made us a game changer.