Experience of a Lifetime!

I heard about Educo through a friend who lives in Italy, and it was such an incredible experience! I plan on going again next summer! I was at a bit of a loss here in the states as to how I should spend my summer. My friend, knowing my background in both Theater and Education, informed me of this opportunity to teach Italian kids English through drama while traveling the country and experiencing authentic Italian life! Needless to say, I didn’t hesitate to apply and once I did, I knew I was in for a lifechanging experience! For orientation, they set us up in a really nice hotel, on the Adriatic Sea! I met other English speaking tutors from all over world and I made a ton of new friends and connections. During orientation, they fully stocked us with all of the information that we needed before we were off on our own. After orientation, I was ready to meet my first host family, travel Italy and teach! During my summer with Educo, I had the opportunity to work in camps from Parma in the North to Napoli and across the South of Italy. I ended my summer at a camp on Lake Garda, near Verona. During my teaching experience, I took a week off to travel Sicily as well! The camps were incredible and well stocked with supplies. Italian kids are really affectionate and warm, they make you feel welcome and they’re so excited to have a native English speaker as their teacher! The play, in English, that your students perform at the end of every camp, was the best way to end a week or a two week stay! Your students families are so excited to see them speaking English and having fun while they do it! It’s always sad to part with your camp at the end. I still have artwork and letters that my students created for me while I was their tutor! On facebook, I’m friends with every host family that I stayed with while traveling. Also, don’t worry about speaking Italian! You are given a helper with each group of students and they are fluent Italian speakers! The camp directors prefer that you only speak in English anyway! The host families that you stay with will always have a child attending the summer camp that you are working, so they usually will drop you off in the morning with their kids at the camp. Every host family that I had were so incredibly hospitable and welcoming! I stayed on a luxurious vineyard by the biggest lake in Italy! Also, be prepared to stuff yourself on authentic Italian cuisine during your stay! Italian families love to feed you and take care of you. As if this isn’t incredible enough, you are paid weekly by Educo with room and board and travel costs accommodated for! Educo staff are personable and always available for questions or concerns. I met everyone in the Educo staff during orientation, and I kept communication with them via Facebook or email for the entire summer.
I cannot recommend this program enough! It was an experience that will stay with me for forever!