Teach English in Italy and Austria Summer 2018

Many adjectives can be used to describe my experiences in Italy, and pretty much all of them are positive.

This experience not only gives you the chance to put some work on your CV it gives you something I think a bit more important than that, memories, and friends which can last can last a lifetime.

There are I would say 5 things which make this summer job special

1. The orientation where you meet people from all across the world, share stories, play games, learn camp songs, and also gain professional advice and experience in teaching English as a foreign language. An absolute blast.

2. The host families. You would have to be VERY unlucky to have a host family who doesn't take excellent care of you. In my experience my host families were bordering on perfect. The food was exquisite, and the general level of hospitality is something I have never experienced ever before in my life. They always take care of you, no matter what. Just make sure you respect them and don't take them for granted. I couldn't express my appreciation enough.

3. The work. If you love working with kids, and that's important, you couldn't find a better job. You start the day with singing camp songs, and go into lessons which you can make your own, just as long as the kids can understand what you are doing! Making the lessons fun is paramount in my experience, as bored kids = a bad experience for them. When they have fun and enjoy what they are doing, you have fun. But make sure they are learning English at the same time.
The afternoon activities are also a blast, and you can get involved yourself, just don't be too competitive! It ranges from sport to crafts to water games, and you might be terrible at one activity, so just as long as you can explain WHAT they have to do and give them guidance, you don't necessarily need to get involved, as you might be worse than the kids are! But even at the end of the day you are tired, and the first thing you do when you get home is sleep, in the morning you won't have a problem getting up and going to work I promise. If you do then you're in the wrong job.

4. The people. First our bosses (Nate & Ashleigh) were tremendous in giving us help and support both in orientation and when we were at camp, although at camp you usually liaise with your camp director if you have any issues. You get the opportunity to know them a little, and talk to them which I think is great, as in some workplaces you can feel a distance between your employers.
Then secondly is your fellow staff members. These are the people who I think make the experience what it is. You are all there for the same reason, so you should all at least have something in common. I had so many laughs with the people I met, they were the greatest people, both as professionals and as friends. I can't emphasise how fun it was to spend time with these people.

5. Travel opportunities. Not really work related, but if you are lucky enough to go to a camp which is near some famous sights, your families might be willing to take you there, and also if you are financially stable you might be able to see some of the many gems which Italy has to offer. In my time in Italy I saw, Pisa, Florence (twice), Venice, Milan (where I saw AC Milan play), Cesena, Cinque Terre, and many other beautiful places which I'm sure you will have never heard of. Italy is probably the most beautiful country in Europe.

So if you're thinking about applying just do it. You won't regret it.

First, Nate and Ashleigh set up an amazing orientation program that takes place in the beautiful town of Assisi. I had little experience with teaching, but had a lot of camp programming experience (coming from the Canadian "camp scene"). During orientation there was ample time to learn and employ all of the new skills necessary for the upcoming weeks. During orientation week, I met an amazing group of people that I had entirely too much fun hanging out with. The orientation week was an awesome way to do teambuilding and to have a ton of fun before starting camp.

During the next 6 weeks, I lived with many amazing host families that I learned so much from. They were incredibly welcoming and ECC had definitely spent time looking into the families to make sure they would be suitable.

The experience is amazing because you get to move around to different parts of Italy and see interesting sites in different places. The company pays for your train tickets from one town to the next, Nate and Ashleigh truly have every detail worked out for you. Usually you live close to other tutors, so you have the chance to hang out with them and their families as well.

I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone! This was my first time travelling (ever), and the experience was amazing for sightseeing, as well as for learning about the culture through the amazing families and people that you meet. Nate and Ashleigh were great to work with and were really well organized, which made the entire summer in Italy run smoothly, truly amazing!

I feel extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to work for the English Camp Company. Nate and Ashleigh are extremely friendly and supportive and make sure every tutor feels prepared for camps, as well as there being lots of opportunities to socialise. The organisation is very well organized, from very useful inductions, to travelling to camps, to working at camps, etc. This is a great opportunity for exploring new places and experiencing the real Italian culture. I was fortunate to work at two very different camps; one large camp in a fairly big city, and a small camp in a tiny village. This was great as it means you get to experience different lifestyles and this is an enriching experience. The camps are very fun and I would recommend this programme to people who enjoy exploring new cultures, working with children, and enjoy variety, as every day is different. The kids are a pleasant to work with and get really involved with the activities. Other tutors and camp directors are extremely friendly, and everybody seems to work really well in a team and become good friends. There are also chances to go to places some nights and on the weekend, so it’s a great social and travel experience as well as a fun working one.

Amazing company! All the support you could wish for and more. Locations vary so much, right from the south of Italy to the centre of Austria, means that every camp is completely different, in children, ability level in English, host families and surroundings.
The training you receive prepares for all aspects of the job, leaving you with no queries or doubts about the job.
The host families are selected with a lot of care, the tutors safety and happiness always being at the top of priorities.
The English Camp Company is a small business, meaning everyone works as a team, and becomes very close over the summer. Because of this community feel throughout the summer, it often resulted in a much higher work ethic at camp, everyone was on hand to help you, make you laugh, socialise after camp, help you plan lessons... The list goes on!
I cannot rate this company highly enough. If you are looking to travel and earn money at the same time, this rewarding, humbling experience is perfect!

Best summer of my life, all down to Ashleigh, Nate and The English Camp Company!

This is the ideal summer job for so many reasons: everyone I worked with was good at his/her job & loved what he/she was doing, Nate & Ashley (the founders of the company) are great supporters & will do anything to make your experience positive for you & the students, & of course Italy is Paradise, so even working is beautiful.

Nothing but the best, is the experience you hope to have when you travel to another country...especially one as wonderful as Italy. However, if you are a first time teacher going abroad you leave home with a heart full of excitement, a backpack full of clothes and mind full of worry ( mostly brought on by the "what ifs" your parents and loved ones warned you of ) The English Camp Company is definately a program where you can drop that heavy load of worry. It is organized and operated in a way that is safe and adventurous. The camps are held in smaller towns allowing you to get a safe and wonderful feel of the real Italy. Staying with host families allows you to further immerse yourself in the culture and get a true feel for the amazing hospitality of the Italian culture. Throughout the summer you work with a variety of tutors from different English speaking countries. Through the work week you end up bonding with these tutors ,learning about their cultures and making friends. All in all, The English Camp Company provides you with an experience that is Nothing but the Best!

I am from Canada and going to Europe was a dream come true, a little tough to get around the first couple days it all becomes second nature. The people I worked with were absolutely amazing, and the kids are fantastic. Its a great way to travel, explore new things while teaching and working with children. I went in 2012 and will be returning again this year (2013). It really is just a wonderful atmosphere and a great summer experience. I have told many people already about this program and will continue to do so.

I spent summer 2012 working for the ECC and liked it that much that I'm going back for summer 2013! While in Italy I worked with great people, stayed with brilliant families and really developed my teaching skills. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wanted to spend their summer doing something different and exciting- and especially those doing teaching!

I have done 2 summers with the ECC in Italy and Austria and it was by far the most valuable experience of my life. Small and very friendly company who are very personal and flexible if there are any issues. Fantastic host families and children to teach! Highly recommend to anyone considering!

Teaching English to children aged 7-14 years at summer camps around Italy was a memorable experience. Working each day was enjoyable, making lessons interactive and organising afternoon activities. The children are enthusiastic and are willing to learn; seeing you as a role model the children really look up to you. Whilst at camp, a highlight for me was when everybody was having fun during the afternoon activities and everybody's competitive side showed, wanting their team to win! Another highlight was seeing the children perform their final shows at the end of the two weeks. Parents come to watch the performances and you really see how much English the children have learnt. A difficulty I encountered was trying to keep the children (especially the older children) focused during lessons but making them fun and of interest to them will engage them. Host families I stayed with were all very welcoming and they make you feel at home. It was a great opportunity to experience the Italian culture and lifestyle. Bonuses of spending your summer in Italy include the gorgeous weather and the Italian food!