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Location
Multiple Locations +2
  • Italy
    • Perugia
  • Austria
    • Salzburg
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Classroom Audience
Elementary Middle School

Program Details

Job Type
Tutoring
Classroom Audience
Elementary Middle School
Housing
Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hotel
Age Min.
18
Age Max
35

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
All training, accommodation, main meals and transport costs between camps are provided by The ECC. See a new town every two weeks throughout Italy, Austria & Germany!
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Airport Transfers SIM cards Travel Insurance
Feb 05, 2024
Oct 19, 2023
Wish List
246 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Teach English in small towns throughout Italy & Austria during Summer 2024. It's the perfect summer experience for students or recent graduates, especially in the fields of education or languages and/or who want to enhance their teaching experience. The English Camp Company, L.L.C. organizes English Summer Camps in Italy & Austria for 6-14 year olds. We offer an enjoyable, interactive atmosphere where children can use everyday English and improve their knowledge of the English language in a fun, relaxed summer camp environment, using games, songs and activities.

Spend a month not only teaching children, but see different parts of the country, meet new people, and immerse yourself in new cultures while staying with local host families in small towns during the camps. An unforgettable summer experience making memories that will last a lifetime!

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Video and Photos

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Canada day at camp
Represent your country
King & Queen Day!
Rome!

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Program Highlights

  • Full cultural immersion
  • Accommodation, main meals & transport between camps is provided
  • See a new town every two weeks!

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 41 reviews
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  • 5 rating 97.56%
  • 4 rating 2.44%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.85
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Facilities 5
  • Safety 5
Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Building your resume
Showing 41 - 41 of 41 reviews
Default avatar
Elaine
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teach English in Italy

Feb 16, 2013

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!

What would you improve about this program?
Have more resources available to tutors so the English lessons are more interactive.
45 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

What is the average age of teachers?

Usually between 18 and 35 but we are happy to receive applications from anyone over 18.

By The English Camp Company on February 15, 2024
Do I need a bachelors degree?

No you don't. We are happy to read applications from anyone.

By The English Camp Company on February 15, 2024
Am I allowed to bring my children (daughter)?
Answer this question
Do tutors have to plan lessons or is there guidance on what to teach?

Each tutor plans their own lessons based around topics in the books that we have at the camp. Each age level has a suitable level book.

By The English Camp Company on November 5, 2019
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Alumni Interviews

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

Marianick Benoit

Program
Volunteer Teaching English in Italy & Austria Summer 2024
Marianick Benoit

Why did you choose this program?

I came across the ECC while searching for opportunities to work abroad, particularly in Italy (as I had been wanting to immerse myself in that culture for a while). Their program stood out to me from the other "teach abroad" programs because they offered a position that no other program did: being a camp director. Seeing as I speak Italian fluently and I have experience organizing events, I was very attracted to the possibility of being a camp director while also being in the country that I had been dreaming of visiting.

Needless to say, I was positively overwhelmed by the experience and I'm so glad I decided to accept and spend 2 months in Italy!

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

ECC has two leaders, Nate and Ashleigh, that really do help you out from the beginning by having an orientation week that helps you understand a bit how the camps are going to go. Obviously there are a lot of situations that can't be taught theoretically (there are so many variables that make teaching at every camp such a unique experience!), but orientation gives you a base to at least get you started.

Also, you aren't left on your own to hunt for somewhere to live. The week at orientation accommodation at a local hotel is provided and meals are provided too (except for one night where you can decide to explore Assisi and eat out). When you actually start working at camp, food and accommodation are also provided, but by the host families that ECC pairs you up with.

The only things that I had to organize were:
- Plane ticket to Italy and back home.
- Train ticket from Rome to Assisi.
- Train ticket from my last camp to the airport (and accommodation/food for the extra day I spent in Rome after my last camp).
- Health insurance.

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

You really have to realize that you're going to Italy/Austria to work and not to travel. Yes, the latter will most likely happen, as you can make arrangements with your host families (and they probably have plans already to show you their country). However, the main goal is to go and work. You do have a 9-5 job after all!

However, this should so not stop you from applying because it is such a beautiful job. There are worse things that could happen to you than being overseas, eating delicious food and experiencing a new culture. It's such a dynamic environment that you'll probably not even see the days go by. First thing you know, you'll be crying at the train station, saying good-bye to your current host family and hopping on a train to go to your next one.

One other thing I wish I could have known is that it's ok to not know things. It's ok to feel like you're not prepared and there's no way you could do this. You're probably in the same boat as the tutors that are working with you. You'll see that you'll manage to figure something out in the first few days of the first camp and then you'll only keep getting better!

You're working with kids. They will appreciate anything you do and the mistakes that you think you're making, no one else is noticing them. Kids will literally be so happy only to get to know you. They don't need much to have an awesome day at camp. Be patient with yourself and the other tutors. You'll figure it out!

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

Camp goes from Monday to Friday for two consecutive weeks in one same town. During the week, the routine is pretty similar:

- In the morning, as soon as you get to camp you prepare whatever needs to be prepared for the day and you play with kids that arrive early.
- At the beginning of camp, we have a morning circle with songs and then we play some games before starting the day.
- Then we have two English lessons that are divided by a 20 min break for a snack
- Then there's lunch (this is a 1h break).
- The afternoon consists of two blocks of games where the kids are divided into teams (the team with more points at the end of the week normally gets a little something!) . These are separated by another break.
- By 5 pm, parents are normally already waiting so you just greet them at the door and say bye to the kids :)
- Then you have the whole afternoon to visit/spend time with your family/spend time with other tutors/etc. It's really free time for you to relax and enjoy yourself!

The last Friday is special because it's the final show! Parents get to see what their kids have done during the 2 weeks.

During the weekends you mostly spend your time with your family, visiting or going to family/friends gatherings. You also have some free time to roam around the town :)

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 traveling alone and not knowing how things worked abroad. I had never ever left the North-American continent, let alone traveled alone, so I was a bit scared as to what that would be like. Especially since my mom is a bit protective, so I've always been by her side and I had never traveled without her planning everything.

To overcome it, I honestly just jumped into it. It sounds strange to say, but I almost didn't even have time to think, as I got accepted into the program in May (less than a month before the start of camp). I really had to move it. Before I knew it, I had a ticket to Italy so there was no going back. I must say that having the language down diminished my stress a lot. Actually, that stress turned into excitement and I couldn't wait to actually interact with this culture that I had been learning about for years. It was a bit scary to find my way around the big Rome station, but I managed to get through it.

I was also scared to feel awkward being a guest in a house that had no clue who I was. I couldn't understand why someone would open their house to a total stranger, but I had such a beautiful experience with every single family... They are so open and happy to learn who you are and what you do. Again, language probably helped, but the level of hospitality in Italy is remarkable and I got attached so fast to every family. I still talk to them and we are figuring out plans to see each other again!

What was your favorite thing about working in this program?

I absolutely loved getting to interact with the host families. They really made a big difference and they made me feel at home. Even if I am not their biological child, they really treated me like one and they gave me emotional support like my family would.

I have beautiful memories of all of them. From going to family gatherings, meeting their friends, going out for a drink with them, going to festivals (and being strongly suggested to sing in front of everyone :') [I told them I sing opera and from that moment they had been wanting to hear me sing jaja]), going for gelato together every day... There are so so many priceless memories I made with all of them in a short span of 2 weeks per family.

We shared laughter, tears and beautiful moments that, to this day, still warm my heart.

Staff Interviews

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

Ashleigh McLean

Program
Volunteer Teaching English in Italy & Austria Summer 2024
Ashleigh McLean was born in Adelaide, Australia and moved to the UK with her family in 1999. While studying at the University of Liverpool, she spent a year living in Austria, improving her knowledge of the German language, and co-founded The English Camp Company with Nathanial Poerio. After graduating with a BA in German and International Development, she moved to Italy to devote her time to The ECC. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog Alba, cooking new recipes, and travelling.
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What position do you hold at The English Camp Company? What has been your career path so far?

Ashleigh: My name is Ashleigh McLean and I am the Co-Founder of The English Camp Company. The ECC was founded while I was in university; after graduating from university, I have since been organizing summer camps through The ECC.

Did YOU teach abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Ashleigh: Yes, in the summer of 2005 I taught English in Romania at a residential summer camp for 6 weeks. I had so much fun that I wanted to continue my summer job of teaching English in Europe. I then taught English in summer camps in Italy for 3 consecutive summers before founding The English Camp Company.

What does the future hold for The English Camp Company - any exciting new programs to share?

Ashleigh: We are always continuing to strengthen and improve our summer program for our tutors. We currently have most of our camps in Italy and a few in Austria, so we hope to be able to expand in Austria in the future.

What about the future of the teach abroad industry? How do you think international education will change over the next 10 years?

Ashleigh: The teach abroad industry is extremely positive. Many people are now realizing the importance of Mother Tongue Language teachers, and I think this will only increase.

About The English Camp Company

The English Camp Company, L.L.C. organizes English Summer Camps in Italy, Austria & Germany for 6 – 14 year olds. We offer an enjoyable, interactive atmosphere where children can use everyday English and improve their knowledge of the English language in a fun, relaxed summer camp environment. Our fun-loving Tutors (teachers) come from across the...
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