Hosted by EDUCO

EDUCO: Teach English in Italy at Summer Camps

Name: EDUCO: Teach English in Italy at Summer Camps
Brand: EDUCO
SKU: 209421
Rating: 4.75 (67 reviews)

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4.75 Rating

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Location

Italy

Length

4 - 12 weeks

Classroom Audience

Pre-School Elementary Middle School

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Program Details

Qualifications

Mother tongue English Speaker, 18 years old+, love working with children

Job Type

Tutoring

Classroom Audience

Pre-School Elementary Middle School

Housing

Host Family

Age Min.

Pricing

Salary / Benefits

Paid Study Grant

Starting Price

200

Price Details

All tutors accepted onto our program must attend one of our orientation courses. The summer 2023 orientations will be held in Sanremo. The orientation fee is 200 euros and covers five days' hotel accommodation, meals, didactic training and materials.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Meals Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare

Last Updated: Feb 03, 2023

Last Reviewed: May 30, 2024

Wish List

105 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

EDUCO is a social enterprise that provides Italian students and teachers with fun, enriching, and hands-on opportunities to learn the English language.

We are recruiting creative, passionate and responsible mother tongue English speakers to teach English to children in Camps throughout Italy - from the Alps to the islands of Sicily and Sardegna - on our accredited TEFL through Performance & Play program. This is a unique opportunity to enhance your CV and cultural horizons by learning how to teach through games, sports, drama & songs all taught at our orientation. Accommodation, food and transport during and between camps is all covered. Tutors also receive a generous study grant which is based on the number of weeks spent teaching.

If you dream of spending a summer in Bella Italia while doing rewarding work with children and meeting people from all over the world - then this is the experience for you.

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Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

Living with Italian host families, working in a culturally diverse team environment, free transport from camp to camp, company accommodation during weeks on hold, networking possibilities in Italy following program
Earn a TEFL through Performance & Play Certificate accredited by the International TEFL Accreditation Council
We are proud to provide our tutors with the highest compensation of any summer camps program within Italy, and among the highest within the EU.

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Program Reviews

4.75 Rating

based on 67 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach

5 rating 88.06%
4 rating 4.48%
3 rating 2.99%
2 rating 2.99%
1 rating 1.49%

Benefits 4.7
Support 4.7
Fun 4.9
Facilities 4.75
Safety 4.8

Good for Solo Travelers, Building your resume, Students

Showing 65 - 67 of 67 reviews

I was first introduced to EDUCO's Summer Camps during rehearsals with their theatre programme, Teatrino, some of their recruitment staff came to introduce the programme to us. I knew that really wanted to stay in Italy once my tour had ended and they made it sound like so much fun so I thought why not?

I completed my orientation a few days after I finished my Teatrino tour in the first week of June, this in itself was a great experience. We were provided accommodation in a beautiful hotel in Sanremo which also included all our meals with endless amounts of coffee available. We participated in tonnes of activities and games that we would later be facilitating in camps. I got to know so many lovely people from all over the world, unfortunately you don't always get to see everyone again during camp but I did bump into a few people I made friends with at orientation.

I would say that my favourite part of Summer Camps was the host families. They make you feel so welcome, providing authentic Italian cooking and being so excited to show you around their hometown. You leave feeling you've become part of their family - I can't tell you how many times I cried when leaving my host families as it was so difficult saying goodbye.

Life at camp is a whirlwind experience, you arrive on the Saturday and meet your camp director to discuss the week's activities and before you know it you're saying your thank yous at the end of your classes final show. The italian children are so full of life and can't wait to learn English. Their enthusiasm is crazy and you fall in love with their little faces. You are given a wealth of information during your orientation and are also provided with access to endless amounts to lesson plans/games/activities etc so you are never stuff with what to do whilst at camp. If you ever have any problems from missing your train connection to feeling home sick, EDUCO are only a phone call away and do everything they can to resolve your problem.

It's a great way to travel around Italy, I had already see a lot of Italy due to my Teatrino tour however I got to see so many other places by doing camp. I also got to eat endless amounts of pasta/pizza/gelato, I could never get bored of Italian cuisine.

I would definitely recommend this programme, without it I wouldn't have fallen in love with so many of the beautiful cities I experienced and I wouldn't have been able to meet so many incredible people. I am so thankful for EDUCO for giving me this experience. I'll never forget it.

If you would like to see what camp life is like, I filmed my entire experience and uploaded the videos to my Youtube channel. My youtube name is thatsutherskid where you will be able to find a playlist dedicated to my time at EDUCO camps. Enjoy guys!

https://www.youtube.com/thatsutherskid

I originally started with Educo 6 years ago, as a way to spend the summer in Italy, 6 years on and I can't get enough. What an experience it has been. More than a job, working with Educo has been an experience for me. By far my best experiences have been focused around the host families I've met here. One took me on a 3 day boat trip around Capri and the Amalfi Coast on their sail boat, others have fed me to the point of exploding, others have taken me on holiday to the most stunning corners of Italy, all have opened their homes to a stranger and made me feel super welcome. If you want to experience the real Italy, there is no better way to get fully immersed than through Educo camps.
The camps are summer camps organized for kids of all ages in all parts of Italy. Running around in parks, putting on shows in the town piazza, random flash mobs, all these have been a part of my "job". 6 years later and I'm still excited every single time for a new camp.
Educo as a company has treated me super well, they've been quick to respond to any issues that have ever come up, made sure that I had everything needed for camps and have been well organized. The staff there are simply brilliant. I came to Italy without any training in education and the staff were great at getting me set up and ready.
So I'll be back next summer, and I highly recommend that you do as well.

I first heard about EDUCO's Summer Camps whilst on tour with their theatre programme, Teatrino. I knew that I wanted to stay in Italy once my tour with Teatrino had finished and this opportunity was the perfect way to do so.

I started my orientation in June and completed a full summer with a two week break in between where I explored some other cities throughout the country. I'd already explored so much of Italy during my tour so I was a little worried that I'd spend my time at camps in areas already visited, but the great thing was that I was lucky enough to work in completely new cities/towns in every single camp, so it was a great way to explore even more new places.

Overall, I had a fantastic experience, and I learnt more Italian and more about the Italian way of life from living with host families than I did during my first 6 months touring with Teatrino. You are completely immersed within your family environment who are always so enthusiastic to show you around their home town and get to know you. You really do become a part of their family during your time with them, and it's always pretty hard to say goodbye at the end.

Camps are great fun. You get to try your hand at teaching english as a foreign language through theatre and play and you gain so much experience, whilst having so much creative fun. Italian children have a lot of energy and such huge personalities, so you'll be constantly smiling.

There's a huge resource of games, songs, and activities to keep your camp jam packed so you are never left feeling like you're not sure what you need to do - and a one-week orientation prior to starting camps really helps you prepare for your role. And, if you have any questions or concerns, you have so many people around to support you, whether that's fellow tutors, your camp director or the EDUCO staff who are just an email or phone call away.

This experience is a fantastic way to travel some of Italy and get paid to do so. I would suggest trying to complete a whole summer because you see so much more and you get more of a variety of camps hence more experience. Also, go explore as much as you can in your free time. Your family will understand the days that you want to do so, and will also be happy to give you the grand tour. Hang out with your tutors, helpers, camp directors too - organise aperitivo, dinner, and enjoy the process of meeting new people and learning new things.

A great experience in one of the most beautiful countries in the world... What are you waiting for?

Questions & Answers

Can I bring my children and husband?

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Do you have to know Italian?

You do not need to speak Italian in order to apply for our camps. While knowledge of the language can be an advantage, our camps are full English immersion and we discourage tutors from speaking Italian with the children. Every camp has local Italian staff (including the director and helpers) who may assist with any language barriers.

By Sophia Trozzo on February 23, 2020

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Alumni Interviews

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

Maria Triantafyllou

Program

EDUCO: Teach English in Italy at Summer Camps

Maria is a dedicated teacher specializing in foreign language learning and teaching, with two years of experience in the field. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in foreign language learning and teaching, she resides and studies in Greece while harboring a passion for working abroad during the summer months. Maria possesses experience in teaching English at primary schools in Greece, a private institution in Spain, and across English summer camps in Italy over the past two years.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

Educo marked my endeavor to apply my teaching knowledge outside my home country, in my second language within a domain of my greatest interest: performance and play in education. Initially, I aspired to cultivate a career while engaging in summertime work abroad, and Italy emerged as an appealing option due to its cultural similarities with Greece. During my first exploration of international work opportunities, Educo prominently surfaced in my search inquiries. The organization's comprehensive website provided me with further insights, giving me a solid foundation to conceptualize its working ethos and educational objectives. Encouraged by this discovery, I embraced the opportunity, willingly assuming the associated risks.

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

The decision to embark on my international work experience was wholly autonomous, necessitating meticulous planning and organization of my responsibilities and travel arrangements. This process involved the submission of an application through the Educo website, followed by the requirement to provide a video showcasing the implementation of one of my teaching activities from an experiential standpoint. Subsequently, I was prompted to complete my profile on the Educo platform, facilitating communication with the individuals overseeing my training and placement within the summer camps in Italy.

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

I highly recommend seizing the opportunity to engage with Educo and explore the prospect of working abroad, particularly if you are an English teacher inclined towards implementing lesson plans through experiential and non-formal methodologies, particularly within the realms of performance, drama, music, art, and play. An additional dimension to consider entails the necessity of periodic travel to diverse locations, necessitating adaptability to new environments, embracing Italian hospitality, and adjusting to new teaching contexts.

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

My daily work with Educo entails a commitment from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, particularly if opting to participate in non-residential or other specialized camps. Moreover, additional time is typically allocated for early arrival and late departure to facilitate preparatory activities and reflective sessions with fellow tutors and the camp director, respectively. Educo provides a very structured framework of the tasks required to implement, supplemented by recommendations provided within their accompanying guidebook. The morning sessions feature individualized instruction, while the afternoon sessions, following snack time and lunch, typically involve collaborative hands-on activities with all tutors, engaging students across various proficiency levels.

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

The decision to embark on overseas employment presented a degree of uncertainty for me, particularly given the absence of prior insights or feedback from colleagues who had previously collaborated with Educo. Chief among my apprehensions was whether the organization's pedagogical approach would align with my instructional objectives and expectations and whether the transient nature of moving between camps and accommodation arrangements with various Italian families would give me a sense of sustained comfort over an extended duration of time. After numerous email exchanges and a phone call with the person responsible for my training and camp allocations, followed by informal exchanges with my trainers, my concerns were considerably answered.

Valeria

2022 Alum

Alita Powell

2018 Alum

Staff Interviews

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

Sophia Trozzo

Program

EDUCO: Teach English in Italy at Summer Camps

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.

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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.

Sophia Trozzo

International HR Manager

Location

Location:

Italy

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

59 F / 37 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 46 F

Jul-Sep

88 F / 61 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 41 F

Airports:

Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino

( FCO )

Milan Malpensa

( MXP )

Venice Marco Polo

( VCE )

Italy has long been a bucket list item for people, and it's no wonder with the ancient ruins, astounding scenery, and renowned museums -- all accompanied by the beautiful Italian language. When visiting Italy, be prepared to see big differences in accents and food while moving between regions.

About 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...