A Typical Day In The Life Of A TEFL Teacher On A Summer Camp In Italy

Have you ever wanted to spend your summer travelling through the different cities of Italy, connecting with the locals, and playing fun and active games with the local children to help them learn in more engaging ways? If you have, my name is Lauren Fettis, and I can tell you exactly how to get there, what it’s like, and show you some realistic options to make it happen. 

I’m a graduate student and TEFL teacher who has used my TEFL certification to teach English through language assistant programs, in summer camps, through private tutoring of locals, and teaching using popular online platforms. I have been around the block and have no plans to stop making the most of my TEFL certification and taking advantage of every opportunity that my certification can offer.

In this blog post, I’ll be talking about the Italian summer camp I worked at last summer.

You can read more about my time teaching as an Assisstant Language Teacher in Spain here.

Summer Camp programme

As an American who was living in Spain, one of my favourite unforeseen benefits of my certification and proximity to other countries in the EU was the opportunity to find a summer job in order to see new cities and gain new experiences. 

Read more: Teach English In Italy: What Are The Requirements?

I was told about volunteering at a summer camp in Italy by other teachers who were enrolled in my language assistant program with me. I then met with the camp coordinator and gave an immediate yes. 

The programme’s general design includes 2–4-week contracts at a time (may vary slightly by camp), with accommodation and meals included, as well as transportation within the country. So, if you’re already in the EU, the only real cost is the flight to and from Italy. 

The purpose of bringing native English speakers into these camps is to teach the students fully in English in order to provide local Italian students a chance to be emerged in natural English language through fun, exciting, and engaging activities. 

These camps take place all over Italy, and typically the camp coordinates which city or region you will be in. Personally, I was placed first in a small town just outside of Bologna called Imola, and my second city was Ala, which is in a more northern region of the country. 

There are a variety of programmes you can choose from, in both Italy and in other countries. Some popular ones include the You Can Camp, The English Camp Company, and Educo. I recommend researching each and identifying which one suits you best. All of these programmes have great reviews, so you can’t go wrong! 

The nitty-gritty: Accommodation, food and travel

Where do camp teachers live?

Typical summer camps in both Italy and in most other countries offering similar programmes include full room and board during your stay. This means:

•  three meals a day, and 
• accommodation either at the camp itself, 
• through volunteer host families whose children attend the camp, or 
• in individual or shared apartments near the camps.

 In my case, I stayed with two different host families, each for one week at a time, as each camp cycle was for one week before switching locations. Living with a host family provides an amazing opportunity to connect with locals and really feel immersed in the Italian culture, because, of course, no one knows it better than the Italians themselves! 

Read more: What It’s Really Like Living With A Host Family In Spain: Lauren’s Honest Review

Do TEFL summer camps cover flights?

Summer camps typically don’t cover your flights to and from the camp country, but some might if you are flying in from a nearby European country. Others might offer a flight allowance and others might not offer anything at all. 

So while they might not support you financially getting to the country, the camps cover your travel costs once you’re in the country (to get to and from different camps), which helps take the stress out of needing to coordinate trains or bus travel in between camp locations. 

What is the application process for summer camp positions?

For the application process, you can expect to fill out a simple form or directly contact the camp coordinator to express your interest in working with the camp. Then you’ll go through a simple interview process where they will ask for your previous teaching experience and interests to get a sense of how you can assist with different camp activities. Keep a positive attitude and really express why you think it’s a great opportunity to help others feel more confident in their English, and your desire to really immerse yourself in another culture – this is what it’s all about after all! 

What are the visa and passport requirements?

If you go through a volunteer program (which I highly recommend for ease of process), you do not need a specific visa or work permission since there isn’t monetary exchange. 

There are a number of countries that can enter Italy visa-free for up to 90 days. Volunteering in this case is permissible, provided you aren’t paid and you don’t overstay your visa. 

If you’re looking for a more typical working experience, depending on which country you’re from, this may require a work permit or visa. If you’re from the EU or EEA, then you don’t need a visa, but if you’re from the US, Australia, and other non-EU countries, you will need to obtain work permission as you would with other typical visa processes. Unfortunately for UK citizens, post-Brexit regulations mean you now require a visa to work in Italy. 

Working Holiday Visa

If you’re a citizen of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan and aged between 18 and 30 (or 35 for Canada and Australia), you’re eligible to apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Italy.

An Italian Working Holiday Visa allows you to live in Italy for up to a year and work for six of those twelve months.

Visa-exempt countries

Some countries don’t require a visa for travel into Italy (and the larger Schengen area). These countries are allowed into the area for 90 days out of 180. In other words, for every 180 days (on a rolling basis), you’re allowed in a Schengen country for 90 days.

Summer camps fit perfectly in this timeline for these eligible teachers, but to volunteer at these without a visa, the camps need to satisfy specific legal requirements. Make sure this is a legal option before signing up to volunteer at a camp.

Work Visa (Nulla Osta)

To work at an Italian Summer camp if you don’t fit into any of these categories, you’ll need a Work Visa. This is an employer-sponsored work permit. The employer applies for authorisation from the local immigration office and then the employee can apply for a work permit at their Italian embassy. Besides the difficulty of finding an employer to sponsor this visa, there is also the issue of Italy’s quota system, which limits the number of non-EU work permits issued every year. 

It’s unlikely you’ll be sponsored to work on a summer camp, but if you are an experienced TEFL teacher with good qualifications and expertise, it’s an option if you want to apply for positions in international schools.

What do you actually do at an Italian summer camp?

From fun and games to meals and activities, let’s look at the daily routine of a summer camp teacher.

Morning routine 

Rise and shine at 6:45 AM and get ready in the typical camp gear (shirts provided to the camp counsellors, shorts, and sneakers so you can be active during the different activities). If you’re in any city in Italy in the summer, be sure to pack shorts – it gets super hot by the afternoon! 

Arrive at camp around 8 AM and lead icebreaker/warm-up songs with the entire camp. We did some chants like “pizza man” and “little Sally Walker” to get the kids up and moving. 

Read more: ESL Warmers That Work For Any Age And Level

Lead your class to your classroom or designated area around 8:15, and teach the lesson material provided by the camp in the form of games and activities. For example, if the section of the lesson workbook wanted us to review different tenses in English, I would create games like “Around the World” and competition-based games to get everyone moving and eager to engage with the topic. 

Midday workload 

Mid-morning, we take a group break with the entire camp and go to the playground of the school for approximately 30-40 minutes. There, both students and counsellors are able to have a snack, socialise, brainstorm their next activities, and get to know the students on a personal level. Before returning to the classroom, counsellors lead group games like “sharks and minnows” and “dance detective,” to get everyone moving. 

Lunch and downtime 

Lunch is provided by the school cafeteria typically, and includes traditional Italian food and lovely, carby dishes. Counsellors eat together and discuss the morning while students eat with their friends for about 20-30 minutes, then the final 15 minutes or so of lunch includes chatting with students and encouraging them to play some active games like soccer, football, and tag. 

Afternoon sessions 

Similar to morning sessions, after lunch and an engaging game with the whole camp, each counsellor takes their set of students back to the classroom to wrap up another lesson and cool down a bit before ending their day. 

Ending the day 

In the last 10 minutes or so of the day, counsellors bring their students to the main auditorium or to the playground again depending on the weather and lead cool-down activities designed to get students engaged but more relaxed before going home. Once each student is picked up and the school is clear, counsellors walk back to their accommodation or go to the city together to explore. 

After-work hours: Free time and social life 

Camps often lead activities where counsellors and coordinators of the camp can get to know each other more, including group dinners, a guide of the local town festivals or small celebrations that are going on at the same time as the camp. These activities encourage counsellors to meet up to explore the city. Because everyone’s accommodations are so close together, it makes it easy to meet and try different restaurants and explore the charm of the city you’re in. 

Weekend living and teaching schedule variations

For my camp specifically, we had weekends off, and the Saturdays were made for you to make your connecting train that will take you from your current camp to the next, which was in another city. There were also options to stay at the same camp for two weeks instead of one, but if you’re like me and want to see as much as possible, I recommend going to a few to gain new experiences. If you’re staying with a family, you’ll say your farewell to them, then meet the next family at the train station so they can pick you up and welcome you to the new city! 

Expectation vs reality

One thing to keep in mind – teaching all day (not to mention leading physical activities in the middle of summer) can be very tiring! Don’t feel bad if you go home at the end of the day and just want to nap or rest! 

That being said, teaching through camp activities and games makes the time go by so much faster, and the relationships you build with the students, families, and other counsellors is unbeatable! 

Another great aspect of these camps is it’s easy to plan solo-travelling trips (or trips with others who may be in the area with you or want to meet up) before and after the camp to allow you to see Italy as much as possible! 

Before beginning at the camp, I stayed with a friend in Sicily for a week, then solo-travelled to Bologna, and after the camp concluded, travelled around Rome before catching my flight back to the US. It really helped me feel like I made the most out of visiting Italy because I was able to experience the people, the culture, make a positive impact, and travel, all at the same time! 

Tips for TEFL teachers who want to teach on summer camps in Italy

My best tip would be – take the leap and do it! It’s such a great learning experience that will build your TEFL resume, help you connect to locals, and allow you to explore new cities. Plus, it’s only for brief week periods at a time, allowing you flexibility if you don’t want to commit to multiple-month long contracts. 

FAQs for teaching English on summer camps in Italy

Do I need a university degree or TEFL certificate to work at an Italian summer camp?

Generally speaking, a university degree is not needed to work at an Italian summer camp. Some camps will hire native English speakers without a degree  or any teaching experience, but some prefer a TEFL qualification or some experience working with children.

Do I need to speak Italian to teach at a camp in Italy?

No, you don’t need to speak Italian to teach at a camp in Italy. Summer camps teach English based on TEFL methodology, which means immersion learning is preferred. There will be Italian support staff with you who will be able to help you if any situation requires translation.

Do summer camp tutors in Italy get paid?

Depending on the summer camp, tutors can get paid or sometimes they are volunteers. Payment for summer camp teachers should be thought of as more of a stipend. Whether you are being paid or volunteering, your accommodation and meals will be provided throughout the camp.

Interested in teaching in Italy? Keep an eye on our Jobs Board for summer camp opportunities which are posted regularly.

Author Bio

Written by

Lauren Fettis

Edited by Kirsten Colquhoun

With a lifelong dream of wanting to live in Europe since she was a child, Lauren has sought opportunities for reaching her goal of both helping others and living as many new experiences as possible through teaching English as a foreign language. For her first year in Europe, she was a conversational language assistant in Sevilla, Spain, helping students master their Cambridge exams. Then went on to be a camp counsellor at two summer camps across Italy. Currently in her second year, she is planning to move to Valencia in a few short months to study Spanish and continue teaching English both remotely and in person. Read Lauren Fettis's story →