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Hey guys,

I applied to work as a tutor at Lingua senza frontiere summer camps for school-age children in Italy and got accepted!  This is ultra-exciting and means that come June I should be tripping off to Italy to spend a fun few months having a blast with kids, teaching English and enjoying some sunshine. Before I sign on the dotted line though the voices of caution are creeping about. It's better to be safe than sorry - so they say - so it'd be great to hear of any experiences working in Italian summer camps (it doesn't matter if they're LSF or not) and get any advice that people are willing to offer.

Hi,

Have just ahd a double check with our jobs experts here and Lingua senza frontiere are perfectly respectable - so you should be absolutely fine with them. Make sure you keep us posted with how it all goes :)

Woohoo well done!! Where abouts will you be working? :)

No idea. The training takes place in Sanremo (northern Italy near the French border) and then I'm sent to wherever they want me. Most of the camps are north of Rome but I don't really care where I get sent. I should know by the end of this week if I can achieve what I need to achieve before June.

Any experiences or thoughts on Italian summer camps would be greatly appreciated before the weekend!

That’s great news jclayton. Well done. I was in San Remo in Italy last week and met up with Christina, the tutor co-ordinator. I am disappointed to say the least, that there is an age limit which is 30!  Besides that age discrimination is contrary to EU law, discrimination of any kind is totally unacceptable to me. However I understand the ‘reasons’ (or are they excuses?) she gave.  It is a shame though that the wealth of experience that more ‘mature’ tutors have cannot be shared with Italian students.  During my brief discussion with her, she did mention a supervisor’s position which involved supervising tutors etc in an allocated region. The summers camps are held in Northern Italy so around Milan, the Italian Lakes, Piedmont and Liguria. The supervisor's position involves travelling from camp to camp.  The company does provide a car and sat nav but its not actual hands on teaching which is what I wanted.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to put a damper on your great news but just be aware of this paragraph which is on their website.

Quote from their website:

The duration of employment will be agreed before your arrival but will be confirmed once we have seen your performance at the four-day training course.

Thanks for the post and concern Monique. It's a shame that there's a "no over 30s" rule and I think you've got a point about the what 'mature' tutors could offer. Aside from the age limit, though, did you get a positive impression from Christina and the LSF set-up?

Christina was very friendly.  The offices were very ‘basic’ but that’s what I would expect from a ‘voluntary’ organisation.  (I would be more concerned if they were plush and luxurious!)   There were four ladies there including Christina (all ‘’mature’’ I hasten to add!)  It looked busy. They employ between 150-160 tutors for the summer camps.

I’m sorry I didn’t have time to visit the other organisation in San Remo but I’m there again at the end of April so I will arrange an interview with them as well.  Although they also have an age limit (at least it is openly stated on their website) they encourage applications from all ages.

How long is your contract for?  

@James – After a quick look at your profile and reading your blog (not that I understood much of it :) ) I think you will be perfect as a tutor!  The Italian kids will love you! 

PS I used to live in Lancashire years ago...

Hello jclayton,

I am very interested in the post you have been acepted on. Well done by the way! May I ask when did you reply? and how quickly did you get a reply? Did you just apply direct with a cv?

I am new to all this and have just passed a 20hr i-to-i so not much experience.

Shelley

Hi Shelley,

Sorry for not replying - I've been occupied with other stuff and need to catch up with TEFL I think. As far as I can remember, I contacted the main office by email to ask for extra details and ask if I was the sort of person they wanted.

I got a positive reply and info soon after and then applied (the form is on the website I think, but they sent it me in the email). I just answered the questions and filled in the details and a few weeks later they'd accepted me. Amazing - I'll be heading out to a training and preparation week at the start of June and then they send me to one of the camps depending on how long and where they want me.

It's all exciting and I'm looking forward to it. I've got to make sure I'm ready and it remains to be seen how long I'll be out there, but hopefully it'll come around with no problems. It'll be my first TEFL experience and - if any of you are reading - I've got to say thanks again for all the encouragement and advice in helping me sort it out!

Hi there, I am writing to clear up all facts about Lingue Senza Frontiere. I would like to add that this organisation is extremely positive and will provide you with four days intensive training including camp songs, games and acitivities and you will also receive a comprehensive lesson pack and timetable. At the end of training you will also receive a Young Learners certificate then you will be shipped to a Summer camp anywhere in Italy as far South as Rome. I am a CELTA qualified teacher living in Rome and I have worked with 7 Summer camps for different organisations. I would also like to add that I am returning to LSF this year and I am 37 years old!! The only criticism I would say is that it is a less well paid than other organisations but that does not stop 100s of overseas teachers returning each year, paying 100s of dollars just for the experience -  enough said!