5 places you can do language camps in 2021
So, you’re looking for language camps in 2021? With COVID finally on the backfoot and the rollout of vaccines gathering pace across North America and Europe, there’s a good chance that travel and TEFL work will be returning to normal pretty soon. And with the summer approaching that means there might just be short-term employment opportunities once again. Check out this list of five places that we think are likely candidates if those TEFL camps do get a-going…
Poland
Poland is now a major destination for TEFL language camps. Fuelled by a fast-growing economy and an increasing cohort of younger English learners, there are lots of programs that take place between June and August when the state school term finishes for the year. The southern part of the country around the famous Tatra Mountains is one of the best places to look for these short-term opportunities. It’s a favourite with domestic holidaymakers and families alike, offering access to craggy peaks and rolling woodlands. You can also find lots of Polish language camps in the Owl Mountains near Wroclaw and in the lake district of Masuria.
Spain
Oh, Spain – there are loads of reasons why oodles of TEFL grads look to this sun-kissed country for their first job. One is that there are lots and lots of language camps in the birthplace of Don Quixote. The lovely south coast is something of a hotspot (no pun intended!). Lots of camps take place there and draw in learners from all over the country. That means you could earn a bunch of euros while teaching English to folk on the gorgeous Costa del Sol! But there are also one or two urban camps in Madrid that offer employment closer to the historic wonders of the capital.
Germany
English language skills are highly sought after in Germany, largely thanks to this one having the leading economy in Europe. But learning starts from a young age and summer camps are very popular, so you should find ample opportunities for short-term teaching work in this part of the world. Particular hotspots are in the countryside around Berlin and in the mountain-spiked region of Bavaria in the south, where many EFL camps take place in the shadow of the Alps.
UK
Just because the UK is filled with native speakers it doesn’t mean that there aren’t language camps in the home of fish and chips. There are loads. That’s mainly down to the multicultural make up of British society, which has large portions of international folk from all over, many of which speak Spanish, Polish, Russian, or other lingos as their mother tongue. Companies like Cactus currently organize a series of camps all across Old Blighty. They run courses in the self-proclaimed first city of The North, Manchester, and in the buzzy capital of London.
Italy
Italy has one of the biggest arrays of summer language camps of any destination on the globe. Companies like Educo and ACLE have been running two- to eight-week residential camps for years, combining intensive English tuition with native speakers with conversational English training and an adventure in some of the most stunning parts of Europe – from the jagged Dolomites to the beautiful coves and beaches of Sicily in the south. Requirements vary but most teachers will need at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate to apply. Camps also usually involve a week’s induction that takes place on the ground in Italy.
If you’re a veteran of language camps and have something to add to this list, be sure to drop your thoughts in the comments below. Or head over to our courses page to get qualified and applying for summer jobs in one of the amazing destinations listed above right now.