Why Teaching English Abroad at a Summer Camp?
Summer camp overseas offers a unique opportunity to combine travel and teaching. This guide will help you navigate the requirements, what to expect, and how to make the most of exciting experience of summer camp.
Why Teaching English Abroad at a Summer Camp?
Short-term commitment: Unlike a full-year TEFL position, summer camps typically run for a few weeks to a few months. This allows you to experience living abroad without a long-term leap.
Test the waters: If you’re curious about teaching English abroad but unsure if it’s the right fit, a summer camp gives you a taste of the job and lifestyle.
Travel and explore: Immerse yourself in a new culture while getting paid. Many camps offer opportunities to participate in excursions and explore the surrounding area.
Build your resume: Teaching experience, especially in a cross-cultural setting, is a valuable addition to your resume and can make you a stronger candidate for future TEFL jobs.
Develop new skills: You’ll gain valuable teaching skills, improve your communication abilities, and learn to adapt to new situations.
Fun and rewarding: Summer camps are often high-energy environments where you can have fun with your students while helping them learn.
Make new friends: You’ll meet fellow teachers from around the world and potentially bond with the camp staff and local community.
Consider your own goals. Do you want to travel, gain teaching experience, or simply have a unique summer adventure? Teaching English at a summer camp can be a great way to achieve all of these things.
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Step by step to Teach English Abroad at a Summer Camp
1. Gauge Your Interest and Skills:
- Do you love travel and new cultures?
- Are you patient and enjoy working with children or teenagers?
- Do you have strong communication and organizational skills?
If you answered yes to these questions, teaching English abroad at a summer camp could be a fantastic fit!
2. Get Qualified (Optional but Highly Recommended):
- TEFL Certification: While not always mandatory, a TEFL certificate strengthens your application and gives you a toolbox of teaching methods. Research online or in-person TEFL courses (120-170 hours) accredited by TEFL International or TESOL.
3. Find Your Dream Summer Camp:
- Research Programs: Search online using terms like “TEFL summer camp abroad” or browse reputable program websites. Consider factors like location, age group, camp focus (sports, arts, etc.), and program duration.
4. Application Time:
- Craft a Compelling Resume: Highlight your relevant experience (working with children, teaching experience) and language skills.
- Prepare for Interviews: Research the program and be ready to answer questions about your teaching philosophy and experience.
5. Secure Your Visa and Prepare for Departure:
- Visa Requirements: Research visa requirements for your chosen country. Camps might offer guidance in this process.
- Travel Logistics: Book flights, arrange accommodation if not provided by the camp, and research basic necessities like phone plans and currency exchange.
6. Pre-Camp Preparation:
- Gather Teaching Resources: Prepare engaging lesson plans, games, and activities tailored to your assigned age group.
- Embrace the Culture: Learn basic phrases in the local language and research local customs to enhance your experience.
7. Thrive at Summer Camp!
- Be Adaptable: Expect some unexpected situations. Your problem-solving skills will be valuable.
- Lesson Planning: Make your classes fun and interactive using games, songs, and visual aids.
- Embrace the Culture: Immerse yourself in the local community through excursions and cultural activities.
- Celebrate Success: Recognize and reward your students’ achievements to keep them motivated.
Additional Tips:
- Pack Light: Remember, you might have limited storage space, so prioritize essentials.
- Connect with Fellow Teachers: Network with other camp staff to share experiences and build friendships.
- Document Your Journey: Take photos and keep a journal to capture your summer camp adventure.
Most interesting ideas for teaching English at a summer camp
Here are some of the most interesting ideas for teaching English at a summer camp, designed to engage your students and make learning fun:
Themed Lessons for a summer camp:
- Mystery Camp: Turn your classroom into a detective agency. Students use English to solve puzzles, interview suspects (played by other campers), and write a case report.
- Camp Olympics: Divide the class into “countries” and hold mini-Olympics with English-language challenges. These could involve creating team chants, writing sports reports, or interviewing each other about their favorite games.
- Movie Making Mayhem: Write a simple movie script together, assign roles, and have students film scenes in English. This can be a hilarious and creative way to practice dialogue and storytelling.
Interactive Activities:
- Campfire Charades: Use classic charades, but with English vocabulary words or phrases related to your lessons. For a twist, have students act out scenes from a book you’ve read together.
- Escape Room Challenge: Design a series of puzzles and riddles that require students to use English skills like critical thinking and teamwork to “escape” the room. Themes can tie into your curriculum or local legends.
- Global Gameshow: Create a game show where students compete in teams, answering trivia questions about English grammar, vocabulary, or even pop culture from different countries.
Creative Expression:
- Comic Strip Creation: Have students write a short comic strip in English, incorporating dialogue bubbles and sound effects.
- Camp Newspaper: Create a student-run newspaper where campers write articles and interview fellow campers about camp activities, all in English.
- “English Everywhere” Scavenger Hunt: Hide clues around the camp with English vocabulary words written on them. Students have to find the words and use them in a sentence to earn points.
