LEOlingo - South (Bavaria)

Being a Leolingo camp counsellor was one of the best work experiences I’ve ever had. Andrea and her family welcomed us with open arms and truly made Germany feel like home. I had a fantastic experience working at the camps and spending time with the children. Additionally, all of the host families were amazing and some of the kindest people I have ever met. I also had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of people from all over the world. We got along very well and bonded quickly, which made the experience even more special. This is an experience I will always cherish, and I would definitely recommend Leolingo to anyone who has the opportunity to work there!

I worked for LEOlingo in 2021, 2022, 2023 and briefly in 2024. All I can say is that all those three summers and short but sweet 2 weeks in 2024 were some of my best and favourite summers and work placements of my life! Andrea is the most thoughtful boss you can find and she will make sure your time in Germany will be incredible. Bavaria is a beautiful place to visit and work in, and each camp is different but fun in its own way. There is plenty to see and do during your weekends too (or if you have evenings off at day camps, then evenings too!), so you definitely won't be bored - my recommendation is to embrace the German culture fully and take part in as many Fests as possible! And a must-do for all counsellors - visit Eibsee - the most spectacular lake in Germany!!! The programme that you teach at LEOlingo is so fun - some songs will live in your head rent free forever. I am still in touch with many friends from all around the world made over all those years, and it's so good now to be able to talk about our adventures, camp days and fun that we had. All in all, you will not regret it - if you want to have the best summer of your life, experience LEOlingo in Bavaria!!! :)

Working at Leolingo summer 2025 was a pleasure, the kids were always exciting, programming was well thought out, locations were always new and exciting, so much fun! Week long intensive training to help everyone learn the programming, games and activities so you’re well prepared for the job and working with the supervisors Paul and Nick is such a pleasure! They know what they’re doing!!

If you're at all curious about the program and on the fence about applying — just do it! Like past counselors have shared in previous reviews, the team and collaborative environment at LEOlingo is truly unforgettable. Working with colleagues from England, Ireland, and Canada means there's always something new to learn culturally and fun to be had. The other counselors' positive, enthusiastic, and dedicated attitude is truly infectious in the best way; when in doubt, I always had a solid team to rely on that was happy to help. Plus, I got to travel extensively during my one-week vacation and the weekends with fellow counselors who were just as enthusiastic about exploring Germany and its neighboring countries as I was. During the day-to-day camp life, I learned many different camp songs and games that still come in handy, working in a school environment. Despite all the work that goes into creating the best camp environment for the kids — leading high-energy activities for 7 hours a day — it never got overwhelming or boring thanks to the amazing, close-knit team. Andrea is a fantastic boss as well: encouraging, understanding, organized, flexible, and honest. Ultimately, I felt very welcome, gained vital leadership skills (and plenty of cool stories to share), and learned a lot about working with kids. I'd highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in growing personally and professionally, creating meaningful friendships, and making memories that last a lifetime.

Hello! Im Amy from NYC. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to be part of LEOlingo English Camp not just once, but twice—first in 2021 and again this past year, 2025—and both experiences have been unforgettable. Andrea is truly the best boss you could ask for—always supportive, encouraging, and genuinely caring about both the staff and the kids. Southern Bavaria is lovely, and each camp is set in beautiful locations that it almost feels like a dream to be there every day. I loved the flexibility of the schedule, which gave me the chance to explore the region and even travel while working. The kids are awesome, they’re full of energy, curiosity, and laughter, which makes teaching English so much fun. Beyond the campers, one of the highlights for me has been the people I’ve met and the friendships formed with fellow counsellors. Spending time together, whether planning activities, sharing meals, or just hanging out in the evenings—created a real sense of family. I can say without a doubt that I would go back again, and I’m already planning to be part of it next year. It’s truly an experience that stays with you long after the camp ends.

Being a part of the LeoLingo team this summer was an unforgettable experience! The camps were fun, well-organised and really rewarding. The children were enthusiastic and I got to work with great team members from all around the world. It was also a wonderful opportunity to explore Bavaria and enjoy everything the region has to offer. Andrea was incredibly organised and supportive, making sure everything ran smoothly and everyone felt welcome. I’d highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable and meaningful summer in Germany.

I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work for LeoLingo. Southern Bavaria is beautiful, and the language camps are incredibly fun. I learnt so many transferable skills from working as a camp counsellor, and you are constantly supported. It is a hugely rewarding experience.

Well, here we go, after three years of working for LEOlingo (my fourth starting very soon) I am finally sitting down and will review every aspect of the LEOlingo experience. Firstly my name is Paul, I'm from Ireland and I applied to work for the company in the Bavaria region back in 2019. I was interviewed by Anne-Marie who has been the HR Manager for over 10 years now and is an incredible person and a solid friend (don't worry I'm not getting paid for this review ?). I was successfully chosen as one of the counsellors from hundreds of applicants and was warmly welcomed by the team back in July that year and since then it has been my number once choice when teaching English around Europe. The first thing I noticed when joining the team was how professional everything was in the training week, from the location, the facilities, the organisation of each day and the help and assistance provided while doing the 7 days of training. It all felt very well thought out and was extremely helpful even for an experienced counsellor having done camps in France and Italy before. Andrea, who is the owner and manager of LEOlingo south is an inspiration to me as she takes the role very seriously while treating all of the counsellors and staff like family. I recognised this as soon as I met her and every counsellor that year and other the years have said the same about Andrea and family. In the training week you will be hosted by a host family close to the training location and this means you will experience the local Bavarian traditions in your free time while getting spoiled with the amazing beer and food ?. The training week requires a lot of energy and focus, as you will be learning and presenting games and activities like you would in a traditional camp day during the summer heat. You will also be informed about the Bavarian traditions, rules and be given some helpful tips for navigating a day while working for LEOlingo and in the country of Germany. This is super fun as you will bond with the counsellors you will inevitably be working alongside and get into the mental and physical groove for the various camp locations. A traditional day at a LEOlingo day camp will consist of a warm-up games, language games, songs, folder activities, sports, arts and crafts, drama while the overnight camps will have the same while including evening activities like a night hike, pub quiz, movie night, a disco and various excursions such as go-karting, canoeing, caving, high-ropes etc. The locations are spread around Bavaria with Nuremberg being like the hub or the main city that is close by. Having been in Nuremberg numerous times I have built a nice bond with the city and at this stage know all the good spots for food, a haircut, a hotel, ice-cream and an Instagram post ? I really cant wait to be back! Having now done dozens of camps with LEOlingo I have also built a nice community of friends from host families, who I regularly keep in contact with and meet from time to time. General socialising and taking part in day trips around the region of Bavaria really enhances the experience also but the fondest memories are often times from the short but lasting memories of the kids and the fun you have with them while they are learning English. I often like to say that my job is to firstly make sure that the kid are safe at all times, secondly to make sure they are having fun in every activity throughout the day and the English language will then be learned almost by accident because they are just enjoying the week. The kids come to camp to have fun and it is very important not to take yourself too seriously because really they just want to get to know you, talk to you about your Country and learn some cool things about the English language and culture that come with it. It's always a joy when the parents come to pick up the kids and they are telling the family how much fun they have had and are already talking about returning to the next possible camp available. This is the cherry on top for a solid week and it is amazing how many kids you will see and different camps year after year. As you may know by now the camps are usually from Monday - Friday and of course you will have the weekends to yourself and are completely free. This means you can take part in group activities with your fellow counsellors and visit local areas or even neighbouring cities and countries but you must be well organised and be ready get back for the camps beginning each week. I personally like to mix it up and do my own things some weekends and go to maybe a Volkfest (basically a Bavarian beer and food festival) with the counsellors or host families etc. You organise the weekends yourself and support yourself in terms of accommodation and food etc as LEOlingo provide you with free accommodation and food throughout a camp week. Overall, it is easy to manage and I have always felt safe and secure on weekends and sometimes you just cant wait for the next camo to begin ? In 2019 and 2021 I worked for LEOlingo in the summer months only but last year in 2022 I decided to exclusively work for LEOlingo from April to October as I was having so much fun doing their camps that I did the Easter and school camps along with the summer camps which I really enjoyed and this year in 2023 I will do the same. I hope this review has helped you make a decision in applying to work for LEOlingo and I look forward to meeting you if we happen to work together in the future. I have said to Andrea and Anne-Marie that I will keep returning as long as I am having fun and it is always a pleasure to work alongside the best!

This was a life-changing experience for me this past summer. As a young university student, I was looking for an experience that would really expand my horizons and expose me to new people and cultures. This experience did just that. I was lucky enough to be working alongside 9 other amazing councillors that made my summer truly special. We bonded quickly during the training week and carried utilized that friendship to make work even more enjoyable. I spent every weekend with other councillors, except one where I decided to go watch Messi's PSG debut. We travelled to new countries and experienced many new things together which made for some unforgettable experiences. Andrea and Anne-Marie, the two amazing ladies who make this all possible, were an extremely important part of my experience. Andrea is very kind and even though she is your boss she makes you feel like you are talking to a friend. She and her whole family are an amazing bunch and they really made me feel welcome. I was lucky enough to be the councillor for both her kids and they were simply awesome. Anne-Marie was at my campsite almost every week this summer. She became a good friend of mine over the summer and it was fun to spend time with her and some of the other councillors playing games and talking after the kids fell asleep. The kids are all amazing as well. I worked mostly with the middle-older kids (12-16) and their English levels were usually really good. They are always very fun and willing to let loose and have some fun. If you were enthusiastic, they matched your energy right away and everyone had fun. Some of the kids i met really left an impression on me and I will long remember them. I only had a host family one week, however, it was an amazing experience. Another councillor and I were both assigned to the same family. They had three sons, two of them around my age and one young one that was in my camp. The two older sons, along with the parents really made sure we felt at home. We hit the town with the older boys and we got to learn a little bit about how German teenagers/young adults live. They really made sure we were welcomed and I still keep in touch with them now every once in a while. The camps themselves were great. The breakfast was a bit disappointing, as a Canadian that is used to a big heavy breakfast, however, the kids love it. Lunch and dinner usually were very good though. The campsites are all really cool and unique and very clean. The special activities I got to do over the summer were waterskiing, waterboarding, and high-ropes. Those were some awesome activities and doing them alongside the kids makes it even better. Overall, it was an amazing summer and experience I would recommend to anyone looking for something unique and truly special.

Hello, Prospective camp counsellors - let me just start off by saying, yes, I would definitely recommended this experience. And what an experience it was. Right from the start, our group of camp counsellors were welcomed into a beautiful family home for our orientation week. We were made to feel very welcome and given lots of time to get to know one another. Though this first week was tiring for me, it was invaluable (never mind necessary!) for teaching me the games that we would eventually teach the kids. Though I had no prior experience of camp counselling, a friend said that this training week was what set Leolingo apart from the rest (and made Leo his favourite camp on the calendar) - their training process was extremely comprehensive and methodical. The teaching itself is also a blast. Though nothing can ever prepare you for it, you will have an amazing time once you start. It is intense and tiring but also rewarding, fun and exhilarating. Even though I personally wasn't a natural teacher, I learned so much about myself and about the working world. Whatever the outcome of the teaching itself, you will have a very formative and enriching experience. What's more, the team at Leolingo (in particular Anne-Marie and Andre) will guide you through the entire process kindly and confidently. Both of them have a great deal of experience, skill, and industry know-how which means that you will always feel safe and supported whilst in the role. I hope this helps. Now apply!

I recently arrived back in Canada after spending my summer with LEOlingo in Germany. I am not joking when I tell you that this was the coolest and most amazing work experience I’ve had so far. I was initially hesitating whether I should go or not, but man I am so incredibly glad that I did. If you’re in the same position, I strongly urge you to do it. You will not regret it! I know that it can feel overwhelming to be going on such a foreign experience so let me break it down for you. Your time in Germany starts with a week of training with the other counsellors and your bosses, Andrea and Anne-Marie, both of whom are incredible and feel more like friends than bosses. The counsellors are usually from all over the world. Personally, I was working with people from Canada, USA, England, Ireland, France, Wales, and Scotland. It was awesome meeting like minded people from so many different countries and it really instigated super cool and insightful conversations and bonds between everyone! Training week is quite a lot of work, but it’s more fun than tiring. Basically, you go over many of the activities that you will be doing with the kids later on. This includes many games, sports, arts and crafts, and you also cover a lot of information about logistics, rules and so on. Training week is also a great time to connect with the other counsellors before you start working with them. It was honestly such a highlight of my trip! Next, you’ll start getting to work! There are two different types of camps that you’ll have the chance to work at during your time in Germany, day camps and overnight camps. Day camps, like the name implies, go on from 8/9 am to 4/5 pm, Monday to Friday. They are usually held in cities, in places like schools, universities, company offices, or other buildings of that sort. As a day camp counsellor, you get the chance to stay with a host family for the week. This might seem nerve-wracking at first, but let me tell you, it’s a wonderful experience! Personally, I had really great conversations with my host family, and they were really keen on taking me out to beer gardens and showing me around the city in the evenings after camp. By the end of the week, it was hard saying goodbye! The other type of camps you’ll be working at are overnight camps, where you and the children stay and sleep over at the campsite from Sunday to Friday. These camps are held in the German countryside, which is beautiful, in places like castles, monasteries, and retreat centres. Fortunately, at an overnight camp, you’re not working 24/7. You’ll either be a day counsellor, taking charge of the day program, or a night counsellor, leading the night program. Also, many of the overnight camps have special adventure days where you and the kids do a fun activity outside of camp on one of the days. I was very fortunate to go caving and water skiing, but other adventures include karting, canoeing, high ropes, and swimming, among others. Overall, the camps are super fun, and give you the chance to interact with German children, who are very fun, though sometimes a little cheeky ;). So you’re done your week of work! What happens till you start again? If you came with the intention of travelling, this is your chance to do so. There is so much to see in Germany but it’s also quite close to many surrounding countries, whether it be by driving, or by using public transport (which there is a ton of between countries). Travelling on the weekends is a great way to see Europe (especially if you’re not from there) and also spend quality time with fellow counsellors. During my trip, I was able to visit Nuremberg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (German Alps), Czech Republic and Switzerland. On the way back to Canada, I also managed to make quick stops in the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. The time I spent travelling was some of the best time of the trip, and I made memories that I will truly never forget. If my review hasn’t convinced you to go for it, I don’t know what will! While I’ve said it many times, let me reiterate that LEOlingo is one of the best things you can do to yourself. At the end of the day, you’re not just going for a job; you’re going to meet new people, see new places and do things you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do had you not gone.

It's taken me far too long to sit down and write this review. I was part of Andrea's team in summer of 2018 and I still think about my experience with LEOLingo almost daily. I learned so much about myself that summer; my strengths, my weaknesses, my passion for education, my extremely silly side. The memories you make as LEOLingo counselor will never leave you. Singing songs, playing games, stressing out about curriculum planning, spending all your money on beer on the weekends (sorry, mom) are just a few of the things I will hold onto. The bonds you make with the fellow counselors are unbreakable. I still keep in touch with some of them literally every single day. Germany itself is indescribably beautiful. I mean, who else can say they taught English in a castle in the Bavarian countryside?? In short, this is a life changing experience. It forces you so far out of your comfort zone in the best way possible and, although it was extremely exhausting at times, the journey is so so worth it. Not to mention this makes you stand out on resumes A LOT. So much love for the LEOLingo team. Thank you to Andrea and her family, Anne-Marie, and Tito for everything.

August 2019 I heard about this program through my University website, I was excited about Germany and wanted to try something new so I applied and was hired. The process took a couple of weeks. Reflecting back on this summer I would say that this program changed my life because I feel like I was not as comfortable working with kids of all ages until now, I learned to not take myself too seriously and how to adapt quickly. The techniques we used became very useful when teaching and dealing with kids in general, and the training program really prepared me well for what was ahead at the time. This program was also very well-organized and everyone was very inviting, full of energy and helpful the entire time. Andrea, Anne-Marie, and Tito responded quickly to any questions and was there every step of the way. They also went out of their way to prepare and make this experience welcoming and fun! :D Also, the locations of the different camps were very beautiful, and I saw parts of Germany that I would have never seen otherwise. I think this experience is a good combination of cultural immersion and personal development. To add, the group of counselors that I worked with was amazing too and we were very close and it made this experience awesome as well since they were from all over the native speaking world, and it was cool immersing all these different nationalities together. I felt comfortable the entire time and felt like everyone treated me like family. I would say that it was really hard to finish this summer because it was hard to say goodbye. I would definitely do this again, I am so thankful I had this experience. It was a great way to spend my summer :)

The first time I heard of LEOlingo was through my university. I was finishing a degree in Australia and I wanted to find a job somewhere in Europe to fill my break from uni. I had taught a kids martial arts class before and had Germany on my bucket list so I decided to give Bavaria a try. I had such an awesome experience I signed up twice, 2017 and 2018. I had the opportunity to explore the area with other counselors from the US, Australia, Ireland, Canada and the UK. I also found out that I could live the rest of my life on Franconian food and the occasional Helles. The experience I had working with LEOlingo was unique because it was something everyone created together. The funny moments during training, the first day of camp when we got our campers, trying to order food in German, the classic Bavarian breakfast, teaching kids songs, games and sports in English, these are just a few of the moments I will never forget. Things to look forward to include getting a first hand encounter of Bavarian hospitality, Volkfest, meeting people from all over the world and convincing your campers that whichever accent you have is the best one ;) I have to say it was an awesome journey for me ^^

LEOlingo was, without a doubt the best summer of my life. I really had no idea what to expect and I was so nervous at the beginning of the summer but was reassured and welcomed into beautiful Bavaria with open arms. Our first week was spent taking part in an intense training course at a school in Neumarkt, just a short trip from the city of Nuremberg. We all got to know each other really quickly and got settled in our new host family homes for the week. My host family had three lovely children who were really keen to speak English but I also got to practice my German with them too. They were even kind enough to open up their house again to a few of the counselors when we came back for a street festival a few weeks after training. Andrea and her family were extremely welcoming and we had trips out to Nuremberg on a bike tour around the city (which was amazing) along with a few parties in the first week to help bond a little and start getting to know the people we were about to spend our whole summer with. On your first day you’ll be given the LEOlingo handbook and this is your bible. It has endless ideas including games, songs and teaching materials that you can use and refer to when you’re planning your week with your kids. I felt well prepared to take on my own class after the week of training as you also get to work with some of the kids from the school you train in. This gives you a taste of what counseling will be like. I think the main thing to remember is to have fun because when you’re having fun (hopefully) you’re kids are too. Be crazy, be a bit wacky and don’t take yourself too seriously. I really enjoyed teaching the kids in my groups and although there will always be a few that you might not click with, the majority are great and really want to learn English! What is generally expected of you as a counselor can vary depending on whether you are a day counselor or night counselor and also if the camp is a day or overnight or adventure camp as they have very different vibes to them. Andrea does an amazing job of making sure that everyone gets to experience all areas of camp so you can have some variation during the summer. Added to this already sweet set up you also get a week off during the summer. I personal went up to Berlin and met up with relatives but others visited Prague and Budapest etc. which was also great fun. Weekends can be as structured or as relaxed as you like. Sometimes you may be asked to stay there over the weekend because you’re at the same camp two weeks running but I was lucky enough to spend most of my weekends in my dirndl (which all the girls bought whilst we were out there) drinking beer in Bavarian Volksfests which is by far one of the best ways to spend a Saturday. I have no doubt that LEOlingo will be a life changing and extremely rewarding experience for anyone who partakes. You learn a great deal about yourself, others and also Germany as a country and I will be back as soon as I can.

If you are considering applying for a summer job at LEOlingo, let me just say that I am SO excited for you. I worked in Bavaria for both the Summer of 2015 and Spring of 2016, and it was truly one of the most formative and incredible experiences I have ever had. I had no German roots and it was a completely spontaneous decision, and I have zero regrets – it was a summer I will forever think about fondly, and one that allowed me to establish strong friendships from all over the world. LEOlingo has fostered a huge admiration for Germany – I am already planning my next trip back! An average day at LEOlingo often depends on whether you are working as a day or night counsellor, and whether you are working at a day camp/overnight camp/adventure camp. Regardless of these differences, there are still a lot of consistencies. As a day counsellor you are essentially solely responsible for your group of kids during the day, so there is a fair amount of flexibility with what you decide to do and when. This is all building up for the “Happyning” at the end of the week, which is a show for the parents that demonstrates what they have learned/done while at camp. During each Happyning, your kids will typically sing a song together, perform a drama (x2, because you will split your group in half), and provide a demonstration/explanation of a sport and/or a game you did with your group. You will also send each kid home with a creative folder, which will contain all of the arts/crafts/language sheets that your kids completed throughout the week. If you are a day counsellor you typically work with the kids from 9am to 5pm, with an hour long lunch in between. Each day you will aim to play a sport, sing a song, play at least one language game, work on a creative folder, provide time for drama prep and activities, and play some of the other filler games. I will be the first to admit that sometimes this doesn’t all get done in one day, but keeping this structure in mind is important to make up for whatever you didn’t do in subsequent days (it also gets easier over the summer as you find your routine!). You are free to collaborate with other counsellors, which often works really well for sports and larger games and can give you all a break when sharing responsibilities. If you are a day counsellor at a day camp, your responsibilities are essentially over at 5pm each day, excluding any prep that would be required for the next day. If you are a day counsellor at an overnight camp, you may be asked by the night counsellors to help facilitate evening programming. You will also be asked to be a night counsellors during at least one of the weeks that you’re there, which requires planning games typically for the whole camp and then getting the kids to bed and waking them up. If you are working at an adventure camp, this usually means you get one “day off” from this regular programming to either go canoeing, horseback riding, caving, high rope climbing, etc. – this is usually a really nice break and is super fun (adventure camps were my favourite)! In terms of which sports/activities to teach, you are given a handbook which contains TONS of different stuff, so there will never be any shortage of things to do. You learn tons of these during training week (training week basically consists of you being the ‘kids’ and being taught all the games and getting to play them and it really is the best). The sports tend to be national sports, and you would typically aim to teach sports native to your country (so I taught a lot of hockey, lacrosse, and baseball -- yay Canada!). However you basically have free reign to teach whatever you want, and the rules are given to you in case you aren’t familiar with them (Gaelic Football became my go-to sport, even though I had never heard of it before LEOlingo). Some of the other activities you do are name games (for the beginning of the week), big group games (for the whole camp – usually one of these are played on the first and last day), and other smaller filler games (to get them to settle down, wake up, get them outside, etc). The majority of the games focus on improving their English, and you will also have a selection of language games to play that focus on this a bit more heavily and adds a bit of competition. During the summer, you may be asked to live with a host family, in a hostel, or on-site. So many of the families were incredibly kind and hospitable, and took their counsellor(s) out for meals/did some exploring around the city. I had a great time with them and was able to pick up a bit of German as a result! I would say the vast majority of counsellors loved their host family experience and continue to stay in touch with them. Weekends are usually planned for you, so you don’t have to worry about booking anything unless you decide to do something different than what Andrea arranged (i.e. sometimes people wanted to visit friends, hang out with their host families, explore Nuremberg, etc.), in which case you are responsible for the costs and getting back in time. Sometimes Andrea’s plans will require you to stay put if you are working at the same campsite for two weeks in a row. If whatever Andrea plans for you requires additional travel/hostel costs, she will cover that or reimburse you. You will also have a week off during your time there, which you usually are responsible for the costs of whatever you decide to do (last year, I spent that week in Budapest and Prague). Overall, it is a really great opportunity to travel and see different parts of the country and places nearby! This was honestly the best job I’ve had (and maybe will ever have). Most importantly, Andrea and her family, the campers, and the counsellors are all truly WONDERFUL people and are the main reasons that this experience was as positive as it was. I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone considering applying!

If you are a person who wants to meet great people, travel in Europe and work at a fun job that you can feel good about, this is the place for you. I worked at Leolingo for three consecutive summers, starting when I was 18. I'd grown up around camp and been a camp counselor in my home of Canada, and this was the perfect way to go on my first overseas adventure while still making money and being around fellow english speakers to explore with and learn about. The job itself is a blast. It's essentially going to camp for a summer, but you get to work with German youths and learn about their culture and teach about your own. The training is great to prepare you for running an English-language program for whatever age group you end working with throughout the summer (and you'll work with many different ones). Coworkers I had during my time there are lifetime friends. The bosses are even better than the coworkers. Whether you work in the North (for Sabine) or the South (Andrea), these are two of the loveliest, most accommodating bosses I've ever had. Every year, they have a completely unknown group of english-speaking foreigners descend upon them, and every year they consistently welcome into their home with warmth and excitement. You can't beat that. The campsites are all unique and beautiful, and give you the opportunity to see the different parts of Germany. They do a great job of rotating you around, too, so you can see Germany's great cities, its beautiful countryside and coasts. Leolingo was the first and biggest step I took outside my comfort zone, and I have zero regrets. It gave me a great opportunity to make some cash and travel Europe for a summer, and inspired my to go back time and time again and look for other opportunities to go abroad. I now work internationally a lot, like a lot of my colleagues I met there. I now have a network of great friends scattered across the world I can and do visit, friends I otherwise wouldn't know. I also now have some great memories, a little bit of conversational German, and an itch to get back to Germany any chance I get.

I have been lucky enough to spend 2 amazing summers working at Leolingo as an english and french language camp counsellor. Travelling abroad alone for the first time at 18 years old, and knowing no german and very little about Germany, I was both very excited and nervous upon arrival in Bavaria. However, as soon as we started training and I met the other counsellors, I knew I was embarking on the summer of a lifetime. The training week is quite intense, since we have to learn a lot about the program and have to master the Leolingo "camp mode". But it remains a highlight of the summer. The trainers are amazing, they are so full of energy, making you quickly come out of your comfort zone and start acting much sillier, that by the end of the first day all the counsellors are very comfortable around each over. The week is full of sports,games, songs and especially laughter. Andrea puts on lots of events during this week (bavarian evening, BBQ at her house, surprise activity...) that help us to bond even more as a team and feel at home. There is even the odd cheeky evening trip to the beergarden with the rest of the team after training. After all, we are in Germany! At the end of the week, the team is split up and dispatched to different camps around the Nuremberg area. Some of the camps we get to work at are stunning (german castles set in beautiful countryside). Each day counsellor generally gets his own group of 12 kids for the week. Working with them can sometimes be challenging and tiring, demanding a lot of patience, however most of the time it's so much fun. You really get to know most of the kids and bond with them a lot. Being an evening counsellor is also a really cool experience. By the end of the week, you are often sad to see the kids go. At the end of the week, there is a show where the kids really like to show their parents how much fun they've had and all the english/french they have. Despite the sadness of leaving the camp where you had such a good time, the prospect of discovering a new camp and meeting lots of new kids the next week keeps you looking forward. The week-end is a much deserved rest time away from children where you can recharge your batteries or travel around the area. Some weekends, we would meet up with the rest of the team and go to a german beer festival (there is always one on in Bavaria!) or even spend a night out in Nürnberg. Some of the most epic nights I will forever remember have been experienced over my two summers in Bavaria. You will probably have the chance during the summer of staying with a host family. Culturally, this is a huge bonus as it's an insight into german everyday life. German host families are so welcoming. They often treat you like a member of the family. I still exchange messages regularly with a few of the host families I met over my 2 summers and plan to meet up with them again. The social life aspect is definitely one of the most important. You meet so many like-minded young people from around the world, who you become really close with across the summer, spending some very memorable times together and becoming friends for life. Leolingo is like one big family! As for Andrea, she is certainly an amazingly unique boss. I imagine there are very few jobs where you could have the same kind of relationship with your boss. She opens up her home to you, and goes the extra mile to make sure everybody and everything is cared for. She is also always completely honest with you. She is certainly the personification of Leolingo. If you're looking for a summer full of fun, adventure, memorable experiences, amazing new friendships, beautiful scenery, and lots and lots of kids, Leolingo is the place to go! (oh, and also beer of course!)

The past two summers I have been lucky enough to work for LEOlingo. The whole experience has been incredible, and I would return every year if I could. I heard about LEOlingo from a friend who had also worked for Andrea and Sabine, and as soon as I heard the details of the position I knew I had to apply. Personally, I had worked at many summer camps in Canada, so I understood the amount of work overnight camps took. For those who have not worked at summer camps before, it can seem like a huge commitment, knowing that the children are there and you are responsible for them for the entire week but there is a lot of support. There is always a night and day councillor, so if you are a day councillor you can relax at night, although it is always fun to join in with the night programs and vice versa. Each camp has a different theme, which you get to experience as well. I able to go caving in two cities this summer, which was one of the highlights. Most weeks you get to experience a new city in Germany which can be very exciting. I was in some small towns of only 200 people, but also some weeks I was very close to Nuremburg so I was able to go explore the city during the week after the camp day was over. Some weekends we would stay overnight at the camp, and there were many different activities, even in the smaller towns to do. One of the best highlights I find is the social life. I have been able to make life long friends from around the world because of LEOlingo. Every weekend we would get to explore different areas of Germany, and on our week off some of us even travelled to different countries together. These friends become your family because you are surrounded by them for 7 weeks. The most important thing to know about this job is that you will have an incredible boss. Andrea was always understanding, and organized and she cares so much for every one of her employees. She always wants to know how you are doing and if she can help you in anyway. Coming from Canada, it is a big change going to a place where I did not know the language, nor know anyone in Germany. Andrea worked very hard to make sure we were happy. She also spent a lot of time planning special events which helped our team bond even more. Although this job is exhausting, and stressful at times, I could not recommend it enough. If you are someone who loves to travel, meet friends from around the world, but also work with some amazing kids then you could not ask for a better job.

I worked as a camp counsellor for Leolingo over the summer in 2016 and had the most amazing time! The group of counsellors I worked with are now good friends of mine, and we had some incredible adventures and memories together throughout the summer. The camps themselves are intense, and it is a long day of work, but it is also extremely rewarding. The kids are genuinely excited about English and I had some really fun times with my groups. The job really requires you to get silly and crazy at times. You can't take yourself too seriously. It is technically a teaching job, but it is definitely not a traditional classroom-type atmosphere. It's summer camp, after all! You'll find yourself doing ridiculous things. It's one of the things I loved most about working at Leolingo. Staying with German host families was also another great aspect of this job. If you're interested in learning about German language and culture, there is no better way to do it. My host families all embraced me into their daily lives and were some of the kindest people I've ever met. I'm already planning trips to go back and visit! Overall, I feel incredibly lucky to have worked at Leolingo. I met so many amazing people, learned so many things, and had so many unique and exciting experiences. It has by far been my favourite summer job ever!

When applying for summer jobs, I knew I wanted to spend time in Germany and so when I got offered the LeoLingo job my excitement levels were already high. Nevertheless, I wasn't sure what to expect turning up in a new town in the middle of Bavaria for the training. I needn't have been apprehensive, it was soon clear that I was in for a great summer. The other counsellors were all wonderful, energetic and like-minded. Hailling from both sides of the Atlantic, around 20 counsellors all got to know each other quickly and we soon bonded throughout training, also thanks to Andrea organising social events (including a bbq at hers, a bavarian evening, and a surprise day trip at the end of the week). It was a long week- but definitely worth it, as it sealed friendships and prepared us all well for the activity weeks to come! It soon came to us splitting off to our different camp sites for the first week, some smaller camps had only a few counsellors, but for bigger sites there were sometimes 6 or 7 of us. Even for someone who already loves Germany's landscapes, I was blown away by beauty of some of the locations that I was lucky to work out. Fancy living in a castle? How about a day by a clear blue lake? or scaling mountain-faces with views for miles? Of course, you have to work a bit too ;) but ultimately, if you are well-prepared for your week and willing to have fun with the kids, you can make camp run much more smoothly- and hopefully the kids learnt something too! Working with other counsellors is also great as you can share ideas, and work together for some activities. You are constantly learning from the other counsellors and soon you get a sense for what works best with the kids too. It's very rewarding to see the shy kids come out of their shells by the end of the week. Not only do the kids gain more confidence, but I even felt much more confident myself as the weeks rolled by! Although the weeks were long - especially at overnight camps, weekends came around quickly and often counsellors would meet up for an night of socialising (and perhaps the odd Volksfest). It was also possible to have a week off. I personally visited other cities in Bavaria, but others went further a field to Prague and Budapest. By the end of the seven weeks I didn't want to leave, and in fact I stayed in Germany for 3 more weeks with some of the cash I saved from LeoLingo helping me do this! All in all, the summer was close to a dream! Great colleagues, lovely host families (where I stayed during training), fun kids, stunning locations and an incomparable boss! Andrea and her wonderful family make you feel at home and are unbelievably generous with their hospitality and advice. I have never worked for a more personable and well organised boss- and I doubt I ever will ! Germany has a special place in my heart, and now so does LeoLingo. I hope to be back very soon!

Whilst on my University 'careerzone' looking for a summer job I stumbled across LEOlingo - what a stroke of luck! I wasted no time in applying, during my interview with Andrea she made me feel relaxed and further convinced me that this was a company that I would enjoy working for; the Summer I spent with LEOlingo did not disappoint. During the training week you get to meet all the other counsellors, everyone is so like minded and friendly that within no time you will have made great friends. Coupled with Andrea's meals and parties you are guaranteed to make some fantastic memories. This isn't to say that at times the job isn't challenging, during the training week when I was first trusted with a group of my own I found it difficult, however this made it all the more rewarding when the English of the children improves and you create a relationship with them! This feeling of achievement is a common theme throughout the summer, particularly at the end of week happynings!! Personally my host families were one of the main reasons my summer was so next level, I stayed with 2 families for extended periods of time. To be truly welcomed into a family allows you to experience the area as the locals do and visit places you otherwise may not have known about. Both of my families couldn't have done more for me and I've been fortunate to keep in touch with both, in fact one family is visiting England in August and we've already arranged to meet! It is the combination of many factors (more than possible to list here!!) that makes LEOlingo such a unique, fantastic experience; the people you work with, the beautiful locations of the camps, the truly welcoming spirit of the German people and of course Andrea and her family. My only regret is that due to securing a graduate job I will not be able to return this Summer, I honestly can't recommend this experience enough.

Applying to this role I had no idea of what to expect, however it exceeded all expectations and is a Summer that I will always look back on with great memories! The role is much more than a conventional teaching job, with the day consisting of sport, singing, theater and various games and activities. More than that, the overall experience that I enjoyed could be unique to LeoLingo. It is hard to describe every aspect of the role, but there were a few aspects that I think would make this opportunity stand out. The atmosphere that is created from the training week is so enjoyable; you are working with about 20 other young people from around the world and it is clear that everyone is there to work hard and enjoy themselves too; this is encouraged by Andrea who runs the company in a very personable way. Throughout the Summer she welcomes the counselors into her home and even puts on meals and parties. This means that you get very good friends with everybody very quickly, this makes working at the camps a great laugh. You are also trusted with a lot of responsibility. After training there is no 'boss' at each camp, you are effectively trusted to run everything yourself, which means you can have a lot of fun with the kids and create a really fun atmosphere. Because of the training, you can deliver the program comfortably, and the camps are often in amazing locations and involve some sort of activity. I was also welcomed into three amazing German families throughout the Summer. The first were two grandparents who spoke little English, but could not do enough for us and took us on tours of Bavaria and on various excursions. Another were a family from Nuremberg who were also absolutely amazing. Everybody spoke about how their adopted families could not do enough, a highlight for me was being taken up 30 meters above Nuremburg city center on top of a fire engines tower, despite being terrified of heights. Finally, you get paid very well; 200 euros a week with food and accommodation included, means you can have a lot of fun at the weekends exploring Bavaria, highlights including Nuremburg Volksfest and also visiting Munich. You also receive one week holiday out of the 8, which I spent travelling to Prague, Budapest and Krakow. Overall, I cannot speak highly enough of this role. It improved my confidence immensely and the friendly, warm atmosphere created by Andrea, her family, the other counselors and also the German's in general really made the Summer special!

Having stumbled across LeoLingo quite last minute I didn't really know what to expect and how exactly I would find the experience. Now having been back in the UK for just over a month I can say that it was the best way I could have spent my summer!! Andrea, her family and the whole LeoLingo organisation are amazing, going above and beyond to offer the support and care you need when doing something that may be pushing you outside your comfort zone. The training week fully equips you for the camps and is a great week to get to know the other counsellors too before you are let loose on a class of your own! Travelling around different parts of Germany, experiencing many new things, making new friends, singing songs and having fun with a bunch of 10/11 year olds - what's not to love? Although at times working with children can be tough, you know you have the support of the other counsellors and Andrea to put that smile back on your face again - and also the kids themselves, not a day went by when there wouldn't be something one of them would say or do that would make you laugh. It sounds daft but the experience also developed me personally, who knew I could present a Happy-ning and actually quite enjoy it, or go canoeing and not capsize, or (eventually) get a class of 11/12 year olds to come up with a rap in English - it really was something different and brilliant. I cannot recommend LeoLingo highly enough; so many great memories, friends and experiences were made over my summer in Germany.

Seriously, the saying "work hard, play harder" fits perfectly to LeoLingo, because it wasn't only serious work, but SO MUCH FUN! I worked in Bavaria with Andrea Baer and it was awesome. She was a great boss and very helpful. The people I got to work with were excellent and very professional. The work I had to do was a bit stressful; however, with the fantastic working environment, everything went smoothly. Plus, it gave me the chance to travel around every weekend. Everything was just amazing. Seriously, it's impossible for me to find negative points here. Finally, If I could do it again, I wouldn't think twice and take the job immediately! LeoLingo rocks!

I worked at Leo Lingo for three consecutive summers and had an absolute ball. The training week was really comprehensive, and I felt really prepared for my first week of work. You get loads of support from your employer, and the atmosphere in the camps is great. Getting to work with colleagues from all over the world was great fun, and there was plenty of time at the weekend to explore the local area . Germany has a great rail network so it is easy to get most of the major cities on the weekend, even if your camp is in a little village. Leo Lingo is a very professional company, you are always paid on time and looked after well - teaching on the camps is all about fun and sharing your home culture with the kids so you really feel you are making a difference. I'd highly recommend Leo Lingo to anyone, and wish I had the time to go back this summer!

After I finished my Bachelors, I decided to move to Europe and LEOlingo was my "starting point". The first week of intensive training was bind boggling, but FUN and it truly prepared me to have more confidence in myself and how to be a role model for the campers. Now, summer 2014 will be my fourth summer at LEOlingo and I will be leading that very same training week, so BE READY! :D My first summer at camp was a BLAST! I met so many wonderful people and on our week of holiday, we went to the beautiful Prague. Late summer, I headed north to the Baltic Sea for a camp there, then traveled Hamburg and Berlin. After that summer, I kept in touch with the few counselors I connected with and we met in Italy, Greece, and, upon a trip home to Milwaukee, one flew from Seattle to spend the week! SOCIAL LIFE: LEOlingo opens your mind to not only the German culture, but introduces you to other Brits/Aussies/Kiwis/Canadians/Irish/Yankees, etc. which has taught me loads about my own English! In addition, because 85% of the job requires you to be a goofball, these people become your "European Family" practically within a week. In addition, weekends and holiday weeks allow you to travel with your new friends. CAMP: Language games, songs, sports… all spent teaching in Bavaria, Germany. What more could you ask for? From youth hostels to small castles, the Bavarian countryside is nothing less than blissful and adventurous at the same time. Counselors are encouraged to challenge campers through a playful atmosphere… the best way of learning for both parties. National sports are introduced (rugby, American football, cricket, etc.) and those are mixed with both vocabulary and, depending on the level or age of the campers, more “conversational” games. (Not to worry, you will learn ALL of these in training week!) EMPLOYER: LEOlingo is a co-owned company. Sabine is the fun-loving lady in the north, and Andrea is the adventurous one in the south. Both are dedicated to their employees and take good care of them. They ensure that you’re comfortable and confident in your job, the campers, and other team members for the week. They recognize when you’re working hard, are grateful for the extra work put in, and welcome you into their own families for the summer. COMPARING CAMPS AND SAVING MONEY: When comparing to other summer camps across Europe, LEOlingo is not a large company organization that employs hundreds of counselors. If you’re looking for a “family-feel” business, LEOlingo is the ticket. Plus, most other camps offer to provide only accommodation and food, no wage. LEOlingo takes care of all three of those, plus provides transportation costs to your camp the following week. If you’re still at Uni or wish to travel a bit afterwards, you’ll save a good chunk of change. If you ask me, this is a no-brainer! “FREE TIME” A popular phrase among the German campers, we know counselors value theirs too. Weekends are your time to do/see what you like. There are times where you may be at a more remote campsite and allows you explore the beauties of German nature, and have a weekend of “Zen”. I personally loved these weekends of hiking and exploring the village towns nearby to try their home brew. :) If you choose not to stay, you're welcome to find your own weekend plans as well. As for holiday weeks off, counselors usually are granted one week (Saturday-Saturday). OVERALL: Overall, LEOlingo has been a life-changing experience for me. Call it a “cliché” but the fact that I’ll be retuning for my fourth summer says a lot about a company. Since my first summer in 2011, I decided to stay abroad and teach English. The reward you receive as a counselor, or now a teacher for me, is unforgettable. Campers look up to you, rely on you, and you’ll be in their memory as one of the first native English speakers they’ve ever met. The impact you make on them could not only change their opinion on studying a foreign language, but how they see the world. It certainly has done just that for me.

This may sound like an overstatement, but it's actually very true! I worked for LEOlingo in summer 2013. Before that, I hadn't taught English before, nor had I worked as a camp counsellor. I was, however, ready to have fun, make a fool of myself, meet new people and see new places. As it turned out, I did all of those things and more, and as a result enjoyed my time so much that I've since done an English teaching course, now live in Germany and can't wait for summer 2014 to come around for round 2! I met a brilliant group of likeminded people and had so much fun in a really positive environment. I hadn't realised just how rewarding it would be to work as a camp counsellor. Of course it was challenging at times (12 young teenagers can be a tougher crowd than you might think!), but that's why you get so much from it in the end, and the more fun you have, the easier it is! Andrea and Sabine are such kind and generous people to work for. I couldn't really believe my luck, being paid for enjoying everything from a 500m zip wire across a lake in Bavaria to canoeing on the Baltic Sea! Both areas around Nuremberg and Hamburg offer fantastic opportunities to travel and enjoy the local culture too. Really, don't hesitate to send an application their way, it can open the door to so many great experiences - it certainly did for me!

This is one of the best places I have ever worked. I came for my first summer in 2008 and thought Germany, why not? I continued to come back summer after summer till 2012! The work environment was stunning and I always felt taken care of. The initial time I went over I was scared of getting a visa and getting around without issues, I could not have been more wrong. The culture and overall good natured people of Germany were amazing. The program gave me a chance to grow as an idividual as well as a professional. I would return to Germany and this company full time if that were an option. The management of this company was always professional and timly. Honestly if you are adventurous and want to be part of an amazing culture and country then reach out and submit a application. I had an open mind about leo-lingo and it was life changing and made me appreciate working for an amazing company.