LEOlingo - South (Bavaria)

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.

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!

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.