Speak Teens offers English language immersion summer camps in Italy.

We bring together native English-speaking Teens from around the world with English language-learning Teens in order to immerse them in English in a vibrant international summer camp experience.

The camp programme consists of a mixture of One-to-One conversation sessions, group discussions and activities, fun projects, sports and games. The programme offers both an unforgettable summer experience while developing the English speaking and listening skills of the leaners through natural conversation.

Each day contains One-to-One sessions, each involving one Anglo and one English Learner, as well as a variety of group activities and games. The day begins with breakfast and is followed by One-to-One sessions and group activities. Then there will be lunch and some free time to relax. The afternoon may kick off with a project, group session or sports, before dinner. After dinner, the whole group will be involved in a fun and engaging evening session before bed.

The English Leaners joining the Speak Teens programme are young people from Italy and other European counties who wish to develop their English communication skills, improve their fluency and enjoy an international summer camp experience.

At Speak Teens there are both English lessons with our qualified English teachers as well as fun and exciting ways of learning that involve both our staff and Anglos.

Speak Teens is all about helping communicate as much new language as possible to our Learners and interacting with them in English throughout the day.

Our Anglo Guides at Valbonella are mother-tongue English-speaking Teens from around the world.

Anglo Guides participating at our Summer Camp at Valbonella will help our Leaners improve their English and participate in an unforgettable summer camp experience in Italy as well as making new friends from around the world.

For Anglo Guides, every day is about spending time with our Learners, chatting with them in English and boosting their language skills and confidence in speaking to native English speakers – something they might never have done before!

Click here for more information about being an Anglo Guide.

We look for Anglo Guides who are chatty, friendly and sociable! 

The whole aim of Speak is to naturally communicate in English with our Learners and so you will need to talk, talk and talk some more! We ask that you simply chat away as you would at home with your friends – and of course always in English! So, you will need to participate fully in all aspects of the programme such as discussions, activities, games and projects. It’s important that you are curious about the other participants, contribute to making the programme a lot fun and be patient, supportive and understanding with the English learners.

To be an Anglo Guide at Valbonella we accept applications from teens aged between 15-17 years of age

Our Summer Camp is designed to be a lot of fun but also help the English learners to improves their English so our rule is:

English only during programme!

We would be happy to receive an application from a friend if you would like to come together. However, please note that they will need to apply separately and use a separate email address. Please remember however, that we will consider their application independently so we cannot guarantee that you will both be accepted.

Because the programme is all about speaking and socialising, we discourage the use of mobile phones during programme sessions.

However, there will of course be opportunities at various points during the day when you will be able to speak with family. This will be during your free time. Our location has limited Wi-Fi available in communal areas so that you can contact family using WhatsApp or other similar services.

We also have a Speak contact phone which is active 24 hours a day for any emergencies.

Step 1: Online Application

Please fill in the online form carefully, telling us all about yourself. It’s important you complete the form as fully as possible to give yourself the best chance of being accepted. Once we have received your completed application, we will be in contact with you via email to acknowledge your application. Once your application has been accepted and, if we think that you are right for the Anglo Guide role at Speak Teens English Adventure Camp, we will contact you in order to arrange an informal interview. The interview will be an opportunity for you to meet a Speak Teens Summer Camp manager and learn more about the Camp and our Students. We will chat about your application and the Anglo Guide role in more detail.

Step 2: Offer of a place on a Camp

If you are successful at the interview stage, we will offer you a place at our Speak Teens Summer Camp. Please be aware that while we will try our best to satisfy your choice of Camp dates, this may not always be possible depending on availability. Once we have arranged the Camp dates, we will send you our Official Invitation Email which will include a Welcome Pack together with our Anglo Agreement for you to sign. Please read the Agreement carefully before signing.

Step 3: Anglo Agreement

You will then have 7 days from the date of receiving the Official Invitation Email to sign and return the Anglo Agreement.

Step 4: Confirmation Email & Admin Fee Payment

Once we have received your signed Anglo Agreement, we will send you an official Confirmation Email together with a request for payment of the non-refundable Admin Fee of €195*. This fee covers all administrative services outside of the Camp (Admin fee, Meet & Greet service, Coach transfers, Public Liability Insurance). Proof of payment of the Admin Fee is required within 14 days of the Confirmation Email.

* Note: This fee is reduced by 50% for two siblings attending together.

Step 5: Contact Form

The Confirmation Email also includes a link to our online Reserved Area for the Camp for which you have been accepted where you can find more information and a Contact Form which you will need to fill in once your travel arrangements have been organised.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT make any travel arrangements prior to receiving the Confirmation Email.

We typically respond to applications within four weeks. However, our Programmes are very popular and so it may take longer on occasions so please be patient!

You will need to arrive between 9.00-14.00 at the Welcome Club in Bologna on the first day of the Programme.

The Welcome Club is the place where you will be registered by the Speak Teens team and get to meet some of the other participants on the Speak Summer Camp, enjoy some refreshments and then take one of our private Coach Transfers to our location, Valbonella. The journey will take around 1.5 hours.

IMPORTANT: Anglos must arrive between 9.00am and 14.00 in order to register.

It is strongly recommended that you arrive in Bologna the day before the Programme so that you make the Welcome Club in good time the next day.   

Detailed information regarding arrivals is included in the Speak Teens Welcome Pack.

On the final day of the Camp you will have breakfast before leaving the location on our private Coach Transfer, returning to the Welcome Club in Bologna where you will need to be collected between 12.00-14.00.

*Please see FAQ regarding Unaccompanied Minors if you are travelling alone.

Clothing: Italy is hot in the summer and so participants should be prepared accordingly. Please ensure you bring plenty of practical, comfortable clothes and footwear for the Programme. This means plenty of shorts and t-shirts, trainers, flip flops and swimming costumes. You should also bring lots of sun cream with you! However, temperatures may drop slightly in the evenings so a hoodie or waterproof may come in useful. Sun glasses and hats are highly recommended. Towels and bedding are provided but we advise you to bring a beach towel to use at the swimming pool.

Personal objects: Speak will provide all the materials necessary for the camp. However, it can be useful to bring along any items which you feel may aid discussion. You are also welcome to bring a musical instrument or anything else which reflects your personality or culture! Please do not bring valuable items such as iPads or expensive jewellery.

Medicine: If you regularly take medicines for a particular condition such as asthma, please ensure you bring enough medication with you for the duration of the camp.

Detailed information regarding what to bring and medical information is included in the Speak Teens Welcome Pack.

During check-in, our Speak staff will take important documents such as passports, ID cards and any other documents you would like to be kept safe. They will also take any money you bring with you to keep it safe. You can then access your money when you like from the “Speak Bank”.

Everything is included at the Speak Teens Summer Camp so you won’t need to bring much pocket money with you but, of course, you may wish to buy some snacks or souvenirs, for example when we go on an excursion. We would therefore recommend that you bring a minimum of €80 to spend during the programme.

Once your participation is confirmed, we will provide you with a Welcome Pack including all information for your arrival and departure, travel advice and suggestions for accommodation in Bologna.

Please note however that Speak cannot make any travel or accommodation bookings on your behalf.

Should you require any specific assistance, do not hesitate to contact us at teenanglos@speakinitaly.com

Speak will take care of everything during the Camp so that Teen Anglos can enjoy the experience to the full. Speak provides the following:

- Reception at the Welcome Club in Bologna.

- Private Group coach transfer from the Welcome Club on the first day of the Camp to Valbonella.

- 7 nights’ accommodation and all meals in our beautiful location from dinner on the first day of the Camp to breakfast on the last day of the Camp.

- An excursion during your stay to a local place of interest!

- Private Group coach transfer from Valbonella to the Welcome Club in Bologna on the final day of the Camp.

Once your application has been accepted and you have received our Official Invitation Email, all Anglo Guides will be required to pay a non-refundable Admin Fee of €195*. 

* Note: This fee is reduced by 50% for two siblings attending together.

This fee covers all administrative services outside of the Camp (Admin fee, Meet & Greet service, Coach transfers, Public Liability Insurance).

There is no charge for the Speak Summer Camp experience itself for Anglo Guides! This includes: 

- Stay of 7 nights in quality en-suite accommodation;

- Quality full board from dinner on the first day of the Camp to breakfast on the final day of the Camp.

-  Full-day Excursion

Anglos must be sure of their legal entitlement to be in Italy for the entire duration of the Programme. 

Our Anglos come from all over the world and therefore every case is different. While citizens of many countries do not need any kind of visa to enter Italy as a tourist (at least for a period of less than 90 days), Speak advises all Anglo participants to check the procedures required with the relevant authorities in your home country for minors travelling abroad and your ability to meet the requirements necessary in order to enter Italy. The Anglo must, upon arrival in Italy, be in possession of an individual passport and other documentation required for entry and stay in Italy and that is not due to expire for at least six months beyond the final date of the Programme selected. 

A good starting point is the Italian Foreign Office official website which offers advice to nationals of different countries wishing to enter Italy. Please click on the link below to find out more: http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

IMPORTANT: You will need to bring 2 photocopies of your passport or National Identity Card and other important documentation with you to Camp.

You will be covered by Speak’s Public Liability Insurance (Unipol Sai) for the duration of your time at the Programme.

We strongly recommend that Anglos take out private travel/baggage/medical insurance to cover them for the entire duration of their stay.

Please do not purchase your travel tickets yet!

Once your application has been accepted, we will send you our Welcome Pack  - including all of the necessary information regarding the Programme, travel tips and suggestions for accommodation together with an Anglo Agreement to sign and instructions for payment of the administration fee.

Once we have received your signed Anglo Agreement and administration fee, we will send you a Programme Confirmation Email and at that point you may proceed with booking travel and any accommodation outside of the Programme dates.

Do not hesitate to contact us at teenanglos@speakinitaly.com should you require further assistance.

Those who chose to arrive in Bologna as an ‘Unaccompanied Minor’ will be met by a member of our dedicated Speak Transfer Team. When travelling as a UM, airlines take care of everything until passing the UM over to a nominated member of the Speak Team at arrivals who will then accompany them to the nearby Welcome Club at Amadeus Hotel.

If you wish to make use of our UM service (included in the administration fee) you will need to contact the Speak Teens team in advance in order to arrange the necessary documentation. For more information please contact Speak at teenanglos@speakinitaly.com.