Speak Teens offers English language immersion 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. Our Camps consist of a mixture of One-to-One conversation sessions, group discussions and activities, fun projects, sports and games. Our Camp offers both an unforgettable summer experience while developing the English speaking and listening skills of the students through natural conversation.
Our Summer Camp 2024 at Valbonella in Emilia-Romagna welcomes Learners of between 10-16 years of age.
The students joining the Speak Teens programme are young people from Italy and other counties who wish to develop their English communication skills, improve their fluency and enjoy an international summer camp experience.
The Anglo Guides are native English-speaking teenagers from all over the world. Precisely because they come from different countries and different regions, their accents are different too. They are friendly and sociable and like making new friends, sharing stories, their experiences and their culture.
Our Speak Teens Summer Camps focus on speaking and listening in English and create the environment conducive to spontaneous and natural conversation. By communicating exclusively in English at all times throughout the day, you will get real practice in a range of natural situations, hear a range of English accents and lose the inhibitions that so often block those learning a language.
Each day will contain One-to-One sessions involving one English Learner and one Anglo Guide, as well as a variety of group activities and games.
The day begins with breakfast and is followed by lessons, 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.
Our innovative and highly communicative approach to learning allows learners of all levels to be challenged and make real progress.
Our Camp at Valbonella is designed for students looking to improve their communicative skills in English while having a lot of fun!
You will receive a Speak Teens certificate for your participation in the Camp, highlighting your progress through the Camp.
In addition, Speak is also an exam centre for Trinity College London. Learners can choose to take a Trinity GESE exam that at the end of the Summer Camp in order to certify their speaking and listening skills. Please write to teens@speakinitaly.com for more details.
It would seem logical for those who want to improve their English to go abroad, yet often summer schools in English-speaking countries offer the same cycle of lessons as an English school at home and very little chance to actually speak and practice English with English speakers. Speak Teens offers a unique situation where you will be speaking in English every moment of the day with our mother-tongue Anglos, from the time you wake up from the time you go to bed at night!
To reserve a place at the Speak Teens Summer Camp 2024, fill in the online Booking Form here. After completing the Booking Form, we will send you a confirmation email together with your pre-completed Booking Form and the Terms and Conditions of the Speak Teens Summer Camp. These documents will need signing and sending back to us at teens@speakinitaly.com or completing by hand and sending to our office address: Speak Srl, Viale Pio XI, 11/a, 70056, Molfetta (BA).
After receiving the signed documents, we will send you a confirmation email with a Purchase Order with explanations on how to make payment. For each payment made, we will send a confirmation e-mail with an invoice attached.
Of course! We welcome bookings from those who wish to stay for more than one Camp. Discounts are also available for multiple Camp bookings.
Absolutely! At our Summer Camp at Valbonella, all Learners will go on a full-day excursion to the incredible nearby dam, Diga di Ridracoli and enjoy a session of rafting on the crystal clear waters. They will also be involved in nature treks to a nearby lake and a guided evening “Walk with Wolves” in the forest!
Students can either arrive directly at our location or make use of our Meeting Point in the heart of Italy, in Bologna. Those who prefer to arrive at our Welcome Club in Bologna on the first day of the Camp will come to our Welcome Club at the Amadeus Hotel near Bologna Airport (BLQ).
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 joining the Speak Camp. You will have time to start mixing with both other students and English-speaking Anglo Guides and enjoy some light refreshments before taking one of our private Coach Transfers to our camp location: Valbonella.
Once we are ready to leave the Welcome Club we will take you on one of our private coach transfers to the location.
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 at our location.
Personal objects: Speak will provide all the materials necessary for the programme. 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 programme. Detailed information regarding what to bring and medical information is included in the Speak Teens Welcome Pack.
All participants will be in multiple rooms with other participants. Generally, the rooms are 4-7 beds each and every room has a private bathroom. Staff are located in nearby rooms and there is always a member of staff available 24 hours.
Absolutely. Our location has a fully prepared kitchen and professional staff offering the best of local Italian cuisine. They will be more than happy to cater for specific dietary requirements. Just let us know on your application!
As well as our qualified First Aid trained staff always at hand on-site, our location has agreements with nearby doctors as well as easy access to both dentist and hospital services.
During check-in at the location 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.
You will be covered by Speak’s Public Liability Insurance (UnipolSai) for the duration of your time at the Programme.
We strongly recommend that you take out private travel/baggage/medical insurance to cover them for the entire duration of the Programme.
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 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.
On the final day of the Camp you will have breakfast before either being collected by your parents or leaving the location on our private Coach Transfer, returning to the Welcome Club at the Amadeus Hotel near Bologna Airport (BLQ) where you will need to be collected between 12.00 – 13.00 *Please see FAQ below regarding Unaccompanied Minors if you are travelling alone.
Once your booking 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 teens@speakinitaly.com
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 the Amadeus Hotel.
If you wish to make use of our UM service 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 teens@speakinitaly.com.
Viale Pio XI, 11/a
70056 Molfetta (BA)