Top 17 summer camps in Italy

The best summer children's language camps in Italy specialize in the language training of schoolchildren and students interested in the culture and art of the country. You will find a wide range of children's programs, as well as courses for students with serious academic training.

Best summer language camps in Italy allow children to spend their holidays abroad with benefit. Programs in the camps combine studying with active pastime and intensive studies. The main advantages of summer language schools:

• Prices in Italy are lower than in other TOP European countries, a wide price range will allow you to find the best program
• You can learn English and Italian, combining language lessons with the development of any field of activity or acquaintance with art, fashion, sports
• Students are immersed in the language environment and communicate only in a foreign language: this fact perfectly influences the effectiveness of the courses.
• Children will find a rich entertainment program, exciting trips, excursions and electives.
• Students will be able to live in an amazing atmosphere of celebration and good nature among hospitable Italians, enjoying the snow-white peaks of the Alps, coniferous forest, orange groves, volcanoes, lakes, beaches.

To summer children's language camps in Italy brought the maximum benefit, it is necessary to correctly select a school and a course. Programs differ in their approach to learning, and most importantly, in goals. There are 4 main features that are worth considering:

1. Goals

2. Level of difficulty

3. Degree of intensity

4. Age of a student.

There are two types of programs: short-term and long-term. Long-term courses require in-depth study of the language, development of special vocabulary, grammar and phraseology. At the beginning of any language classes, students are tested to identify the level of knowledge, after which they are trained in specially formed groups. Students take weekly mini-tests that show language progress.

When compiling programs for adolescents over 14 years old, the emphasis is put on getting acquainted with the Italian education system, which is especially important for those who are going to receive a long-term education here (enter a university or school).

In areas for students under 14 years old, the emphasis is put on outdoor activities, intensive development of language skills: this is due to the fact that a child under 14 years old is more active in the classroom and expresses a greater zeal for learning languages. The training takes place in groups of 10-15 people, the course is personality-oriented, after which students will receive a prestigious certificate.

Popular programs:

• A standard language program involves learning basic language skills. Classes are built according to classical schemes, teachers adhere to a communicative approach to studying
• Intensive and super-intensive courses are designed for those who need to learn a language as soon as possible. These courses are distinguished by a concise program and require a lot of hard work: usually they are chosen by teenagers who plan to take exams or enter an educational institution abroad
• Leadership schools and business schools will help to master business vocabulary, work hard on a communication skill, develop leadership skills and flexibility of thinking. They are taught to confidently express their opinions, to defend their point of view reasonably, talk about business ethics, features of business correspondence and negotiations
• Preparatory courses for passing exams have their own characteristics: there are no specific lessons on mastering language skills. The main goal is the analysis of test tasks
• Academic camps are suitable for students with confident knowledge of the language: they can not only learn the language, but also devote time to studying the priority area.

The number of classes depends on the intensity of the chosen course - the students spend the rest of their time traveling around the cities in Italy, visiting the sights, devoting their free time to shopping and entertainment. Approximate schedule of events:

• Trip to the islands of the Venetian lagoon
• Visit to Padua
• Watching Italian Cinema
• Photography lessons
• Drawing
• Visit to numerous art objects in Italy
• Visit to a glass factory in Murano
• Venetian festival
• Lido bike tour
• Sightseeing in Rome
• Italian cuisine and more.

Programs based on prestigious private boarding schools are especially popular with foreign students. Pupils are in comfortable conditions that allow to combine studying with a hobby, spend a lot of time outdoors. One day schedule:

• 9:00 - Breakfast
• 10:00 - Workshops
• 13:00 - Lunch
• 15:00 - Seminars / electives
• 17:00 - Practical exercises
• 19:00 - Evening events, free time
• 20:00 - Dinner
• 23:00 - Hang up.

Another option is to choose a camp on the basis of Italian universities and colleges, which will allow you to plunge into the academic world of educational institutions: camp students will study in student classes and university laboratories, and teachers from colleges and universities will deal with them.

To study courses that involve academic disciplines, you will need language skills not lower than the average level. For younger students in summer schools, the program includes learning the language and priority school subjects.

The cost of summer programs is not the lowest, but it should be borne in mind that language children's schools usually work on an all-inclusive basis:

• Lessons
• Accommodation in a host family or residence
• Board meals
• Educational materials and stationery
• Basic set of excursions
• Language test to determine the level of knowledge
• Insurance
• Activities at the summer camp
• Optional classes and creative circles
• Certificate of completion of the program.

1. The school at New York University Florence will allow you to plunge into art and study at the university, furnished with masterpieces of the Renaissance. Summer programs for students last 2-3 months and offer to delve into the following areas: politics, law, humanitarian areas and sociology

2. Florence University of the Arts - the programs of this university are suitable for those who want to gain experience in the walls of a prestigious higher educational institution. The university offers a wide list of programs lasting from one week

3. Lorenzo de 'Medici boasts a wide range of programs in English in architecture, design, social sciences, culture

4. John Cabot University - The university is located in the heart of Rome and invites you to programs lasting five weeks. The program will allow you to enjoy the art and culture of the country thanks to a rich extracurricular plan

5. The Umbra Institute is an educational institution with excellent programs that will allow you to enjoy student life in a large cultural center.

While studying at the Italian summer school, the most cost-effective option is the residence - this is the most practical option, because it solves all issues: proximity to the school, constant supervision, accommodation in double or single rooms, boarding (at least 3 times a day) meals, busy schedule. A little more expensive will cost accommodation in the host family. All host families are carefully selected: as a rule, these are young families without children, where a foreign student lives in a single room, has breakfast and dinner in the family, and dines at school. This type of residence in Italy during studying opens up additional opportunities to practice the language and learn a lot about the Italians. Separate apartments while studying at the Italian Summer School are more suitable for students over 18 years old, the prices for this type of accommodation are already higher.

The best programs for students:

1. Gentium Schola Opitergium - Italian courses with outdoor activities in Venice

2. University of Arts - Italian for Fashion

3. Alphabet International Camps - adventure camp in Rome for children of 13-17 years

4. Orbitlingua - summer course in Orbetello

5. Linguaviva - children's camp 12+.