The job description
a typical day on this gap project
Our camps provide a unique work experience in rural France, working on a multi-cultural team and meeting people from all over France as well as Anglophone countries across the globe - all while having fun with the campers under your care.
Our English Language Counselors live at camp! They lead activities & English classes for French children between the ages of 7 & 17 years old. Typical camp activities include sports, arts & crafts, dance, large scale games, etc. Counselors perform in skits, dress up in costumes, tell stories, and lead songs & cheers, daily. In the classroom, you would use ESL games and teach based on our lesson overviews. You would participate in daily team meetings with the other counselors.
Counselors are, of course, responsible for the safety and general well-being of the campers under their care.
Who are we looking for?
what makes you the ideal candidate
We look for team players who love working with children! No French is required for this job. In fact, no counselor may speak French during employment!
We only seek Language Counselors who are fluent English speakers, with camp counseling, childcare, &/or teaching experience.
Language Counselors must have a clear criminal history, and be at least 20 years old.
Counselors must know enough about USA or UK history and culture (sports, arts, current events, folktales, science, for example) to brainstorm themed recreational activities and skits for the French children.
What can we offer you?
why choose us for your gap year
We offer a monthly wage, meals and on-site accommodation. Working at American Village Camps is a good ESL job. For debutants, it gives you international experience within a well-defined structure. For more seasoned ESL teachers, it is a good fit if you are ready to get out of the classroom, and onto the playing field! In terms of salary, our counselors are paid two times the minimum daily salary for camp counselors in France.
While our counselors live and work on-location at camp, they generally use their time before or after their employment to discover France - its traditions, cuisine, landscapes, language and people. Our teams can be quite multi-cultural and friendships are easily made in a camp setting. Working with children is a rewarding experience and also, a lot of fun!