Language Exchange Programme: Monitor Profile

This page is the complete description and details for the summer camp Language Exchange monitor position including job responsibilities, dates, wage, etc. At the bottom of the page you can apply online.

Job Overview

The Language Exchange Monitor position is the very same as that of a camp monitor, but solely for those candidates based outside of the E.U. who apply through our partners Scotia Personnel ltd.

As a summer camp monitor you are a role model, friend, instructor and hero to campers aged from 6-18 years (depending on what camp you work at). The main role of a camp monitor is to be a surrogate parent for a group of approximately 12 campers and be responsible for overall supervision of your campers, and ensuring their wellbeing and safety whilst they are enjoying the fun and rewarding experience Summer Camp is. As a summer camp monitor you will be with your campers most of the day running and supervising various parts of the day including meal times, afternoon sports activities, crafts and projects, evening entertainment activities, and waking up/putting to bed (monitors sleep in the same room as the kids). Each monitor will be assigned a specialization depending on their skillset: Multiactivity, Watersports, Horse Riding, Tennis, Football, Music and Dance, TEFL Monitor, and Nursing.

Camp monitors need to be young, or young at heart, individuals who full of imagination and energy in order to meet the extraordinary demands of camp work.

Language Exchange Overview

The language exchange programme is ideal for any non-EU candidate who is looking to have a great summer in the in the south of Spain learning Spanish and gaining experience in looking after children in a summer camp environment. As opposed to some of the other positions on our summer camps, it is not a paid a position due to the educational nature of the position but does come with the following conditions:

Expense Compensation at the end of the summer to thank you for your effort and enthusiasm.
Food and accommodation is provided while on camp.
Spanish language course before or after camp.
During language course accommodation is provided but not food.

This is a great chance to broaden your horizons!

Job Responsibilities + Tasks

To ensure TECS campers have the best possible experience in all areas of camp life.
To ensure the safety and welfare of the campers at all times.
To represent the camp and TECS positively at all times.
Motivate and inspire the campers to use and learn the most English on camp possible.

PROGRAMME

Reading the camp manuals, and familiarising yourself with all areas of camp before arrival.

Run the morning routine for the assigned leader group.
Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the assigned leader group, ensuring proper table control, manners and that each child eats sufficiently.
Actively supervise campers during sand pit time, chill out time and zone time.
Be in charge of planning and running Arts and Crafts or Project sessions, ensuring quality of activity and that children exercise respectful behaviour at all times.
Plan and create lesson plans for all sports sessions in advance and have them in folder at all times.
To run multi or extra activity as assigned.
If a multi-activity monitor run the sports sessions in the assigned area.
If an extra-activity monitor make sure to participate in activity and supervise the safety and English usage at offsite activities.
Actively supervise showers as assigned.
Actively supervise and participate in the evening activities as assigned.
Run the putting to bed routine for the assigned leader group.
On five out seven nights per week, sleep in the same sleeping area as the campers, ensuring behaviour control and welfare support as needed.
On a rota basis, act as night watch guards, controlling children and being the on duty responsible in case of problems.

GENERAL LEADER REPSONSIBILITIES

Ensure the effective supervision and safety of the campers.
Monitor the behaviour and progress of the campers in the allocated group in the recreational activities and take action to resolve any problems and, where necessary, liaise with the Camp Coordinators and Welfare Coordinators on matters connected to discipline and/or welfare.
Supervise and ensure the safety of the assigned leader group on one of the excursions held at the weekend.
Ensure the campers respect all camp facilities and equipment and at all times be responsible for ensuring the campers uphold the camp rules and regulations.

Uphold all areas of the staff code of conduct as outlined in the conditions of contract sheet and be an example to fellow staff of correct work conduct and attitude at all times.
Carry out all tasks asked of you by the members of the TECS management team, professionally and thoroughly.
Must wear uniform continuously, red TECS polo on arrivals, departures and excursions and blue or white TECS t-shirts at all other times.

OTHER REPSONSIBILITIES

Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the physical environment and organisation of the camp.
Participate in regular meetings held with the Coordinators and Directors before and during camp.
At times, carryout assigned office/admin tasks.
Carry out the assigned responsibilities on Arrivals and Departures days and carryout assigned camp site set up duties before and after these days.
All monitors may have the responsibility on arrivals and departures days of accompanying children on their journey to or from camp. This will usually involve going with the children on a bus to a nearby city, like Seville or Cordoba but may also involve going in a taxi to local stations. This may affect your time off as usually these transfers are early in the morning, you will be given your free time but it may differ from the other monitors.
As needed, assist with the tidy up of camp at the weekends. This would involve tasks like making beds and basic cleaning and general organisation of the camp facilities. On Arrivals and Departures days all staff members are assigned to camp site set up duties before and after these days. These are hectic days were staff pull together to complete the various jobs that need to be done. These jobs may include litter picks, posting or taking down signs, helping with camp setup or rearranging of materials, orientating parents and campers, or helping with the final tidy up and maintenance/cleaning jobs.

HOURS OF WORK:

Camp work is very demanding and all candidates should recognise that this job is anything but 9-5 living, with long hours needing to be put in by all camp staff. Depending on the assigned age group, time off during the day will be between 3 and 4 hours. Each monitor will also have one week evening (from end of evening entertainment) and the morning after off and one full day off at the weekend. Also at times, extra bonus time off will be assigned to those staff working hard and maintaining positive attitudes.

Differences in Activity Types/ Specializations

On all TECS Summer Camps monitors run between 3-4 hours of activities in the afternoon. There are four different types of activities that a monitor may be assigned to:

Multi Activity
Off-Site Extra Activity (Water and Fun)
On-Site Extra Activity (Horse-Riding, Tennis)
Other (Lifeguard Monitor, TEFL Monitor)

Generally a monitor will be assigned before camp starts to what type of activity they will run depending to their experience, background, and staffing needs. In most cases staff will usually do the same activity type for their entire contract due to the fact that their training will be more focused on that activity, although monitors may need to change activities during the summer.

Multi-Activity

The vast majority of monitors on TECS Summer Camps are multi-activity monitors. Multi-activity monitors will be responsible for planning and running their sports activities on TECS camp groups each day as assigned. Usually a multi-activity monitor will run between 2-4 activities with their assigned group although some days this might be taken up with taking your group on a trip to the beach.

Off-Site Extra Activity (Water and Fun)

In Family Camp there are some children who sign up to do a specific activity off-site run by a collaborating company. Off-Site Extra Activity monitors are responsible for ensuring that all of the campers get to and from the activities safely, either by hired bus or being driven by one of our drivers, and to look after our campers and participate in the activity with them. Extra-Activity Monitors are not responsible for the running or instructing of the activity (although they must help out).

The off-site extra activity monitors that are listed below are required to go off site with campers and as a result they have all of the responsibilities of a normal monitor plus the following extra responsibilities that they have to follow:

Recording the number of campers going to the activity.
Controlling the sending off and coming back of all the campers, ensuring the safe and organised loading of buses.
Participating in the activity and constantly speaking English to the campers to ensure their English exposure.
As required running small parts of the activity.
Quality control of the activity, giving regular feedback to your director about how you think the programme is being run by the contracted supplier.

All off-site extra activity monitors must have a keen interest in the specific activity and be able to participate competently. However, no formal qualification in instruction is required as the main instruction is provided by the contracted company.

On-Site Extra Activity (Tennis, Horse Riding)

In Family Camp Gredos there are some children who sign up to do a specific activity on-site run by our TECS monitors . On-Site Extra Activity monitors are responsible for planning and running a programme for their speciality that is to a high standard.

Tennis

In Family Camp Gredos the tennis specialist monitor is responsible for taking those campers who have signed up to do the tennis programme where campers of different ages can sign up to develop their tennis skills instead of doing a variety of different sports. The responsibilities include:

Planning a a 1 or 2 week program performance programme which they will do with a group of kids where they will practice a variety of tennis skills.

Setting up and packing away the equipment prior to/and after the sessions.
Running all the sessions in a professional and imaginative way.
Monitoring the progress of the participants and ensuring that improvement in the taught skills takes place.

Requirements: Qualifications or Experience

The Tennis Specialist must have a keen interest in tennis. They should have previous experience in playing tennis, preferably in a coaching manner. They must be quality orientated as maintaining the standard of the classes is their principal responsibility. They must also be imaginative with a desire to put their ideas into practice.

Horse Riding

In Family Camp Gredos, the horse riding monitor supervises the campers who have signed up to do the horse-riding programme. This activity is run on the camp site, however, the horse riding monitor is not responsible for running the sessions as these are done by the site. They do however, have to supervise and participate to ensure all the campers are using English, go safely to and from the activity, and make sure that the activity is of a TECS quality.

Other (TEFL Monitor, Nurse/Admin Monitor)

Lifeguard Monitor

We have on lifeguard specialist monitor. During sports in the afternoon this person will always be based at the swimming pool during any sports sessions assigned there. When there are no pool sessions in the afternoon they will either help in camp office or join in sports with the other monitors. During the afternoon, the lifeguard monitor has the first aid kit with them at all times as this is the camp nurses time off.

We will usually have one lifeguard with more experience who will have some added training duties during staff training week. For this they will receive €50.

Their responsibilities will include:

Plan and run all activities sessions in the swimming pool.
Be based by the pool at all times whilst there are kids there.
Report to Camp Directors, Camp Coordinators and Nurse on any issues-problems.

Requirements: Qualifications or Experience

For this position we are looking for someone who has a lifeguarding certificate and first aid experience.

TEFL Monitor

TEFL Monitors, one for each age group on each camp, cover as TEFL teachers once or twice a week for the TEFL Coordinators of each age group. TEFL Monitors would also cover classes for other teachers in case of sickness or other situations. On these days they follow the time off of TEFL teachers but at all other times act as normal monitors. These responsibilities involve:

Teaching up to 4 hours of English as a Foreign Language to an allocated group of around 10-12 children. (The age and level of the group will be determined before the Camp and communicated to you to assist in your planning.)
Plan and organise above mentioned classes, doing as much planning as you can before coming to camp.
Monitor the progress of the students and keep a record of progress.
Report back to the relevant teacher on class progress.
In Family Camp, one the TEFL Monitors may not have Arts & Crafts/Projects responsibilities and will use this time work on updating the camp social media.

Requirements: Qualifications or Experience

For this position applicants must have a full TEFL qualification but need not have any previous experience teaching. They should have all the skills of normal monitors. This is the perfect position for young teachers looking for their first break into the TEFL world.

Wage:

Due to the fact that this position requires a specific qualification and has more responsibility attached the wage for a TEFL Monitor is higher than that of a regular monitor. See statement of written particulars for details.

Benefits of Working on a TECS Summer Camp

Ambience of summer camp environment- team work and spirit!
Fulfilment of working with kids and of managing people in that environment.
Professional and personal development
Friends from around the world.
Sun and fun!

TECS PROVIDES:

Staff uniform- enough so you won’t have to rewash them yourself!
Staff events- weekend trips, sport and game competitions during camp.
Management Bonding Meal at before camp starts and reward meal at end of summer.
Staff final meal – these are big things and for many staff the highlight of the summer so DON’T LEAVE CAMP UNTIL THE DAY AFTER WORK FINISHES.
Knowledgeable year round central office management. The top management were ALL once staff members and mid-management themselves at one point.
Supportive management structure.
Guiding hand on the rewarding path to professional development and personal development.

Job Review and Performance Management

For all monitor positions, regular feedback will be provided from the Activity Coordinator and TEFL Coordinator about job performance and objectives. Also the Activity Coordinator and/or the TEFL Coordinator will be available at any time to discuss concerns or problems that may occur, or to offer support in situations when help is deemed necessary. One to one meetings can also be arranged with the Camp Director at any time.

What we’re looking for: Requirements + Knowledge/Skills

EXPERIENCE

Experience of working with children in previous employment.
Preferred summer camp experience, but not essential.
Experience of organising activities for small groups of children and preferred experience of working with foreign language children.
Experience of working in a fast moving environment where stress levels can at times be very high.
Experience for Extra Activity Positions: as mentioned below the job profile notes above.

QUALIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENTS

A Level or Higher qualifications or another nation’s equivalent. Applicants with special: Arts and Crafts, Music or Sporting qualifications will be looked upon favourably.
Any Language Exchange Monitor must be 19 years of age before the starting date of contract

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

First class interpersonal skills with ability to control children in a motivational and fair way, which enables campers to integrate into the English environment smoothly and encourages them to speak English.
The ability to manage continually conflicting priorities in a high pressured environment.
High energy levels and a young but responsible mature outlook on life and work.
A positive attitude and ability to put yourself in other’s shoes, in order to work effectively as a key part of a large diverse team.
Adaptability and ability to think on the spot in what can be at times a highly unpredictable and spontaneous environment.

*** Spanish is NOT a requirement to work on TECS Summer Camps as staff are not allowed to speak Spanish in front of the kids***

STATEMENT OF WRITTEN PARTICULARS

Wage + Work Dates

OPTION 1

Arrive on Tuesday 29th of June 2021
Staff Training Week: 30th June – 3rd July.
Camp Dates: Camps 1+2: 4th July – 31st July.
Spanish Class with Spark: Sunday 1st August – Saturday 7th August.
Expense Contribution: €275

OPTION 2

Arrive on Tuesday 29th of June 2021
Staff Training Week: 30th June – 3rd July.
Camp Dates: Camps 1-3: 4th July – 14th August.
Spanish Class with Spark: Sunday 15th – Saturday 21st August.
Expense Contribution: €412,50

Summer Camp Conditions + Notes:

Accommodation and food are included in the conditions.
TECS believes in professional development and for that reason extensive training is given to all our staff who will be as well trained as is possible for the taking on of all their responsibilities.
All as stated above in “benefits of the job”.

Spanish Course Conditions + Notes:

The Spanish course is organised and run by Spark, a partner of but different company to TECS.
Accommodation is included in the conditions of the Spanish course but during the week or two of the Spanish course food will not be (It will be during the summer camp period).
The Spark Spanish course is a mandatory requirement to complete as a part of the language exchange programme.

Important:

This is a special Language Exchange agreement for applicants that come through Scotia Personnel ltd. The conditions are different for the rest of the Camp monitors not associated with Scotia Personnel ltd. as they are not on a language exchange programme in the same way, do not have their Spanish course included, and are EU nationals.

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