Register Your Interest for the 2026 Edition!

To be part of this unforgettable experience, students can now register their interest through the online form available at the link below:

A unique journey into Italian language, creativity, and culture

The Italian Summer Camp is a two-week immersive experience in Italian language and culture for secondary school students, organised by the Discipline of Italian within the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Galway.

Since its first edition in August 2023, the camp has become one of the flagship outreach initiatives of the Italian Department, combining learning, fun, and creativity. Each year, more than twenty students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds come together on campus to experience the excitement of learning Italian through language, art, music, theatre, technology, and culture.

Funded by Languages Connect, the camp is free of charge (only a refundable deposit is required), ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all participants.

Learning by doing

The Italian Summer Camp adopts an innovative, performance-based approach that merges movement, creativity, and expression with language learning. Drawing on methodologies such as Total Physical Response (TPR), Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), Project-Based Learning (PBL), and Experiential Learning, participants begin speaking and interacting in Italian from the very first day.

Through drama, music, and collaborative games, students learn to communicate naturally while developing empathy, confidence, and teamwork. This approach helps them overcome the initial barriers to speaking a new language and creates an atmosphere of trust and enthusiasm.

Culture, Creativity and Innovation

Each day of the camp is filled with activities that bring Italy’s rich heritage to life:

  • Creative workshops on art, cinema, and food, including Mask Up! Venice and the Carnival, Flourishing Art in Florence, A Culinary Trip to Naples, and Ciak si gira: Rome and the Italian Cinema.

  • Hands-on experiences such as pizza-making, painting, and crafts inspired by Italian masterpieces.

  • Audiovisual translation labs, where students subtitle and dub Italian cartoons, using professional software in the University’s language laboratories.

  • Technology-enhanced learning, including sessions in Virtual Reality that let students virtually explore famous Italian cities, museums, and monuments.

  • Outdoor games and team challenges, such as cultural treasure hunts and collaborative quizzes, that reinforce learning in a playful way.

Educational Aims

By the end of the camp, participants:

  • Acquire a repertoire of basic Italian expressions for everyday communication.

  • Develop intercultural awareness through exposure to Italian traditions, art, and lifestyle.

  • Gain confidence in performing and expressing themselves creatively in Italian.

  • Enhance digital and media literacy skills through subtitling, dubbing, and storytelling tasks.

  • Experience what it’s like to be a university student, learning in real campus settings with professional tools and facilities.

Outcomes

At the end of the two weeks, students leave the camp with:

  • A foundational knowledge of Italian language and culture.

  • Increased confidence, empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness.

  • New creative, intercultural, and digital skills.

  • A network of new friends and memories that will last long after the summer ends.

The camp concludes with an Italian-style photobooth, a gelato party in the University Cafe, a screening of highlights and clips produced during the camp and a special award cerimony!

Looking Ahead...

After three successful editions, the Italian Summer Camp continues to grow. Planning is already underway for the 2026 edition, and interest is higher than ever.

To be part of this unforgettable experience, students can now register their interest through the online form at the top of this page.

Join us next summer and experience Italy in Galway — where language, culture, and creativity come together under the summer sun.

Thank you so much for everything! I had a blast at this camp and made some lovely friends, I am looking forward to continue to learn Italian. :)

Grazie Francesca, Sveva, Federica and everyone else who helped to make this camp as enjoyable as it was! I am so grateful for all the time you gave up in order to organise the course. Go n-éirí an bóthar libh!

I loved this summer camp. I especially enjoyed the arts and crafts, when we all sang Italian songs together and making the pizza dough!

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