Englicshhausen Volunteering in Germany

I’ve been asked by lots of friends to give them information about Englischhausen the company I used to volunteer with in Germany. So here it is briefly and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask at the end of the post.

There are 3 companies that I know of doing these types of programs in Europe and they are in Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania.

Englischhausen – Diverbo

This company Englischhausen is a section of Diverbo and are based in Madrid Spain with an office in Munich.

my reason for visiting Laubach –

Actually I had never heard of Laubach and might never have visited it however Im really glad I got the opportunity to do so via Englischhausen.

Laubach small town gossip 🙂

Laubach GermanyThe town of Laubach has one Irish resident and yes she found me. Word got around I was there and she actually had people take her to me. Funny as it sounds its entirely true. Actually she is there 16 years and speaks German so much her native English is now quite bad. Her children don’t even speak English which I found shocking. The village also has one English female resident and one Welsh. You guessed right, they all know each other. The population is 10,000 and its your typical German town, clean, orderly, quiet and very pretty.

Accommodation in Laubach

Laubach GermanyWe are staying at the hotel Waldhause hotel which I highly recommend. Its on the outskirts of Laubach but is a lovely walk into the town. Its directly opposite a forest, this forest is actually one of new graveyards popping up all over Germany. Very pretty, however there are ticks and lime disease has been found in this area so be very careful.  The food in the hotel is great, the beer is good and cold and the staff are very nice and they accommodate food intolerance’s well. I really cannot wait to return to this venue.

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There are many walks and things to do here, the village is walking distance. but if you want to enjoy yourself of sleep for your siesta then feel free. There will be an organised walking tour of the town and it really is lovely. I was here in the height of summer and it was over 40 degrees Celsius so not particularly nice to be walking around in but was all made better by a fabulous ice cream in the local shop afterwards.

Englischhausen – what do the volunteers do?

Assisting German business people to perfect their already good Englishhausen Laubach Germanyconversational English in a variety of settings.

Are you teaching English?

In a nutshell no, this is not teaching, this is chatting basically. From morning to night and from the second you get on the coach in Frankfurt you will be speaking only English to the native German speakers. You will eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at a different table each day and in the evenings there are different activities to mingle also so the native speakers can practice their English in every setting. From pub quizzes to drama sketches and team songs there is a lot packed into the 5 days and it can be exhausting. I recommend taking advantage of the siesta each afternoon.

During the week the students make presentations on a topic of their choice. The volunteers will also be asked if they would like to do a short one on your topic of choice also. Nothing stressful, many people show pictures of a great vacation, an adventure, a task they completed etc. You can have slides or not etc.  A yoga teacher did a demonstration of office chair yoga, a dance teacher gave a ten minute dance class on the tango. Usually 3 anglos do this.

What should I bring with me?

Im regularly asked this question. Water is available in the hotel. A lot of people suggest bringing snacks as in chocolate and fruit especially. If you smoke you will need to stock up also. The town is walking distance if you get desperate. Really you get lots of food at mealtimes, you will not be hungry.

How much did it cost you?

You pay for your own flight to Germany and from the moment you get on the bus the company pays for your food and accommodation. If you have a bar tab at the hotel its your responsibility. I also advise taking it easy on the alcohol. This is not a cheap holiday, you are expected to work, be on time and professional or you can be asked to leave. I’ve witnessed this on programs.

I have only good things to say about the whole experience and the staff are great. As I write this I am planning 2 more trips this year. This will be my 5th this year and 3 last. I cant give a better recommendation that repeat business.

EnglishhausenIf you are curious about volunteering with this company I suggest you find their Facebook page. The volunteers are very friendly and will help with all your questions. If you are a local looking to practice your English without leaving Germany I highly recommend this model and can vouch for the success rate of the participants.

 

Ticks

I’m adding a little info on ticks as I keep getting emails about it. I’m not a professional tick person, all information is available on the internet. Normally ticks are out in Spring. the advice from professionals is

To avoid ticks:

  • Wear light-colored clothing.
  • Tuck your pants into your socks.
  • Tuck your shirt into your pants.
  • Wear a hat.
  • Spray your shoes, socks, belt-line, collar and hat with a permethrin-containing tick repellent.
  • Do a tick check after walking in high-risk areas.
  • Put any clothes that might have live ticks on them into a hot dryer for ten minutes to kill all insects.
  • deet mosquito repellent is worthless against ticks

http://www.englischhausen.com/


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About Sandra

Just a girl from Ireland who wants to live everywhere. Not a planner, a winger when it comes to travel. I don't even like people who plan too much. Without spontaneity there is no depth. A jack of all trades. A great friend, loyal and passionate and I expect the same in return. Always ready for the next adventure at a moments notice.
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