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Speak, Explore, Learn: Language Immersion in Istanbul

The experience

Are you ready for an adventure where language is lived, not taught?
UP Minds is an innovative, home-based language immersion project in Istanbul. Children learn through daily conversation, play, and real-life experiences in a Bosphorus-view home and across the city. Volunteers act as language mentors—speaking, exploring, and learning alongside curious young minds in a warm, international learning family.

What you offer

20 hours of help per week

Teaching Sports: Teaching or assisting the host, guests, or local communities in practicing sports or physical activities.

Teaching Languages: Teaching a language to the host, guests, or local communities.

Child Care: Caring for, playing with, and spending time with children.

Cooking: Choose the menu, pick ingredients and cook delicious dishes.

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Get free drinks or beverages.: Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Language lessons: Take free language classes at our place.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Fluent Greek

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Are you ready for an adventure where language becomes a way of living, not a subject?

UP Minds is an innovative, home-based learning collective in Istanbul, designed around natural language immersion and real-life communication. We are looking for passionate volunteers who want to help children live a language—through conversation, play, exploration, and everyday experiences.

Why Join UP Minds?

🗣️ Language in Real Life
Children don’t sit in classrooms memorizing vocabulary. They think, speak, create, and interact in the target language throughout the day—at the table, in the garden, on walks, and during projects.

🏡 A Home-Learning Environment
Our days unfold in a Bosphorus-view home with a private garden, creating a safe, natural space where language flows organically—just like it does in a family setting.

🌍 Immersion Beyond Four Walls
Language learning continues outside the home: in markets, museums, nature walks, cafés, and cultural encounters. The city itself becomes the classroom.

🤝 Mentorship Over Teaching
You won’t be a “teacher.” You’ll be a language mentor and conversation partner, guiding children through meaningful interaction rather than formal lessons.

✈️ A Cultural Exchange Experience
Join an international community that values curiosity, empathy, and communication. This is as much a cultural and human experience as it is an educational one.

If you believe languages are best learned through connection, context, and curiosity, UP Minds offers a truly different kind of journey.

Activities & Shift

Mentorship & Learning Facilitation: Assist in guiding children (aged 4-12) through project-based and experiential learning activities.
• Outdoor Exploration & Field Trips: Accompany children on cultural excursions to museums, galleries, nature parks, and historic sites.
• Creative Workshops & Special Projects: Lead or support workshops in storytelling, arts, science experiments, or other areas of expertise.
• Flexible Schedule: Volunteers typically work 5 days a week, with flexible hours depending on the planned activities and trips.
• Travel & Cultural Experience: Selected volunteers may join private trips to explore the Aegean region and other destinations with the school.

Rules

Volunteers must be open-minded, respectful, and passionate about working with children.
• Punctuality and commitment to scheduled activities are expected.
• A proactive attitude and willingness to contribute ideas to the learning experience are highly valued.
• Uphold the values of UP Minds by fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment.
• Participation in travel experiences is subject to school needs and volunteer performance.