About us
Language is just the beginning
Our mission: language as an engine for personal growth – through real encounters with native speakers.
Our story
It started with music
I trained as a classical musician. You do not learn an instrument by reading about music – you play it, you rehearse, you perform. Language has never been any different for me.
In 2015 I founded LevelUp English in Berlin to teach English the same way: through stage, music, improvisation and storytelling. That artistic core is still there – in project weeks, on class trips and at the holiday camps.
From Berlin we work with schools and families in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – as partners of the teachers whose English lessons our programmes extend and carry further.
We build confidence. English is the tool we build it with.
- 2015 founded in Berlin
- 10,000+ children since 2020
- 200+ partner schools
What we believe in
Four beliefs shape every programme we run.
Language is born in experience
Fully English-speaking environments in which communication becomes second nature – from the warm-up to the final show.
Growth beyond the language
Confidence, presence, teamwork – our programmes deliver more than vocabulary.
Community as a learning space
Language thrives on relationships. Our trainers create spaces where everyone dares to speak up.
Quality for every age group
From primary school to senior leadership – high-quality programmes for every age and level.
From all over. One team.
In the Berlin office and in front of your class, we are one team: educators, coaches, actors and musicians from the UK and Ireland, the USA and Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil – and beyond.
Native speakers from all over the world – working with schools and families across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Our Team
Everything comes together in our Berlin office. The team brings experience from education, theatre, coaching and business – and the ability to get people talking.
-
Felix Kellaway CEO Felix Kellaway
CEO
Founder and CEO: he sets the strategy, builds the team and partnerships and keeps LevelUp true to what makes it special. Originally a classically trained musician – that background became LevelUp's playful, arts-led approach in Berlin in 2015. Runs the city, guitar in hand.
#everythingisfigureoutable – the problem in front of you is not a dead end, it is a puzzle.
-
Luca Goy Head of Schools Luca Goy
Head of Schools
He plans and coordinates project weeks and class trips and is the single point of contact for schools – from the first call to the final day. He studied outdoor education and has worked in tourism and education worldwide. Otherwise: the gym, the outdoors, two cats.
Life is too short to keep putting things off. Find a way to do what you have always wanted to.
-
Ed Head of Camps Ed
Head of Camps
He brings the overnight and day camps to the whole DACH region, set on giving every camper a standout experience. He studied philosophy in Amsterdam and spent four years as a LevelUp trainer. Climbs, hikes and knows Berlin's food scene inside out.
Wake up every day with a reason to look forward to it.
-
Nick Locations & Partnerships Nick
Locations & Partnerships
He finds the venues and partner networks behind our projects. In the UK he worked with students with learning difficulties; for the past few years he has taught in Germany and Austria. One class trip quickly turned into many. Rugby, guitar, board games, gigs.
Do or do not. There is no try.
-
Rosie Orchison Academic Coordinator Schools Rosie Orchison
Academic Coordinator Schools
She recruits the trainers, develops the curriculum behind the core academies and puts together the teams that deliver the courses. Trained at Arts Ed in London, she worked as an actor and musician – at LevelUp she started out as a trainer herself. Dances, runs and cooks.
Stay silly and never lose the art of play.
-
Olivia Dean Academic Coordinator Camps Olivia Dean
Academic Coordinator Camps
She tailors every camp's curriculum to its theme and writes the exercises that bring out what makes it special – and she prepares the team on site. Trained in devising theatre, she ran her own company. Swims in lakes and talks to her plants.
Never be afraid to get creative. That is always where you find something new.
-
Justin Wolter Marketing / Website · Camp Ambassador Justin Wolter
Marketing / Website · Camp Ambassador
The person behind the website, digital marketing and holiday-camp sales. He grew up in Brandenburg, joined LevelUp in April 2025 and studies marketing and sales at the IBA Berlin alongside the job. Loves SEO, posters, campaigns – and working with AI.
Open your mind to the world and it will show you the best version of yourself.
-
Lina Ocker Marketing / Social Media · School Ambassador Lina Ocker
Marketing / Social Media · School Ambassador
The creative force behind our social media: fresh content on camps and class trips three times a week. She studies marketing communication and digital media alongside the job and has been with the team since October 2024. Otherwise: pilates, the garden, friends and family.
Amor fati: love the life you have, not just the one you wish for.
Our Trainers
In every classroom, camp and seminar room you'll find exclusively qualified native speakers. Every single one brings:
-
Bachelor's degree
or an equivalent qualification
-
TEFL / CELTA
recognised certificate for teaching English
-
Enhanced background check
verified before every assignment
-
LevelUp onboarding
internal training in methodology and safety
-
Micaela Brazil & Ireland Micaela
Brazil & Ireland
A native speaker from Brazil and Ireland, she is a trained theatre pedagogue and dancer. She combines English learning with the performing arts to inspire learners of all ages. She loves dancing, sports and music.
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-
Katie Ireland Katie
Ireland
With roots in Ireland, she brings positivity and drive to LevelUp English as a native speaker. Her journey includes kindergarten teaching and leading LevelUp overnight camps, where she supports young learners with confidence and care. She enjoys travelling, music, dance, karaoke and crafting.
The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.
-
Bree Australia Bree
Australia
Originally from Australia, she is a university-educated theatre and film graduate with a passion for games and teaching. For over seven years she has worked with young people, combining movement and play to create engaging learning experiences. She enjoys fire spinning, rock climbing and dancing.
If you live your life in fear you'll get nothing done.
-
Matthew Cape Town, South Africa Matthew
Cape Town, South Africa
Coming from Cape Town, South Africa, he is a down-to-earth theatre and filmmaking expert with a love for storytelling. He enjoys turning ideas into powerful performances and encouraging young people to create, perform and shine with confidence. Travelling, music and theatre are close to his heart.
Never, ever, give up.
-
Chloe California, USA Chloe
California, USA
A dance and neuroscience graduate from California, she is passionate about movement and teaching. She creates playful spaces where students feel confident to explore, express themselves and grow. She enjoys cooking, writing and yoga.
What you are looking for is already in you… You already are everything you are seeking. — Thich Nhat Hanh
-
Frieda USA Frieda
USA
A charming American cowgirl taking the creative scene by storm, she is a multi-disciplined artist and filmmaker with a bold spirit. She shares her passion and skills with LevelUp students, inspiring them to express themselves with confidence. She loves baking and creative writing.
Creativity takes courage.
-
Joëlle New Zealand Joëlle
New Zealand
A vibrant creative force from New Zealand, she brings storytelling to life through photography, videography and music. Based in Berlin, she loves capturing human connection and inspiring students to express themselves in English. She enjoys songwriting and podcasting.
Creativity is intelligence having fun.
-
Aidan Dublin, Ireland Aidan
Dublin, Ireland
An easygoing Dubliner with a background in Applied Psychology, he brings experience from home care and special-needs schools to product design and workshop facilitation. Passionate about culture and creativity, he shares language through music, photography and new ideas.
Not all those who wander are lost.
What teachers, parents and students say
Feedback from project weeks, class trips and camps – click through.
The English intensive weeks with LevelUp were always lively, varied and inspiring for our students. They knew how to naturally activate the English our pupils had already learned in class – whether through singing, dramatic performance or in sporting and playful activities. Their charismatic way with young people is extremely motivating. A real enrichment!
A once-in-a-lifetime experience and opportunity to really express yourself in a foreign language like you never have before. It helped me to gain the confidence to just talk and not think about it twice.
The excursions, the shared meals and of course the workshops made for a really successful mix. I'm personally delighted that in you we found young, dedicated people who had the courage to take on such planning effort in uncertain times – and who really didn't disappoint!!!
The workshops we did were really creative and interesting. We talked English the whole time and even though it was very different from normal classes, we learnt so much.
What a wonderful English week! From start to finish! We were all completely happy and in great spirits. We could still feel the positive vibes long afterwards. We'll definitely stay in touch and are already looking forward to more inspiring days together. Felix reaches the students with his sense of humour and his cheerful presence. His energy is incredibly motivating and creates a great atmosphere.
The Project Week with you was amazing. You made what I thought was impossible possible – I had fun learning English! I loved the singing with Felix and the acting with Aimee. I wish we could always have you in our school!
There was so much the children loved. What stood out for them was the sense of community and being truly seen by the coaches. They could try things out, and the coaches embraced their ideas and personalities and worked with them. It was simply wonderful and gave the children so much self-confidence!
The lessons were well structured and thought through. With lots of fun songs, rhymes and games, the children's interest was sparked. Thanks to Farisa's friendly manner and clear pronunciation, she was very successful in motivating the pupils to speak.
What I really liked was the relaxed atmosphere and that we weren't under pressure. The teachers were really cool and at the end of the week felt just like friends.
The trainers were given a grade of “1” (top marks) by an overwhelming majority of students. :-) So a big well done to everyone again!!!! The activities were described above all as varied, interesting and motivating. Overall the students particularly loved the improv-theatre sessions and felt their self-confidence was strengthened by speaking freely, and that the humorous, motivated trainers did a great job. I can only agree, by the way!
In conclusion, we can say that our expectations were definitely exceeded – by constantly speaking English with our coaches we grew more confident and took away a great deal of valuable experience.
I think the programme is a great alternative to a trip to England, and I believe the students spoke far more English than they probably would have in England.
Thank you once again for the way you teach and for your energy, which turned my students not only into great singers and performers, but also into true lovers of the English language.