Program Reviews

My name is Shannon, & I am here to share a little about why I am so proud and grateful for my teaching abroad experience in Costa Rica. Firstly, the Travelbud team genuinely made my experience so much better with their encouragement, support, and enthusiasm. I was very nervous when I started, but they made sure I never felt alone. It's a crazy (and scary!!!) change to move away from home, but equally so rewarding and amazing. This experience is 1 of a kind and I wouldn't trade it for the world..

I can say with confidence that this has been the most rewarding and exciting experience I have had. TravelBud made the process of moving to a new country a hassle free experience. I was put into a TEFL program in Costa Rica where met lifelong friends and build a network in a new country. We had plenty of free time to explore and enjoy local activities. My time in the TEFL program was truly such a memorable and fun time and I will always remember it fondly. Going through TravelBud, I felt a peace of mind and overall excitement for the journey that was ahead. I highly recommend them :)

I didn't know what to expect when uprooting my life to move to Costa Rica and embarking on this training. I was so lucky to have such an amazing group of fellow teachers around me including an utterly sensational and supportive course leader, Carla, who always kept the course fun and light while also putting my skills and experience to use and giving me responsibilities in the classroom.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new challenge. I came here to deliberately make life more challenging for myself, leave my cushy life back in England, and discover who I was deep down in this brave new world.

Already I can feel I have changed so much and, come what may, I will never regret the courage it took to boldly go into the unknown. The sentiment as to why I left and the opportunities this course has provided me can be summarised in a poem that is close to my heart:

'I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.'

All in all - 10/10 would highly recommend.

I found this program back in 2022.. I was scheduled to leave in the summer of 2023. Life happened thus I ended up going in 2024. The inquiry was completely smooth from the start of it all to arriving in Costa Rica! It was a great experience to learn about myself. It was very humbling and pushed me to develop my Spanish. If you are looking to take sometime away from the hustle and bustle I recommend teaching abroad. I would recommend Costa Rica to anyone looking to travel and live somewhere for a bit and network/connect with ticos!

I am coming up on 6 months into my placement as an English teacher in Japan and could not be happier that I chose to work with TravelBud! TravelBud makes it extremely easy to begin the process of moving your life abroad, from facilitating a TESOL certification course, setting up interviews with prospective schools, and even connecting you with incredible people making up an in-country support team. Every staff member I have spoken with from this company has been incredibly kind, patient, and more than willing to answer any and all questions I had about teaching, living abroad, and the entire process of doing so. If you are thinking about teaching abroad, I cannot recommend TravelBud enough - they are a perfect resource to make the process of moving your entire life to another country as seamless as possible, whether it's your first or tenth time doing so!

Thanks to TravelBud my dreams of teaching abroad came through!
The process to get to the destination can be quite long and time consuming but with the support of all the staff, we prepared everything. I received a lot of assistance throughout the months prior the departure but also, during the following months of my teaching. Now I am a proud teacher in South East Asia and this would have never happened without TravelBud.
In conclusion, I can not recommend this organisation enought if you want to teach in a new country.

From Day 1, the support I received from TravelBud, and in particular Charlotte, has been outstanding. I honestly cannot thank her enough for what she did for me. I would not have been able to have reached Vietnam if it was not for her. Her responsiveness. Her attitude. Her demeanour. Her willingness to help/support. Her professionalism. Her re-assurances, and heart to hearts. Charlotte, you truly are an amazing individual and TravelBud, and myself, are so lucky to know an individual as yourself. Thank you so much. I will never, ever, forget what you have done for me.

How you assisted me throughout was amazing. If anyone of you guys are doubting this program then don't. Take it from me Its 100% genuine. I've just found my accommodation her in Vietnam, so there is an element of you having to put some work in . But hey, we are all adults now, so don't expect to have your hand held out here 24/7. You will get ample support, but at the same time, grow some balls and deal with it !! It's all part of the experience !!

Big up to Cassidy and Lan Anh from the placement team also - these 2 are the Oracles in Vietnam !! Thank you both !! And please stay in touch. Hopefully next year you will invite me to come around and give some advice to some of your new recruits on the program. Would love to do that please !!!!

Charlotte - once again thank you. I will be forever indebted to you. Love Ya X

I've been teaching in Korea for about 3 years now. Travelbud was very helpful in helping me prepare and getting me settled with the in-country placement team. Saskia and Kim have helped me so much and always answer my questions. Over these years Kim has been a great support. I appreciate her help and guidance especially when it came to considering where to teach. No matter how much time has passed since our last chat it always refreshing and comfortable to speak about anything. :)
Korea has been such an amazing experience and I'm forever changed from my time here.
I've made lifetime friends. Understand that Korea is really small, so trust everyone will know each other somehow some way! In Korea, there are activities and events for the outgoing and even more chill type of people. While the pay could be a bit better it definitely is enough to live an average lifestyle here.
I lived in a REALLY rural town (even some Koreans haven't heard of it) but the community was so welcoming. Locals get to know you and aren't afraid to help you or invite you to eat with them, do traditional crafts etc. even if they can't communicate in English well. Rural placements can offer you more heartwarming opportunities with locals. I had times where a parent would see me walking and offer me a ride. Or farmers I see on the way to work offer me some of their harvest. Getting a free invite to a enjoy some BBQ and local foods. Koreans do really show their love with food. Rural areas get tons of government funding. After getting more involved with the locals I was able to join programs like the multicultural family center. They would do monthly trips or Korean crafts, language and cooking classes all for free! It was a great way to be surrounding by others who were trying to learn and appreciate daily Korean life. The local art center would offer free guitar, dance, and art classes. It was all in Korean so the language barrier was there, but it helped me understand that really communication is about 20% spoken 80% body/facial expression. My friends in the city don't have theses kind of connections. Of course, your options for eating or shopping are limited. In my town we can't even order food delivery service and that's one of the big things you hear about, ha. While getting to the city is possible it can be hard with bus times and the travel time on buses/ trains can add up. If you enjoy more younger and hip scene you may find the rural place boring. As it seems most Koreans want to live in the city for their youth. However, I say take what you can from it. You never know who you get to meet and what you get to do by just being you in a new place!
When you get to Korea I think the biggest headache you'll have is getting everything set up. Phone, bills, wifi and banking in Korea ALL have to connect with your information EXACTLY. The issues comes with our names. The name in the system has to match your ID card. I recommend no matter where you go or what account you make ALWAYS set up your name in the same way. Next, is understand that without a Korean phone number you can't have access to any of the apps or do things like online banking. Once you have your official number making sure its is update with the school, bank and on Kakao. Once you are connected to the world here everything will flow much better. If you get lucky with you co-teacher they may evening be willing to help you set up these things. Thank them with a small gift if you can.
After being here for some time you'll notice it can also be hard to find things you enjoyed back home, like deodorant or snacks. Korean food is great but beef, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables can be pricey. I looked up Korean food beforehand and knew I would like it, but friends who don't like spicy food or don't eat pork have had a hard time here (especially if they aren't near a city.)
I taught at elementary and middle public schools as well as an English Center during my time. It really depends on your luck with your placements, how your students will be and your fellow teachers. Although, you can expect a lower level of English in the countryside.
In general, Korean students are very hesitant to use their English in front of others; they want to be perfect. Elementary students are very sweet and energetic, but as they enter middle school they are much less likely to be willing to speak. Games are a great way to engage them. They study often for other classes on weekends and after school, so they can be overwhelmed/ stressed at times. At a Center you will teach classes that are more hands on and experience based like cooking and PE. It can be fun to plan but you see new students every few days, so you don't get to create a strong bond with students. The classes at times can be tiring to teach back to back as well.
Overall, I 100% recommend this program to people who can come here with no expectations and are willing to involve themselves with the community and try new things. I got to meet people from all the around the world. I was able to expand my interests and knowledge. You will gain a new understanding of the world after living (not just traveling but LIVING) away from home. If you want that kind of experience and change, just go for it.
All the best on your journey!

I love teaching, and have many years of experience teaching children. I now am a professor at a state university in California. (USA). I had a blast teaching k-6th grades. Children are universal across the world! I teach and the last 5-7 minutes I play with them. They love it! I adore them too!

I have been wanting to teach abroad for a long time. Luckily I found Travel Bud. I cannot retire from the university yet, so I did the summer program in Thailand. Travel Bud agents from the beginning are so informative and helpful. It is a scary world out there, and I am so happy that this IS NOT a scam. Travel Bud sticks to their words, they are honest and straight forward.

I was lucky enough to have Kim as my advocate and go to person. As I said before, she told me everything precisely. She told me what to wear, how much money I need, how to spend wisely, and the most important thing; give it time. I honestly was homesick the first two weeks, and thought I wouldn't make it. Now, I love it and don't want to leave!

It is tough for many of us who are not used to another culture and country. Some are third world countries, and the amenities we have at home are not the same! It is a humbling experience, and you will get into the groove of things. I am so grateful for this teaching adventure. It is a great experience and I am more appreciative of what I have back home.
It is without hesitation that I RECOMMEND Travel Bud. I will be returning next year!

Best,

Deepa

Coordinating my trip with TravelBud was an easy and smooth process. From my very first inquiry back in 2019 to actually making it to Costa Rica in 2022. There was a lot that happened globally and they did a great job navigating the steps. I was able to have all the documents needed for my arrival in San Jose. Also, being able to have support through the TESOL course to receiving my job placement. The transition was easy to navigate. The team was always there for support and guidance while I was living in Costa Rica.