Program Reviews

My experience with this program was amazing! I loved every second of my life in Chile! I loved getting to know my host family, and watch their English improve more and more each day! I loved learning about their culture, and teaching them about mine! I loved getting to see another culture in action (while being completely submersed in it). The bond I formed with my host family during this program is the one thing I will never forget about this experience!

My experience with this program changed my view on the world because it made me more aware of the world around me and how many things we take for granted each day (that other people barely even have access to).
This experience also helped me strengthen my Spanish skills and my teaching skills; which are two things I now know I definitely want to use in the future.

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone just looking to travel and make new friends abroad, while making a difference in such a simple, yet very important, way.
Teaching English abroad is one of the best decisions I've ever made!

I can honestly say that this program changed my life! Greenheart Travel was a wonderful organization to work with, and Sara was especially helpful before my departure and throughout my time in Thailand. She was quick to answer my million questions and always provided thorough details. Everything was well organized and Greenheart made me feel very comfortable making the initial leap to move abroad. Upon arrival, you are linked up with a partner organization, Xplore Asia, that is also very helpful and knowledgable. I attended orientation and took the TESOL course in October and then started teaching on November 1st. Orientation was so much fun - completely filled with activities and useful information - and the people I spent my time with there became like family.

I was placed in a rural area almost directly between Bangkok and Chiang Mai to teach for a full semester. It was not always easy - very challenging at times, but defintiely worth it and I received ample support all along the way. My placement was nothing like what I could have ever predicted - but I wouldn't change a thing. They say in Thailand you don't always get exactly what you want, but you'll always get exactly what you need :)

I would recommend the program to anyone looking for a new adventure!

Ever since I've moved to Thailand for this teaching/tesol opportunity, time has been flying by; I've just been having so much fun. I've met so many new people, learned so many new things and explored so much more of what this beautiful country has to offer. The key is to come here without any specific expectations and learn to live with the Thai mindset of going with the flow. If you come here with an open mind and heart, the possibilities and experiences are endless.

Greenheart Travel gave me the information/tools that I needed to explore a new country and new career, while providing me with ongoing support through the course of the program. Sara still keeps in touch with me now, she's awesome.

Partnered with XploreAsia, the excursions they've planned gives you a quick feel for what Thailand has to offer. The additional Greenheart-only trip where we got to visit an orphanage will be in my memories forever. Thank you Greenheart travel for providing opportunities like this for people like me who seek venues for new careers and adventures! It's truly been a blast!

I've been so inspired to look into ways that I can give back to this wonderful country and am definitely interested in other opportunities abroad.

I would recommend this program to anyone who is serious about going overseas but is a little nervous about the support they will get when transitioning. Sara was really helpful throughout the whole process, and the partners at Xploreasia made it relatively easy to setup work, especially in the short amount of time.

I got everything I asked for in my placement, to be by a beach and secondary school, but it still didn't exactly match what I was expecting, which keeps things interesting. Honestly what I learned from this program is that teaching in this kind of situation isn't really what I want to do with my life, but traveling on my own has been rewarding and will motivate to travel and experience new cultures in the future when I discover more about what I really enjoy doing.

My favorite memories were going to music festivals and live DJ sets, because I think it's really cool to see people across the world in a different culture vibing to the same music that I love. I've still got a few weeks left in my contract that are open to some freedom and traveling, which is what I've been looking forward to the most since I got here.

I did Greenheart's Placement-Only program and it was great. Sara was really supportive and made sure we were prepared with our non-B visa and travel insurance. When I had questions before the program started, she was quick and helpful with her answers. The orientation was really fun and gave me a community of other teachers to talk to, spend time with and bounce ideas off of. Thailand is a warm and welcoming culture and a great place to be an expat!

My pre- departure experience with Greenheart Travel was very thorough and informative. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. Greenheart was able to make sure all of my materials and visas were squared away before ever stepping foot in Thailand, which made me feel secure. The staff continues to follow up and check in with their alumni, so you never feel alone. Greenheart is a great support network, and their placement team does a fantastic job! I am fully satisfied with my experiences with Greenheart!

Greenheart (Sara, specifically) was extremely helpful and prompt when answering my many questions. The organization made all the details of moving and working abroad so manageable. The visa process, connection with Xplore Asia, and packing/preparation for Thailand was invaluable. Also, I absolutely loved my TESOL course group. It was an amazing first month of preparation, fun, and friendship. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the country.

If any place in your heart has a desire to teach overseas, then my advice is to just go for it. With the help of Sara at Greenheart Travel, my transition into life abroad was seamless. She is a viable wealth of information, kindness, and support. Although there are several agencies who offer similar services, I HIGHLY recommend going through Greenheart Travel because every member is an alumni of teaching abroad, so who better to know the unforeseen challenges and obstacles one will face.
Speaking of my experience thus far, I did get culture shock and I did miss home, it will happen. However, in doing the TEFL certification course I met some of the most tremendous individuals who helped me through these times of uncertainty. Not to mention the spectacular orientation week which afforded me the chance to meditate at Umong Temple with a monk, climb Doi Suthep, Thai kickbox and plant rice with local Thais.
After the TEFL course, I got placed just outside Bangkok teaching grade 7-9 mathematics which has proven to be quite challenging and stressful on certain days. Some of the students won’t be obidient and will disobey, just be prepared and be consistent. However, when I can get past the language and knowledge barrier of my students, I feel such a sense of success. I mean I did come to Thailand to shake myself out of a stagnant lifestyle.
Some words of advice: bring more than enough money to survive on for two months because most Thai schools pay teachers at the end of each month (sidebar - my agency luckily paid me for training so I was able to help pay for the deposit on my lease which is typically three months rent, 22,500 baht, around Bangkok). Also, pack light! Thailand has a plethora of malls and markets with anything one might need. Learn and use the Thai language even just saying Hello and Thank You get me so far. Finally, don’t expect ANYTHING. I could’ve scoured the web for days on end trying to prepare myself, but nothing would’ve compared to me actually being in this beautiful country. As I mentioned previously, if you have any desire in your (green)heart to teach overseas, then jump in and go for it!

I personally feel that Greenheart Travel did a great job communicating what I should expect and what I needed to bring with me to Thailand. I also messaged them directly with any questions or concerns I had and always got a quick response. In Thailand, Xplore Asia took care of us during our TESOL course and the placement. They were extremely helpful. I felt well prepared and taken care of through out my experiences with both companies. I also feel that I can reach out to either company while I am at my placement incase I needed any support.

Thailand is an adventure. Things can be very confusing and frustrating, especially if this is your first time in the country. Don't be afraid to ask questions and remember to not be quick to anger. And last but not least, try not to have any grand, rigid expectations. That's probably the most useful advice.

This has been a wonderful experience! Greenheart Travel, in particular Sara Thacker, have provided incredible assistance and support during the whole experience. They checked in regularly and provided wonderful guidance. My school is in Phibun Mangashan, and it has been a phenomenal journey. I would recommend it to anyone seeking this type of experience. There is not a lot of multimedia access in my school, so my recommendation would be to have teachers prepare to not utilize a lot of technology. Overall it has been wonderful!