Program Reviews

My husband and I travelled to Thailand and had an amazing experience! We regularly consider going back because we miss teaching! Greenheart did an excellent job preparing us for the adventure. They were very enthusiastic and kind with every time we called with a new question. The company they partnered with in Thailand also did a phenomenal job! I felt like I was in good hands from the moment I submitted my initial application. Thank you!!

One thing that stood out was that I had my Non-B visa prior to arriving; it made things so much more easy compared to my counterparts who had to do visa runs out of the country within the first few weeks of teaching. I, instead, just went to the immigration office in my province to extend my stay and received my work permit easily. Greenheart helped get that Non-B so I'm very thankful! Also, I was a bit envious of those who came without a TEFL/TESOL certification because they spent an additional month getting to know each other while getting certified. They also learned what teaching in Thailand was really like because they did teaching hours at a local partner school. But, for those who came certified, it was an additional 3-4 weeks of traveling prior to starting school, so think about that and come prepared with enough money to travel. So think about what is better for you--whether to get your certification prior to coming to teach, or getting certified here in Thailand--either way is internationally accredited. Overall, I am super comfortable in Thailand; you can find everything you'd need. You may also be pleasantly surprised to find things you wouldn't expect. Come with an open mind--and you will be filled with great experiences.

I absolutely love my job and where and I live and I couldn’t have done it without greenheart. I live in an amazing apartment just north of Bangkok and teach science to a group of 70 middles schoolers and have amazing benefits and pay. Coming through them I couldn’t have felt more prepared with the proper visa, a great Tesol training, Thai culture and language lessons and a group of great new friends to support me in Thailand. 10/10 would recommend to anyone interested in teaching abroad!

I liked the idea of this program, but once I got there I realized that it lacks organization. I met a girl that was an Au Pair in the same city as me and I think that program is more structured. I would've liked a contract with my family about the rules, as they changed throughout my stay and I was eventually given curfews that made it hard for me to spend time with friends during the week and on the weekend. My family was nice, but there was another woman for house help and I felt that having four adults in the house was overwhelming for the kids as we all had different rules for them. Other than one email in the first few days, I didn't receive any check-in from the program about my stay. By the end, I felt like I was there more to work for the family than to be part of it. Although they were welcoming, I would've loved more facilitated conversation from Greenheart about potential issues and how those could be resolved. The cost of the program doesn't feel like a fair exchange knowing the cost of being an Au Pair. Ultimately, I had to pay for activities to do when I wasn't teaching for the 3 or 4 hours a day and without an income that became difficult, something I didn't think of ahead of time. I learned a lot from the program, but I would've like a review from the first girl that stayed with the family because I think she had a similar experience. I learned a lot from this experience. Just consider the situation you'd be in by doing this program and if it's for you, go for it!

I just got back from spending 3 months in Lyon living with a family and helping them with English. It was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it. I absolutely loved the family I stayed with. They really made me feel apart of their family.
Teaching English there was hard but really fun. It was hard because my family knew English very well and it was difficult to come up with lessons where they learned something new but it was very rewarding when I could teach them new things.
I think one of my favorite memories was having Thanksgiving with them. I made the whole dinner by myself. I got to share with them different dishes they have never tried before and I got to explain to them the story of the First Thanksgiving.
I think it was difficult at first because I spent a lot of time at home alone because my family was at school or working but I put myself out there and met new people that I would never get the opportunity to meet.
I think knowing French is important. My family and I spoke in French and in English. I took French in high school for 4 years but your dont reallyknow your proficiency level until you're there trying to communicate. I struggled with French when I first arrived but it is amazing to see how much I improved over the 3 months.

If you are looking for a comfortable and fun experience making an extreme impact easily, this one is not for you. If you are looking to go out of your comfort zone, struggle but learn from it, change your perspective on many things, and put in a ton of work to make small impacts then this is a great program. You need to be very flexible as several important factors (dates and times for important events, daily schedule, placement city, school, etc.) are not revealed until the last minute and often change. This is a co-teaching program which presents a whole new set of necessary skills. You need to put cultural differences aside and work with Colombian co-teachers to find the best way to teach your students as much as possible without stepping on any toes. I have found in speaking with others that your satisfaction with the program is highly dependent on things that are out of your control (ex. school, co teachers, placement city). In my personal experience, I had a lot of challenges in adjusting to the new living situation (not having several things that I once considered necessities such as hot water) and the school environment which lacked resources and comfort. However, I have grown so much as a person and learned a great deal that will help me throughout the rest of my life. Therefore, I have no regrets. I recommend going into this program with an extremely open mind and always trying to see other perspectives. Be aware that "different" isn't always bad.

I moved to Thailand over a year ago to take my TESOL course and begin teaching and I'm still here! When researching different ways I could complete a TESOL and find job placement in Asia, there were seemingly endless options. A friend recommended me to the Greenheart Travel website, which immediately showed me the most comprehensive package yet. The fact that I was able to take the course IN the country I would be teaching, and that it included a cultural certificate specific to my new home away from home, quickly sealed the deal for me. Throughout my research, application process, and all the way until I got on the airplane, Sara Dorsey Thacker of Greenheart Travel provided ample information and support. It was this comprehensive support that led me to choose Greenheart Travel over other programs, including: obtaining a visa, advice on packing and preparations, access to an online community of peer support, assistance in preparing my credentials and paperwork, navigating flights, airports, customs, and arranging a pick-up on the other side. This support continued with my TESOL course, and onto my job placement. Sara and her team at Greenheart Travel have the experience and understanding to help you through your transition abroad, navigating culture shock, and making the most of your experience.

Teaching in Colombia as part of the Ministry of Education English Fellowship Program is one of the coolest and most unique experiences of my life. First off, nothing can really prepare you for how different life is in Colombia. When preparing to apply, and researching the program, Greenheart manager Sara was most helpful, and answered all questions promptly. She ensures you have all your documents completed properly by the required deadlines and makes the whole process a lot easier. Once you arrive in Bogota, the week-long orientation is really well organized, and go will attend full days of pedagogy sessions on techniques and skills required for working in the Colombian classroom. The orientation includes 3 daily meals and hotel lodging, but is tightly scheduled with little to next to no free time for exploring Bogota. As soon as orientation ends, you will be flown to bused to your placement city where all the adventures begin. Your regional coordinator in your placement city will act as a big support to you in terms of finding housing, navigating your new city, and helping arrange social outings. Overall it is a really wonderful program, but you need to be flexible and willing to adapt to Colombian culture and school system (which is very different than in North America). As long as you stay motivated, and bring the best version of yourself to this program, you will succeed! The kids and teachers are really lovely, and you will truly be immersed in the local culture. They are also really excited to meet you, and hear all about your culture (so make sure to bring some items from home to share with them). This is an experience that will change your life, and leave you feeling very grateful.

My experience with this course started off pretty rocky. I felt disconnected from the Hello Academies instructors and wasn't sure how the remainder of the course was going to go. I kept an open mind and by the end, I'm happy that I earned my TEFL certificate in Prague. Greenheart Travel, specifically Kara, made all the difference. She truly listened to my concerns and worked with me to figure out the best plan of action to make my experience enjoyable. I'm EXTREMELY excited to see where this course takes me and what opportunities I can now take advantage of with my TEFL certificate!

All I knew when I started this adventure is that I wanted to see and fully experience a different part of the world. I knew next to nothing about teaching or Thailand but was eager to dive into the experience and see how it would change me. While I write this review only 3 months into my experience I couldn't be more thrilled with how things have been thus far.
Leaving the US for the first time and traveling solo across the globe brought plenty of anxiety, questions to answer, and opportunities to give up before even getting started. However, once I committed to signing up with Greenheart Travel I gained a support system that would make the details of getting started a breeze. Sara Thacker was my trusted advisor and was personable and knowledgeable in helping answer any questions I had about how to make the leap. Not only did she and the Greenheart team make the experience of getting here and settling in easy but they made the logistics enjoyable. Walking through the steps and talking with Sara helped me turn the nerves into excitement and had me eager to board that plane.
Three months in and feeling more and more at home here in Bangkok is all thanks to the support Sara & Greenheart continue to provide, always letting me know I've got people back home looking out! Nothing makes the experience of moving to a foreign place on the other side of the planet more adventurous and less challenging than having a strong support group backing you. Sara & the Greenheart team fit that roll exceptionally, and I can't recommend their guidance enough in starting this adventure for yourself!