Greenheart Reviews

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!

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!