Gotoco FUNDED TEFL Adventures (Bali, Thailand, Colombia, Europe, SE Asia!)

Program Reviews

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ellen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

China TEFL Level 3

GOTOCO was a great programme to join, I met some lifelong friends on my programme and gained valuable teaching and volunteering experience. They planned us a lovely trip in some ancient towns which was all paid for and depending on your school/college, my small group had the weekends to travel around China. We visited Changsha, Zhangjiajie, Fenghuang, Furong, Beijing and Singapore whilst living in Hunan province for 3 months. It was an amazing opportunity to travel and immerse yourself in the culture. I cannot say this for every programme, but I was fortunate enough to have an amazing college, the teachers were so welcoming and the students were some of the kindest and hardworking people I have never met, I still keep in contact with some of them! There are a few downsides to the programme, I personally don't think there is enough clarity and communication at points with regards to preparation and teaching but i am uncertain whether this may vary for different programmes in other countries. Be prepared to very lenient and have last minute plans and information given to you. Overall, I would recommend this programme if you're looking at teaching, volunteering or simply wanting to go out of your comfort zone, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

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Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

6 month program in Thailand

The Thailand 6-month program program was a great experience. The program involved a long induction and training process before we were sent for a brief time to practice at a camp, and then to our placements in a school. This program did not feel rushed and allowed me to slowly build my confidence as a TEFL teacher. It also meant that securing a continuing placement after the program ended was very easy. Gotoco was always able to provide support or insight on issues or possibilities with our placements. Prior information given about the Gotoco course was limited and something to keep in mind if that is a concern for you. However, the program was surprisingly smooth and successful despite this.

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Thomas
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

1 Month Teaching Romania

I spent one month teaching English in Romania, facilitated by Gotoco. Overall, the experience was great!

I submitted my application to Gotoco in December. They contacted me again in early April to say I had been offered an interview for a place in Romania. I heard a week later I got the position.

Once in Romania, we were given a day's training to prepare for the program (having done some preparatory work before). Once we were, it was really hands-on - we spent a few hours teaching each day, followed by several hours of activities. Although we were only teaching groups of children for a few days, it was lots of fun, and there was a real sense of community amongst the trainers, even between the English speakers, and those from Romania.

Overall, it was a great experience, but it's really full-on. It really teaches you to think on your feet, take the initiative, and dive in! But I, and the rest of my team, all had a great time. It gave me a lot of useful experience which I've since used for my future career.

While funding isn't necessarily the best, nor communication, overall it was quite straightforward and Gotoco certainly offered ample support if it was necessary.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
We got given all sorts of delicious Romanian food. At the end of the camp weeks, when we had the location to ourselves, we were served mamliga, sarmale, and papanasi. The mamaliga was a bit out there, but super tasty.
Pros
  • Meeting people
  • Teaching experience
  • Solo travel experience
Cons
  • Funding
  • Communication
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Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

3 month teaching in Changde

Gotoco is a great way to gain some insight into if you want to go into teaching, or (in my case) gain some volunteering experience, a free TEFL qualification and opportunity to travel abroad and meet new people. I met some great friends, everyone at my school was so lovely and welcoming, and I got the chance to see and learn so much about Chinese culture, and see so many stunning places I never would have got the chance to go to, like Zhangjiajie, Changsha, Furong, Fenghuang etc and I lived in Changde which was a small but lovely city with still plenty to do. Everyone at my school as well as the local co-ordinators were really great and helped resolve any issues I had while I was there, and also organised funded trips for us on weekends. I unfortunately got food poisoning on my third day in China and had to go to the hospital, but was supported throughout it all, and the local co-ordinators stayed with us at the hospital, helping us translate etc, which was amazing, and I could trust that in any emergency they would look after us.

The only cons I have were that I didn't feel like the training I received from Gotoco was sufficient. I received only 2 days of training before I was expected to go to my school to teach, so if you have no experience teaching be prepared to be thrown in the deep end. I would also caution anyone thinking of taking part that your school will be your main support which I don't think is super clear on the website. In my case, that was fine as my school was great, but I've heard from others that their school was really unsupportive and they had to leave their program, so unfortunately I think your Gotoco experience relies on the specific program and school you are at. Also if you take part I would say be prepared to be super flexible, as other people have said in their reviews Gotoco tend to give information quite last minute and their communication is not always great, which was quite frustrating at times. Despite this, I had a great time and these are just a few things I wish I knew before I took part/ would make my experience better.

Pros
  • Free accommodation and food
  • Trips to cool included
  • Free TEFL qualification
Cons
  • Communication is not great, sometimes very slow
  • You don't get that much teacher training before going to your school
  • Experience heavily relies on the school you are at
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Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Rural Thailand Review

My experience with Gotoco was the most unforgettable experience. It allowed me to not only be able to travel but to also push myself out of my comfort zone and become an even more confident person in all aspects of my life both professionally and personally. With the help of the company, they gave me training to be an English teacher and stand up in front of a class to help make a difference and teach English. I got to immerse myself in a new culture and learn about Thailand's traditions while also having free time to explore the country on my days off.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My first practice class in the Kanchanburi secondary school as this was my first official experience teaching but i was in a pair which also helped to not feel alone and overall was so much fun and feel like the kids were enjoying the task we created.
Pros
  • travel flights reimbursed
  • free accommodation
  • get to experience new culture
Cons
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Meriem
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable experience

I had an amazing time teaching in Bali, I got to travel around Bali and the other islands a lot, got to do so many different activities and learned so much about the culture and language. I made lifelong friends which I am so grateful for where we shared many fun a special moments and loved the school I taught English at, the kids were very respectful, they loved their English class as we always tried to make it fun for them and they were such loving people which made this experience even more special. This was a unforgettable experience that I will forever cherish, would love to be able to go back to Bali one day to visit all the people I met there. I am very happy I got to get out of my comfort zone for this, as it was 100% worth it.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Swim with dolphins in the deep ocean
Pros
  • You will learn a lot of new things
  • You get to travel around the island
  • You make lifelong friends
Cons
  • The accommodation could be better
  • Somethings were not organised properly
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James
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience- poorly organised

I did the Romanian camp, and the experience was amazing! However, some of the administrative and communication between parties was often conducted poorly. The teaching aspects were great fun and taught me a lot. The location in Romania is stunning and you get taken to many great spots across the country. Very friendly staff in Romania. The food was quite the same but overall, it was a good standard. The transport whilst complicated to understand at first is very quick and professional. Overall great experience but Gotoco could have been more on the same page with the Romanian camp.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Saw a bear whist on my balcony.
Pros
  • Meet amazing people
  • Beautiful location
  • Many great trips across Romania
Cons
  • Long application process
  • Poor communication between gotoco and the camp
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Georgia
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching in Thailand

I got to experience life as a local which is very different to the experiences you get when travelling. I loved learning how to communicate with the children and teachers in ways other than language! The coordinators were all incredibly friendly and I had the best time.

The hosts and school were amazing, we felt very at home and supported throughout our time. We had the freedom to teach what we wanted and have fun with the teaching. I would 100% recommend gotoco to anyone wanting to learn experience a new country!

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Pranati
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing

I had a really good time with Gotoco when I went to Poland. There was good support in all aspects and good teaching material when it came to doing the tefl. I made some friends for life and I'm glad I got the opportunity to do this! I think one of the main highlights of my experience was having a chance to engage with so many enthusiastic students who were all so sweet and thankful by the end of it. Seeing that I made a difference made me feel much happier. I enjoyed having an opportunity to look around by ourselves as well on the last week and explore Warsaw and Krakow at our leisure.

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Arooj
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Unforgettable Teaching and Cultural Exchange Experience with Gotoco

I had an incredible experience with Gotoco! The program offered a unique opportunity to teach abroad, immerse myself in a new culture, and grow both personally and professionally. The support from the Gotoco team was excellent; they were always responsive and helpful throughout the process.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the emphasis on community and cultural exchange. From engaging with local students to exploring the rich traditions of the area, the program provided a holistic experience that went beyond teaching.

For future participants, I would recommend preparing for some logistical aspects, such as long visa runs, and ensuring you communicate any specific needs (e.g., dietary preferences). That said, the challenges were more than outweighed by the rewards of the experience.

I would highly recommend Gotoco to anyone looking to step out of their comfort zone and embark on a meaningful adventure abroad. It’s an experience I’ll always treasure!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did it all over again, I would spend more time learning about the local culture and language before arriving. While the program provided plenty of opportunities for immersion, I think having a better foundation beforehand would have allowed me to connect even more deeply with the students and community. That said, the experience taught me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone and adapting quickly, which I’ll carry with me in the future.
Pros
  • Cultural Immersion: The program provided an amazing opportunity to experience a new culture firsthand, from interacting with local students to exploring the traditions and customs of the community.
  • Professional Growth: It was a great platform to develop teaching skills, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity, all of which are invaluable for personal and professional development
  • Supportive Team: The Gotoco team was responsive and helpful, ensuring that the onboarding process and teaching experience went smoothly.
Cons
  • Visa Run Logistics: The long travel and waiting times for visa runs were challenging and stressful, and better preparation or alternative arrangements could improve this aspect
  • Limited Preparation for Cultural Needs: While the program was inclusive, greater emphasis on accommodating dietary preferences and religious practices, such as access to halal food or mosques, would have been appreciated.
  • Living Arrangements Clarity: More detailed information upfront about accommodation and food options would help future participants set realistic expectations and prepare better.