Program Reviews

Overall, I would highly recommend Gotoco for any young person on a budget who wants to travel, doesn’t want to get off the career ladder, and wants to feel like part of the local community and less like a tourist! By doing my placement in Dali, China, I got to see a part of the world that I hadn’t expected, and also get experience in a new career path. I think it was such good experience to show future employers that I’m resilient, bold, and independent! I built my leadership skills by teaching classes, communication skills with the school team, and lots of organisation skills through planning pre-departure and in country logistics. I’m so glad to have teaching experience now, as I got to use my degree in a practical way and can really consider teaching English in my future. The TEFL course provided is also structured really well and was a pleasure to learn. I also really enjoyed the outdoor activities with the school I was placed with, as the adventurous spirit of the school really made it exciting to teach there. The highlights for me outside school were travelling on the weekends, trying new foods, and making lifelong friends with my fellow Gotoco volunteers. Experiencing China was amazing as it's somewhere I feel like people don't travel to as often as Thailand or Vietnam, but the people are really friendly, prices very affordable, and the landscape is stunning. One memorable moment of my trip was taking an evening to myself when the others were busy to explore Dali solo after work, and this really pushed my confidence forwards. I got moments of a solo travel experience, but am so glad I was placed with others to give each other that support and connection while trying something new. It was also very reassuring to know I could contact the programme leaders at any time if any issues, questions or emergencies arose. Gotoco were a great company to work with, thank you for the adventure of a lifetime!

I enjoyed my teaching placement in Thailand. I was placed in a town off the beaten track and so was able to experience a more authentic version of Thailand that most foreigners don’t get to experience. It enabled me to immerse myself in the culture and language more, as there was less foreigners present and so I had to adapt. It was also an affordable area and I lived close to the school I was teaching in. The town of Surin was also a good launch pad to explore both north and south Thailand due to its location.

I really loved my experience in Poland teaching abroad, it is one of the best things I've done in my life. The program allowed me to experience genuine friendships, encouraged me to solo travel, and grew my confidence massively. I met so many different people and worked with a wide age range of children. The cultural program was organized and allowed me free time to explore with my friends.

I had an incredible time during this program by Gotoco in January 2025 and I feel very grateful having gotten the opportunity to take part in it, even as a foreign national.

There are very few things I could critique about the program. The food was good, the accommodations were really nice, everyone was very friendly and supportive, and the program itself is very affordable as well. On top of that, you get fully TEFL certified on their online course!

You could really tell that everyone involved in the program was also 100% behind the project and working hard to make sure everything was fine and the program continuously improved.

Teaching with Gotoco in Thailand was an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I had the opportunity to work with amazing children, watching them develop new skills and grow in confidence, which made teaching so fulfilling. Along the way, I met incredible people from all over the world, forming friendships that made the experience even more special. Beyond the classroom, I loved exploring new places, from stunning beaches to bustling cities, and fully immersing myself in Thailand’s rich culture whether through trying delicious local food, visiting temples, or connecting with the local community. The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, helping me gain confidence, adaptability, and a new perspective on the world.

I participated in the 3 week programme in China in January and had the best experience! Everyone on my programme was so friendly and the Gotoco staff and partnering organisations were also very friendly and supportive throughout my time in China. The programme was challenging but in a positive way that grew my confidence and knowledge about other cultures and education. During my time on the programme I got to expand my teaching skills, specifically TEFL teaching and classroom teaching large groups of students. As well as this, I had the opportunity to try lots of new food, visit Zhangjiajie national park and see pandas! I would recommend Gotoco to anyone!!

This was an amazing experience, I felt like it was a great opportunity to explore a country. Throughout the program, I felt like we were well looked after in terms of accommodation, food, and other trips and activities - most of which was paid for by the schools. I found it was a really nice way to learn and explore China, with support so that the cultural differences didn't feel overwhelming. At the end, we had a trip to Zhangjiajie which was also incredible to see.

Throughout the program, I made some great friends and I'm so glad I've had this experience. I signed up quite last minuet, and felt the communication was good and any questions were answered quickly pre-travel. The course was a lot of work and I wish I understood more before the program began in terms of what I needed to prepare and that I had access to the information we were taught during the introduction once we arrived.

After the program began, it sometimes it felt like information was not always passed along, or communication was a bit slow. But then I understand the schools can change their plans/ minds right up to the last minuet, so definitely need to be okay with just going with the flow and last minuet changes.

However, I am so glad that I did this program It was very tiring but really rewarding. Need to go in with an open mind and be okay with taking things as they come, but I was an amazing way to explore the culture and to try something new!

The GOTOCO programme was a great programme to join, I met some lifelong friends on my programme and gained valuable teaching and volunteering experience. At the end of the programme they planned us a lovely post-programme trip to Zhangjiajie, China. In the couple weeks my small group taught in 3 schools in Qiyang, Zhuzhou and Yueyang. It was an amazing opportunity to travel and immerse yourself in the culture. Most of the schools were amazing and we were welcomed warmly by the school, teachers and students! Also, in terms of timings and planning the programme was very last minute with things constantly changing which can be very stressful. Overall, I would definitely recommend this programme, especially if you're looking at teaching, volunteering or just wanting a new experience.

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.

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.