Program Reviews

I feel like the trip had a good balance between fostering independence while also having support when needed. Whether that be from Gotoco themselves or from the placement hosts. Being able to develop independence was very enjoyable for me. It has allowed to practice my teaching skills in a classroom setting while also giving me a taster of what working abroad would be like. It also allowed me to work on my lesson planning skills. It's a relatively easy application procedure and it offers the opportunity for further professional and personal development. It allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture and experiences you wouldn't have in the UK.

The school I was placed in was very good. We had freedom to make our own decisions in terms of lesson plans and free time activities while also being given guidance and suggestions when needed.

The post programme trip was a big highlight for me. It was well-organised and was in a location that was suitable but a bit more off the beaten path. We were also taken to local places ran by local people which is a good thing.

I can only give the program 4 stars as I felt that the TESOL course wasn't handled great. We weren't given any warning that the first unit of the TESOL course had to be done before the end of the placement and we weren't even able to properly access it until we were halfway through our placements. Feedback on the course assingments has been slow as well.

Overall, I would reccomend this program to anyone looking for an adventure while also being open to pursuing a career in Teaching English as a foreign Language.

I taught English as a foreign language in Kamphaeng Phet University for 2 months and I would highly recommend doing this through Gotoco who are a supportive, experienced small team. My highlights were the cultural exchange and opportunity to live in Thailand for a short period. During this time I felt like I had a second home with a new routine. It was nice to meet local people and teachers who were very welcoming and invited us to events. There are minimal upfront costs eg dbs check, visa and paying for your own flights and £200 deposit. The flight costs are reimbursed when you complete the program and deposit returned when you complete the TEFL course.

Overall, I had a great time. The team was supportive, I made friends, I got to travel, I learned a bit of Thai, I got back into teaching, I loved my students and my school, and once the program was over I got to move to Vietnam and start a new chapter there, which I would have found much harder to do had I not already been here.

And the whole thing was fully funded too, giving an amazing opportunity to those of us who could have never afforded this otherwise.

I think it's a great opportunity for someone trying to get out of their comfort zone, travel, gain new skills, learn about a different culture, maybe change their career path.

That said, it's not for everyone and there are probably some people better suited for it than others. If you'd like to have the same life you had at home somewhere else, then it's probably not for you.

I will also add that it is an intense program. There is a lot happening and you do have to work. It's not all fun and games. You are there to teach and learn to be a teacher and you should take that responsibility seriously.

This is an amazing opportunity to experience a new country and try something completely different to what you may be used to. Whether you want to explore a new country, trial teaching English as a career path or just meet some amazing like minded people, this programme can be what you want it to be.

The programme gives you a great introduction to the country and opportunity to meet like minded people at the start of the programme to make you feel settled before you start your placement. In the first few days of the programme you are led by an amazing team who teach you about teaching techniques and strategies as well as organising cultural activities.

The placements themselves can be an amazing opportunity to learn a lot about yourself and lifestyles of the locals. Completing the TESOL for free is also an added bonus as it can usually cost upwards of £500.

100% recommend this experience. Just immerse yourself fully in it and that's when you will get the most out of it.

I taught English in Vietnam for 2 months what was an amazing experience. I would not have had an experience like this without the programme. Everyone at the learning centre were very accommodating and friendly and gave us all the support we needed. I was also lucky enough to be invited along to a Vietnamese wedding as well which was such a unique experience and one I will remember for ever. All the fellow GOTOCO lot were not too far and we all managed to meet up at weekends and had a great time together during the induction in Hanoi and on the end of programme trip in Da Nang/ Hoi An.

I did Summer camps in Poland with Gotoco for three weeks. My role was talking to the participants of the camp aged ten to eighteen. I enjoyed having conversations with the participants and participating in the English learning games. A lot of Tesol programs that offer you Tesol qualifications require you to pay, but Gotoco pays for a lot of stuff for you and does not require you to pay them, so it's very affordable. The negatives were the long hours and the availability of vegan food. To conclude, I had a lot of fun, and everyone was really kind and helpful. If you are considering partaking in a summer camp with Gotoco, I would recommend it.

Gotoco's 3-month programme in Colombia was one of the best experiences I've had - I couldn't believe that it offered me a fully-funded opportunity to both teach and travel in a new country. The application process was straightforward, the other participants on the programme were all lovely and we were able to make lasting connections. Not only this, but the country was absolutely beautiful and Gotoco helped to arrange lots of opportunities for activities and travel which made the experience even better. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to gain teaching experience/discover a new country.

I went with Gotoco to Chinchina, Colombia, and had an amazing experience learning how to teach, learning more about local customs, living with new friends and enjoying amazing Colombia. I gained so much confidence not only in my teaching but in myself too and have made lifelong friends. Gotoco made sure that we were all always looked after, provided support if needed and helped us ease into Colombian life as smoothly as possible. Gotoco is run by some amazing people and I really recommend going abroad with them - you won’t regret it!

I had a fantastic time on the short 6 week program in Thailand. I thought it was such a good way to visit the place. Teaching in a rural school really me immerse myself in the culture and live like a true local. I made some great friends on the trip and it was a fantastic experience teaching young children. The orientation week and post-programme trips organised by Gotoco were amazing and a great way to get some sightseeing done. My boyfriend and I did this programme together and Gotoco were very helpful in ensuring that we were placed at the same school together!

When I heard about Gotoco and saw the website I thought it might be a scam, but despite the lack of clarity in some areas on the website it is a good company. Your experience probably depends a lot upon the partner school or organisation, as it connects you to another org, but gotoco provides the qualification, flights and experience for free* (Instead of paying for nothing you get your money returned, so it is dependent on completing the course and qualification). This isn't particularly hard to do but it takes a while. I haven't received my money for the flights back yet and I returned from 3 months in rural Colombia in December, and have had the qualification finished for a month now without being marked. Despite this, I had the best time, had amazing opportunities to travel, and met some really lovely people. I didn't find it too intensive, but I know others on a different programme that had it harder in the city and were less connected to the other participants. If you want to do teaching I would highly recommend but make sure it's something you want to do before going out, and keep a good record of everything to have continuity in the school's curriculum (depending on where you are this can be a management issue). I had done some TEFL training previously and thought it helped because the training given beforehand for my programme was limited. I would do it all again if I could go back, as the community there was so prevalent and I experienced things I never had before.