Program Reviews

What made this trip great was the host and the school I was placed at, although others in the cohort did not feel the same. Being immersed in that setting, getting to meet the kids and getting to know the educators was great! The host made this trip special, he and his wife organised the best excursions and treated us so kindly.
As for the organisation and overall programme, it could be better. The TESOL is okay and the coordinators too. They will provide you with guidance and the main project coordinator is the best to speak to.
Also if you are lucky enough, you will meet like-minded people who will be friends for a lifetime.

I had an incredible time on my GoToCo course and met so many people along the way that I have continued to meet up with after the course ended. I gained so much valuable experience about teaching and Thai culture and was afforded such a unique and otherwise pretty unreachable experience by being placed in such a rural area.

My host was generous and friendly and I will be going back soon to visit her and the school. I am now living and teaching in Bangkok, something that would not have been possible without GoToCo. I would highly recommend this course to anyone, but especially those wanting to have a different travelling experience than most.

This was a great company to use in order to travel and have a unique experience within a strong community and support system. Travelling to those places less travelled and having a time that you would get nowhere else is a memory that I wont forget. I feel that the course is well worth doing, as it allows individuals to really get out of their comfort zones and build their own confidence in themselves to stand up and present in front of people. Definitely apply, you will have the time of your life

It was a wonderful programme, during which I had the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the beautiful Vietnamese culture. Gotoco did an outstanding job in arranging meaningful and enlightening cultural activities, while also providing us with valuable insights into the customs of the country before we arrived in our assigned cities. Gotoco is a great choice for anyone looking to travel safely and experience a country authentically, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned traveller. It's also a fantastic opportunity to enhance your CV, have fun, and make new friends. Plus, the teaching experience is incredibly fulfilling!

I had an incredible time teaching in Thailand in GOTOCO’s January Rural Schools Programme. Placed in a group of 4 in a small village in central Thailand near Phitsanulok, myself and my fellow English teachers and new-found friends had the most amazing 6 weeks. From school trips to sports days to English camps we really did it all.
Our main host, the headteacher of the school, was super inviting and made sure to include us in all of the events going on at the school as well as taking us on trips around Thailand every weekend. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach English in Thailand in a fully funded programme.

My only issue with the programme is regarding the TESOL programme which is currently being amended according to the programme organisers. It was disorganised and I hope in the future it is better planned and prepared.

I took part in the Thailand Rural Teaching programme in January 2024 and had an amazing experience. I enjoyed being able to experience and understand new cultures and learn the in's and out's of a whole melting pot of cultures, religions and ways of life that I had not been exposed to before. Furthermore, I was able to experience all this while helping children in rural areas practice and learn English, which hopefully had positively impacted their lives as it has mine. Being able gain an insight into rural Thailand had been an invaluable experience and GOTOCO was a key part of that, through their programme, support and activities they plan.

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.