Program Reviews

I had an amazing time over the summer with gotoco in Thailand. It was an unforgettable experience that provided me with a chance to experience a new culture and create lasting friendships with the people I met, I can't recommend it enough!
It was very interesting to teach in a rural area in Thailand, I felt as if i was able to expereince a much more 'real' side of the country than i would've if i'd done the usual backpacking route or stayed in bangkok. The chance to then continue your travels after the programme had finished was a big plus!

I had a great time teaching in Colombia with Gotoco. I met amazing people, both the locals and others from the cohort, learnt so much about teaching, Colombian culture and Spanish and it was a great opportunity to travel all over the country as well as other parts of South America. It’s an experience that i’ll remember forever and am very great to have had the chance to travel and gain a qualification in such a budget friendly way! I would highly recommend to anybody looking to do something new!

I really enjoyed the induction week, it was great to get to know so many new people. The team ( Lucy, Jamie, Aislinn and Matty) were all so friendly and happy to answer any questions. It was a great balance between them being your friends and professionalism. I appreciate all the hard work they put in behind the scenes to answer our (many!) questions and queries.
The people at my host school were so lovely and would go out of their way to help us.
The students and teaching was great - it was amazing the amount of love they gave and a great taster of teaching in different countries.

From January to July 2023, I participated in a 6 months immersion programme in Bogota, Colombia, as a 'cultural agent' for a local NGO, YMCA Colombia. Part of my placement involved preparing and leading English-based activities in public and private schools around Bogota, as well as occasionally in universities and online. As a Gotoco 'repeater', I felt more familiar with some aspects of the adventure. Nonetheless, the jump outside of my comfort zone and into my 'learning zone' was real! While my previous programme (6 weeks immersion programme in Thailand in 2022) had felt very 'idyllic', and the 4 weeks of teaching passed in a breeze, this time around, the experience felt much more real-life, with its share of challenges and satisfactions (from overcoming the challenges). Once the integration phase was over (this is always really helpful, Gotoco is especially good at those imo), these 6 months really felt like I was living and working in Bogota. This involves everything that has to do with moving to a new country for a while: becoming familar with commuting, making friends with colleagues, office life with its learnings, building a social life, finding your favourite spots, creating new habits, wondering whether you'd see yourself staying longer... Without forgetting the opportunities for week-end and holiday trips! Something to mention is the support I received from the Gotoco staff, present in Colombia with us. When things were a bit challenging, it was nice to know there were people I could turn to, even if just to vent. In this sense, going to Colombia with Gotoco was a privilege given the network and structure it offers. It would have been much more challenging to do that on my own.

I would recommend this programme, or any 6-month+ immersion, to anyone looking to go on a slightly more challenging adventure. This is not to discourage you if it is your first time travelling alone abroad. If you are keen to get out of your comfort zone, are curious about other cultures and realities and are ready to deal with uncertainty and be flexible, you should go for it. As cliche as it sounds, going to Colombia was life-changing: it gave me the required work experience to apply to my current master's, gave me incredibly humbling insights into other realities (and into myself) and brought me the strongest relationships I have in my life.

I have spent two great months in bali with my fellow gotocoers, I was just as confused as some of you reading this, this gonna be a scam no? From the rather simple interview process till we met Dehmi, our pick up guy,a Indonesian man offered us cigarette in Bali airport as greeting, “wow, this is really happening”

There are three parts of this greatest summer of my life:
- teaching! As an education major, teaching has always been my passion, it was a great opportunity for me to acc use theories and pedagogies i leaned from textbooks, gonna say its pretty challenging especially with language difficulties but i enjoyed it so much, i still keep in touch with my students who sent me their English learning progress:)

- i met some great great people over there, the friendship aint fading away since we back to the UK

- the views! No caption needed ppl😭😭

Although program changes meant I ended up in Shanghai with a smaller group than expected this was the best outcome for me. I loved my time spent there and the freedom I had to explore the city on my own and to get to understand and experience the Chinese system, even just understanding their phone apps was interesting enough.

I felt supported throughout the entire process, and although there were certainly challenges, and I didn’t find the teaching easy, with support from the team and time I ended up really enjoying my time in the classroom!

I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in a fully funded program to teach English to non-native speakers in Italy, and my experience was nothing short of life-changing. From the enchanting landscapes to the warm hospitality of the locals, every aspect of my time in Italy left an indelible mark on my heart.

The program provided a unique platform for cultural exchange, allowing me to connect with Italian children eager to learn English. One of the most rewarding aspects was witnessing the students' enthusiasm and curiosity as they embarked on this linguistic journey with me. Their genuine interest in mastering a new language fueled my passion for teaching and made each class a joyous and fulfilling experience.

The Italian setting itself added an extraordinary layer to the teaching process. Nestled in the heart of the charming countryside, our classes were often held outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of rolling hills and historic architecture. This immersive learning environment not only captivated the students but also inspired a sense of wonder and creativity that transcended the confines of traditional classroom settings.

From cultural immersion, to improving our teaching skills and implementing them into a variety of schools, and to many more great experiences, this programme provided amazing opportunities. I would highly recommend. With the funding provided it means that this is very accessible.
I was teaching English at a summer camp, but was lucky enough to be able to help the children with cooking classes, swimming classes and arts and crafts classes.
The programme also includes an orientation week which helps you get prepared for the teaching.

I had a really good time teaching English in Colombia for three months. I worked in a small town living in a house with 13 other people on the same programme.
I really enjoyed spending time together as a group and going on trips together. I also learned a lot more about Colombia and got to immerse myself in local culture through salsa lessons and other activities. I improved my teaching skills greatly by teaching a class of 16 7 to 8 year olds as well as increased my confidence and leadership skills.

Following completion of my final year of my Biochemistry Bachelors I decided to opt into a short international program that I heard about through my university. The main reason for me doing this was I felt I needed a break from the studies and I was ready to jump straight into lifetime career. Additionally, I am not 100% sure what it is I would like to pursue career-wise so tried something new and unrelated to my degree.

This was hands down one of the best things I have ever done, in which I have made some great friends that I hope to keep in touch with for the rest of my life. Although my first time travelling was rather daunting at first you seen meet a lot of like minded people that you can relate with regarding issues with your 'future prospects' and 'career aspirations' which you do come to a funny realisation is that no one really knows and that they just take opportunities as they come.

If you are unsure of what it is you are wanting to do or if you are just wanting a different experience then I would highly recommend GOTOCO as it is very affordable and it will also give you a lot of insight into other cultures and whether or not you would like to further explore the avenue of teaching and helping encourage younger pupils with their communication as well as their confidence :)