Program Reviews

I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Gotoco. The relationship with my placement school and my host family were among the highlights of my trip. The friendliness of the staff at Innova schools Mosquera, and their willingness to always provide a helping hand, made the transition into leading English classes much less daunting and rather enjoyable. I found this to be a great outlet to put into practice all that I had been learning about in my TEFL course.

The opportunity to travel around beautiful Colombia was also a major highlight. From trekking and sailing through the Amazon, to exploring the bustling market stalls of Bogota, this was definitely a trip to tick off the bucket list!

Whilst some of my fellow volunteers had some issues with our hosting organisation, YMCA Colombia, this was not at all reflective of the professionalism and all around helpfulness that was consistently demonstrated by Gotoco staff.

Though it sounds too good to be true, this volunteering experience was truly everything and more! Fully funded & no catches - what’s not to love? I would definitely recommend doing a Gotoco programme to anyone that is interested in exploring the option of teaching English abroad, whilst also adventuring through a different corner of the world.

I absolutely loved the Spain programme as we were teaching adults which allowed us to form stronger connections with the students and have interesting chats about everything. Although our programme location was in the middle of nowhere, I loved the Venta del Charco accommodation as there was a pool where we'd often have pool parties, and we had horses, sheep, and chickens as neighbours. The Spanish adults were lovely- we had so much fun together doing all the activities (especially Furor) and I was able to get to know everyone in our one-to-one chats. I also really enjoyed the cultural tour in Granada as it is a beautiful city and it helped that most of the activities were booked for us so we could enjoy our trip without having to worry about coordinating and booking everything.

Thailand, a country known for its lively culture, magnificent landscapes, and kind hospitality, became the setting for a life-changing experience for me. I began on a journey as a volunteer teacher, organised by a devoted organisation, wanting to make a real effect, gain amazing memories, and build vital skills.
My ambition to travel the world, immerse oneself in a different culture, and give back to a community in need motivated my decision to teach in Thailand. This was a decision that I would grow to value as a life-changing experience.
People I met, experiences I had, and skills I learned have all left an everlasting impression on my life. Thailand will always have a special place in my heart for its kindness and beauty, and I am glad for the opportunity to have been a part of this great trip.

Gotoco Colombia 2023 was amazing. The Easter week trip to Medellin and Guatape was unforgettable, with paragliding and jet skiing topping the list. The experience included making lifelong friends, gaining valuable teaching experience, and enjoying a fantastic work-life balance. I've already recommended it to all my friends – it was the best time ever. The unique accommodation in a mansion with a pool and the thrilling jeep rides to town added an extra layer of excitement to the whole experience. An experience I won't forget!

The experience as a whole has been fantastic. It started off in February, with my interview, and by March I was gone! The process was quick and the staff before the trip did everything to ensure that I was ready to move to Thailand for 6 months. Once in country my friend who I had convinced to go had even less time to prepare and they also supported him too!
When we arrived in country we spent a good while traveling, gaining experiences such as Song Kran and doing our TESOL orientation, and Gotoco picked amazing places for this to happen. When we finally go to know where we were moving to, gotoco again helped us with the moving back and supported us from there. While on my trip I also had the chance to go to Malaysia to take part in the Asian Youth Model United Nations, which Gotoco sponsored me for through the personal development fund, which one was one of my most favourite parts as I had a chance to meet people and talk about the importance of education and how it helps development. Finally, this has lead me into knowing that I want to be a teacher, and through this experience I have gained a teaching position with a funded PGCE in China, which would not have been available without Gotoco support or without my TESOL. If you have any incline to do this, then I'd say go ahead. You'll never regret it.bthe friends I've made have been wounderful and the memories I've made are forever.

On the six-month fellowship, we had a four-week orientation before we started school. We did a lot of traveling in the first few weeks then TESOL training in a lovely hotel and taught for the first time in English camps. The hotel where we completed our TESOL training had the most comfortable beds, a hotel buffet, a pool and a gym! Gotoco couldn't have picked a better place for us to stay.

The cultural activities before teacher training were very fun and varied. We were able to visit lots of different places in Thailand which we may have not experienced if it weren't for the program. My most enjoyable experiences were our trip to Sukhothai, a historical sight in northern Thailand. We rode bikes around the temple grounds, ate at a nice restaurant and stayed in a beautiful hotel where everyone very much enjoyed the pool. We also went to rescue paws which is an animal shelter for disabled dogs. We got to go with the volunteers to feed local packs of strays and walked some of the dogs from the shelter along the beach. It was a great day. Songkran was definitely a highlight, we all had lots of fun over those few days! We also had a karaoke party bus for a few of our journeys which was also highlight. The English camps with Sunee (a friend of Gotoco's who lives in Thailand) was a highlight- teaching for the first time was nerve wrecking but she made the whole experience fun and lighthearted. Lastly, the elephant hotel we stayed at was amazing! We got to feed some wild elephants who live in the grounds surrounding the hotel.

For me, the staff (specifically Hayley, Matty, and El) made the experience. They always made sure we were having a good time but were also available if we needed any help with anything or needed a chat. Whilst teaching, my students were the highlight.

You experience so much during the six-month program. You visit many different places and do lots of different activities. You spent a lot of time with the people on your cohort and get to make lots of friends. Most importantly, you gain lots of valuable experience and get a qualification and it is all funded for you! The company is very inclusive and wants to make sure everyone has the same opportunities no matter their background and that everyone has a positive experience. When I was applying, I wondered if Gotoco was a scam or what was the catch as I couldn't believe all of this is funded for you and you get to experience so much for free! Rest assured after emailing, I was reassured it is not a scam and there is no catch! Just commitment and some hard work is required to complete the TESOL certification and get all the admin requirements completed before starting the course.

My experience on this program has been positive and impactful. This program has helped me grow as an individual and I have had many amazing experiences and will leave with lasting memories and friendships. I feel I have gained lots of valuable experience during my time on the program and have developed as a person both personally and professionally. It is an amazing opportunity to gain some valuable life experience. I would recommend it to everyone.

This whole experience was 10/10
I learnt so much and met so many new people. exploring Thailand on weekends and holidays was an amazing experience. The programme was run extremely well especially with so many people.
It has really made me a much more confident person and I believe in myself so much more now. I communicate much more efficiently and now have a further understanding about the future career I'd like to pursue.
Making new friends and travelling around Thailand with them on weekends and holidays. Also experiencing true Thai culture in a small town with amazing food and the most wholesome people.
The small trips gotoco took us on in Hua Hin really showed us more about Thai culture. Also the trips I went on with friends allowed me to explore lots

I would recommend gotoco as it has helped me to experience a whole new culture and world I never would've had a chance to experience otherwise. I never would have even considered running off to a foreign country for 6 months, but Gotoco has made that possible and it's been so fun!

The highlight of my experience was the summer camp. This was a fun way to interact and meet new people and other gotocoers. We were also able to enjoy cultural excursions which were so fun! I also really enjoyed a solo travel trip to Hua Hin which I really really enjoyed.

I think this opportunity to be immersed into a new culture and be able to teach local students English, who may never have been taught any English before and be able to share your knowledge and skills with them is a truly invaluable experience. Being able to explore a new country alongside this is a once in a lifetime experience and has enriched my cultural understanding.

I think the programme gave me the confidence to navigate a new environment in a new country. I now feel so much more comfortable travelling by myself and have realised this is something that I want to do more of on the future. I would not have gained this insight into myself without the programme.

An amazing experience to gain an insight to living independently abroad and navigating yourself through a foreign country, whether that may be within a rural town or in a never sleeping city. The highlights were helping the students excel in their education, meeting locals and embracing the new culture. The memories created and the places visited will be of those I will never forget. The greatest professional benefit may have been the fact I was working in a rural town, within a country I had never visited before and confucted myself in an amazing way to be able to teach a subject I have never taught.