Gotoco FUNDED TEFL Adventures (Bali, Thailand, Colombia, Europe, SE Asia!)

Program Reviews

Louisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco Thailand

I had the incredible opportunity to teach English in Thailand for 6 weeks, and it was truly amazing!

The support from Gotoco was great, and they made the entire process smooth, from the initial application to my arrival. Their team was always ready to answer my questions and help us out. In Thailand, the cultural immersion, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of my students were beyond what I could have ever imagined. From the orientation week, I felt confident and well-prepared for the classroom, and made genuine connections with my students, and helping them develop their English language skills.

Gotoco helps you grow professionally, by doing the Tesol course, but more importantly I learned more about myself, gained a deeper understanding of Thai culture, and formed lifelong friendships with fellow teachers and locals. It's an experience that has left an indelible mark on my life. Definitely recommend!!

Pros
  • Fully funded flights
  • Meeting Local people
  • Thai Culture
Cons
  • Not a holiday! Its real and raw but that is what is so good about it!
Amy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I would recommend Gotoco

I would recommend Gotoco to a friend or family member as it is a great opportunity for people who can't afford expensive programs. It's also a great opportunity to see the other side of the world.
I had a great experience with the program as I thought all excursions and accommodations were very well organized and planned. I'm very happy with all the transport that was organized as well.
For me, the most enjoyable moments on the trip were visiting the railway in Kanchanaburi where I tried fried bananas for the first time (they were delicious!), and also the canal tour in Bangkok at the end of the trip.

Pros
  • Funded!
Cons
  • Everything is a bit last minute
Ciara
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bali Short-Term Programme

I enjoyed the programme overall. The teaching hours were short so you had lots of time to explore Bali and do whatever else you wanted in the local area on teachings days.

I gained some classroom teaching experience which meant I was able to gain confidence speaking and maintaining control over a group. The most useful skill was being able to change your plans as you went along, so reading the room and realising if they liked an activity or didn't, and how to improve it.

Most enjoyable moments - The weekend trips away when I met some locals and was able to see a different side to Bali - a more genuine and local experience that wasn't glamorous but was fascinating.

Pros
  • Really affordable
  • Lots of free time
  • Amazing experience
Cons
  • Same food
  • The level of support is not really there
Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The most incredible experience

Going to teach English in Thailand for 2 months was the best decision I have ever made. I met incredible people, experienced once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and learnt so much about myself.

The school I taught in were very supportive and my accommodation was great. The teaching and lesson-planning was quite challenging, but in the best way. I believe I really developed my own personal skills and discovered how hard I can work when I put my mind to it. The kids I taught were amazing and were so eager and happy to learn.

The cultural activities provided by Gotoco before and after the placement were amazing too. The programme also gives you the stepping stone into your own travelling after the course, which is great if you’re a little worried about travelling at first. I met some great people who I ended up travelling with. It was the most rewarding experience I’ve ever taken part in and would urge everyone considering it to take the plunge. Of course, it’s scary at first - but I can promise you, it’s so worth it.

Pros
  • Independence
  • Gateway to travel
  • Build your personal skills
Cons
  • Can be daunting at first
Matthew
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Good use of a summer

Embarking on a trip to Italy for a month with complete strangers I have to admit I was nervous, however there was no reason to be. After the introduction part of the trip, which included teaching on how to run the camps during the days and cultural activities in the evenings we were sent out by train into Austria. While on camp we stayed with host families and were left to our own devices to run our own camps how we wanted, while being completely immersed in the local culture during the rest of the days. At the end of the camps we also had a short cultural trip to Venice, having the chance to completely explore and experience the city.

Alexia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great opportunity

Gotoco is a great opportunity for gaining teaching experience and exploring the culture of a different country. It also allows you to gain a TEFL qualification, which is essential when wanting to teach English as a second language abroad. And yes, it really is fully funded! It might seem impossible at first but the Turin scheme fortunately makes it possible. A one-of-a-kind opportunity for travel. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to explore the world, teach and leave their comfort zone.

Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Such a generous opportunity!

It was hard for me to believe that this programme was legit with all the generous funding, but it is, and it was incredible. My highlights from the Bali programme:
Water purification ceremony, cooking class (the food was amazing), wood carving, palm reading, painting class, eating delicious food which I might not have tried otherwise, staying in a villa with 45 other like-minded individuals. Exploring a new culture has been great for my personal growth and a change of perspective. The qualification is also a great opportunity for me to change my career plans / plans for work for the near future.

Pros
  • Villa living
  • Location and accessibility of nearby towns and activities across Bali.
  • Minimal teaching hours
Cons
  • 3 sharing a small room
  • Bedsheets a bit dodgy/no duvet cover/changed irregularly
  • Very strict rules about driving mopeds while on the programme
Aisha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best experience

The organisation of this programme and all of its aspects were amazing. Everybody was super friendly and the trip was filled with so many fun cultural experiences. My school placement was exactly what I'd hoped for - we had an incredible host and the school was so much fun to teach at. We were able to see many different parts of Thailand and get fully immersed into the culture. The programme has inspired me to volunteer and continue travelling as much as possible. I would recommend Gotoco to everybody as it is such a great beneficial experience.

Elizabeth
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco Poland TESOL

The most enjoyable moments of the trip for me were visiting Warsaw and Krakow after the three weeks volunteering, and being able to spend meaningful time exploring the country and culture.
Being able to explore poland after the three weeks was amazing, and having transport between cities via train was a great experience too. it was so nice making friends with all the other volunteers.
I think it's an amazing experience that helps grow your character and professional skills, i think i would recommend it to anyone who wants to work in a multicultural or teaching environment.

Kyle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thailand TESOL

This gotoco trip was a fantastic way to dive into to a new environment and experience a new culture whilst also meeting new like minded people. Gotoco did an amazing job in making sure we were looked after and experienced the most of Thailand. We were placed in a local school and taught 5 days a week surrounded by local food and local Thai people from the community. Overall I have learned a lot and would definitely recommend this trip to friends and family if you are looking to experience a new culture.

Pros
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Trips