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

Program Reviews

William
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco China Programme

I recently completed Gotoco's summer camp teaching programme at an international school in Guangzhou, and I can confidently say it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Gotoco's support was exceptional, particularly with visa assistance and pre-departure preparations. They guided me through what can be a complex process, making everything smooth and stress-free. Teaching at the international school was incredibly rewarding. The students were well-behaved, enthusiastic, and genuinely keen to learn, which made every day enjoyable. The TESOL course was rigorous but excellent quality. While challenging, it provided me with valuable skills and knowledge that directly enhanced my teaching effectiveness. One of the highlights was meeting like-minded people who were on the same programme. The connections I made and friendships I formed really added to the overall experience. The end-of-camp trip to Yangshuo was absolutely fantastic, a perfect way to conclude the programme and experience more of China's incredible culture and scenery. This programme exceeded my expectations in every way. Gotoco delivered on their promises with professional support, quality training, and an unforgettable cultural experience. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone considering teaching abroad while gaining valuable qualifications.

What was your funniest moment?
Singing karaoke in Yangshuo with Chinese locals
Pros
  • Great support
  • Enthusiastic students
  • Meeting like-minded people
Cons
  • Flights were expensive to get out there
holly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

China programme

My experience on the China programme in Hunan was incredible.

While teaching is at the forefront, it's so much more than just that. You completely immerse yourself in Chinese culture, teaching in places far from where tourists normally go. And although you're doing the teaching, you learn just as much from the kids about their culture - even a bit of Chinese (though they will laugh at the way you pronounce it).

You also meet so many interesting people who are also participating, meaning that you can go through the experience together. During the day, we'd share ideas for class or talk about how our lessons had gone - talking about funny things that had happened or when something you tried to explain wasn't working. In the mornings/evenings before/after school, we would go out together to visit the local area - going on hikes or getting bubble tea, or going shopping. Then, at the end of the programme, we had a great trip with loads of activities planned and plenty of time to unwind after all the teaching and come together to talk about our different experiences at different schools.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
after a group trip to the Irish pub on the end-of-programme trip, a couple of us went to a barbecue restaurant and asked for the waiters' favourites. she brought out crickets and trust me they were sooooo good.
Pros
  • going off the beaten track in China
  • meeting lots of likeminded people
  • cultural exchange
Cons
  • quite tiring - be prepared to do quite a bit of preparation work
Henry
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco China experience

My experience with Gotoco in China was amazing! I had so much fun with all the other English teachers there and made so many new friends and the culture of China was so different but amazing to see.

The actual English teaching camps were so much fun as well, my classes were very well behaved and I had loads of fun teaching them and the kids had a lot of fun learning from me as well - they even gave me lots of little things to take home which was so sweet!

And the end of programme trip was so much fun, getting to do and see all those amazing things was just such a good way to end the trip!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Snails! I'm quite a fussy eater so I knew that I would have to try lots of new things in China but snails was probably the weirdest thing I ate, but surprisingly they weren't too bad!
Pros
  • Meeting all the other wonderful English teachers on the trip
  • The excitement and engagement from the kids was so lovely to see
  • The end of programme trip which had so much to offer
Cons
  • For me, the food was a slight con because most of the food I only tolerated, only a few things did I really like
  • The cost of the flight, although lots of expenses were already covered, the cost of my flight was quite expensive
Kieran
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Funded Teaching Experience and Travel in China

I completed a GOTOCO summer program in Hunan, China. Other than travel expenses and any personal extras I wanted, all of the costs in country where funded for the just over 3 weeks that I was there. It was a wonderful experience which was incredibly fun and rewarding. Being surrounded by other participants for the duration of the program was incredibly fun and entertaining, and let to some great memories. The time spent teaching in the schools, whilst tiring at times, was incredibly rewarding. It was an amazing experience to get to know your class over the time with them, and seeing their confidence and English proficiency improve was very rewarding. Also getting to see more parts of China that you wouldn't normally see was also an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend this experience for anyone who is interested in teaching and loves traveling.

What was your funniest moment?
The moments spent socialising with the other participants in the evening; playing drinking games or pool or just exploring the cities we were staying in were very fun and it was great to get to know many of the people on the program.
Pros
  • Opportunity to explore China, and parts of the country you might not otherwise see
  • Great way to get some teaching experience in a low stakes way
  • A great social experience surrounded by lots of fun people
Cons
  • It is very hot in summer in China!
  • At times it can be a lot of work, so it is just best to be aware of that before you commit to the program
Nikera
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco China

I recently took part in program with gotoco in Hunan China and I had an amazing time. I was not only able to experience teach for the first time, but I was also able to explore China all with support from the team. I met so many amazing people and had experience I will never forget. I loved working with the children and being able to not only allow them to have fun but give them the encouragement they needed to come out of their comfort zone and practice their English . Definitely recommend this experience to anyone thinking about it.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Meeting the students for the first time
Pros
  • Free food
  • Free accommodation
Cons
  • Sharing a room
Binal
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Hunan Summer Camp, China

I promise this isn't a scam, bahhah. Even though the website seems sketchy and it is all seems too good to be true. I've been with Gotoco twice now and it has been a great experience. I've gotten to meet really cool people, and explore new places while also gaining teaching experience. The coordinators were really nice and helpful, the schools were good and accommodation was great. It is all pretty well done. The TEFL qualification is also very useful for future career options. I definitely recommend it!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Crickets; they were just very crunchy no actual taste
Pros
  • Teaching experience
  • Meet new people
  • Lived experience in a new place
Cons
  • Not the most organised
  • Lack of dietary requirement food
Lakshmi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco China summer camp

This program is a great way for someone to begin their English teaching journey. It throws you into the deep end in the best way, and as someone who has never taught before, the support we were given during orientation and from the coordinators was great. I enjoyed the cultural exchange elements of the program, where we were able to interact with the locals, try the local food, and visit the surrounding areas of wherever we were based. The end of program trip to Yangshuo was also great, would recommend.

Isobelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gotoco China 2025

I really enjoyed my experience teaching with Gotoco in China this summer. The programme was well organised and I personally found the teaching very rewarding. I was teaching 15-16 year olds in China, planning the classes was challenging but stimulating and we also enjoyed activities such as a fashion show and fruit salad making. The experience definitely improved my confidence, leadership and public speaking skills and ability to travel abroad. Additionally, the programme offered a trip in Yangshuo after the teaching which involved lots of outdoor activities and was very fun!

Angelina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Amazing! The program was full of so many exciting surprises and opportunities for self growth, it teaches young people so many important skills such as leadership and management. Although I had not much of an interest in teaching, I’ve definitely finished the program thinking this is something I’d want to do again and possibly as a career. The staff are kind and take care of you through travel as well as your stay. I, for example, stayed with two different families in Italy across my four week stay and I still keep in contact with them to this day!

Amelie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thailand rural teaching programme

A highlight of the experience was getting to know all the children that I taught at the school and playing games with them every day. I also enjoyed getting into a routine of teaching, biking around the village and having time to chill. Other fun moments were our cooking and Thai language classes.

I also really enjoyed all the trips we took, like Ayutthaya, the weekend in Phichit with the summer camp, and Bangkok.

I think my time at the school was super unique and enriching on a personal level, and a great experience overall to have been able to have partaken in. I also think the organisation of it was good and clear.

The program has built my confidence massively as I dived straight into teaching and had to take initiative which I might have shied from before. Also, I think it improved my communication skills and increased my open mindset as I responded to and learnt from the cultural differences.

What was your funniest moment?
When a snake came into my friends classroom and no one knew what to do