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

My time volunteering in Vietnam was unlike anything I’ve done before. What made it truly unique was the atmosphere of genuine warmth everywhere I went. the staff who supported us daily to the local teachers who welcomed us into their classrooms with real enthusiasm. Future participants should know that the sense of community is immediate; you never feel like an outsider.
The schools were lively, full of energy, and filled with children who were curious about everything. Their excitement made each day feel meaningful. Even small moments stood out, like arriving without my planned activity and having a teacher calmly hand me a ready‑made one without hesitation. That kind of kindness stays with you.
The weather, the culture, and the friendships formed within the volunteer group added even more depth to the experience. It’s not just teaching; it’s stepping out of your comfort zone, making friends, creating memories that last a lifetime, and most importantly, having a genuinely good time.
The experience showed that I can adapt to unfamiliar environments, work effectively with young children, and stay calm when plans change. It strengthened my communication skills and demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and cultural sensitivity, qualities employers value highly.
It also proved that I can manage responsibilities under pressure and remain positive even when tasks are challenging. Overall, it showed that I can thrive outside my comfort zone, which is a strong asset in any career.

I would definitely recommend Gotoco to anyone who is looking for an opportunity to get into teaching while also travelling to a completely new part of the world. For me, it was a great way to combine something I have been interested in for a long time, with my love of travelling and experiencing different cultures. I came into the programme not really knowing what to expect, but I left feeling that I had learnt a lot about myself as well as developing skills that I can take forward in the future.
The programme benefited me in so many ways. One of the biggest things I gained was confidence. Before going to China, I was excited about teaching but was also quite nervous about being responsible for a classroom and making sure that my lessons were enjoyable and useful for the students. Over time, I became much more comfortable leading camps, explaining ideas and adapting my approach depending on how the students responded.
I also developed my organisation and leadership skills. Planning lessons, preparing activities and making sure everything was ready each day taught me to be much more organised and prepared. Sometimes lessons did not go according to plan. For example you can lesson plan for an activity but because it’s raining you had to change last minute.I think this was one of the most valuable parts of the experience because it taught me that you do not always have to have everything perfect and that sometimes the best thing you can do is respond to the situation in front of you.
Teaching is something I have been interested in for a long time, and this programme has made me even more interested in pursuing the career. Seeing the students become more confident and engaged was particularly rewarding, and it made me realise how enjoyable teaching can be. It was also nice to build relationships with the students and see their personalities come through during lessons.

Outside of teaching, one of my favourite parts of the programme was getting to experience China for myself. I really enjoyed trying different foods, exploring new places and learning about the culture and everyday life. Being able to live and work there gave me a very different experience from simply visiting as a tourist. I especially appreciated being able to form my own understanding of the country, as there is not always much coverage of everyday life in China in mainstream Western media.

Overall, Gotoco was an experience I will remember for a long time. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone, helped me become more confident and independent, and gave me practical teaching experience. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to challenge themselves, develop new skills and experience a completely different culture at the same time.

My GoToCo cultural exchange programme was brilliant for teaching me independence and giving me agency in a new country. I became close with the participants at my school as we navigated a new environment.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a country so far form the UK whilst making ties there and developing yourself professionally. Also brilliant to get involved with teaching if interested in social impact work.

The programme has improved my confidence when it comes to voicing concerns and taking leadership. It has encouraged me to continue teaching and complete my TEFL soon after programme completion

Amazing experience with GoToCo! I had the opportunity to teach abroad, meet amazing people and experience a completely different culture. The whole experience was incredibly rewarding and something I’ll never forget. GoToCo gave me an unforgettable experience! Teaching abroad allowed me to grow in confidence, meet amazing people, experience a new culture and make memories I’ll never forget. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend GoToCo to anyone considering teaching abroad!

During my time with Gotoco, though short, I can truly say it was one of the best things I have ever done. Whilst some, like myself, may have been anxious at the prospect of travelling as far as somewhere like China and picking up teaching, something which I had little experience in, the Gotoco staff were unbelievably helpful. One of the best aspects of the trip was in fact the staff, who felt more like friends than bosses by the end of the trip, shoutout to Matty especially. Aside from the staff, the organisation of training alongside cultural activities was well-balanced and time spent outside of teaching was similarly enjoyable, meeting new people who one could bond with and enjoy the trip alongside.

I had an incredible time in Hunan, China with Gotoco! The programmes are both a great way to gain teaching experience for a TEFL qualification, and to immerse yourself in the scenery and culture of a new country. In China, I discovered a love for teaching and an attachment to helping others learn that I never thought I would feel, and had an incredible time experiencing such a vast, interesting, and beautiful place! I would highly recommend to students who want to see the world and discover a new potential career path.

I had the good fortune to head to Hunan, China to teach English for two weeks. This was a great experience that challenged me to adapt to students from a different culture, requiring me to plan engaging lessons and then deliver these lessons to my students. Gotoco provided helpful support whilst granting us the independence to experiment and find our own teaching style. We were given a good introduction to Changsha by Gotoco, who organised activities in the first few days to help us acclimatise. We were also given the opportunity to visit the wonderful countryside of Yangshuo following the programme, which allowed us to see a whole other side of China.

My time in Thailand was nothing short of amazing, from meeting everyone at the airport to getting involved with the teaching. My best part of the trip was watching my confidence grow day by day, prior to the programme I didn’t have much confidence but when I left I felt more confident than I ever have done. Every part of it was amazing from the teaching to the grouped activities and the meeting new people. I was hesitant about going at first but I’d say if anyone was debating it then just go for it because you’d never regret it

I did the 2 week teach children programme with Gotoco. The highlight of my experience would've been seeing the real Thailand and not touristy places. Getting to know the children and their hardships was definitely eye-opening. Seeing those children appreciate you spend some time with them was heartwarming. The programme is exactly what I was expecting it to be. There weren't any bad surprises. It was an eye-opening experience and you get to see a real culture with the real people not just the facade of an all inclusive resort. It's made me question about life for sure.Adding this programme to my CV will show employers my real character which is thinking about the greater good, being proactive and being empathetic. It has 100% made me more employable.

One of the best things I’ve ever done in my life amazing experience amazing support and great memories. We went to Thailand in June for two weeks with a group of 15 people in order to teach English but also to experience Thai culture. We had an amazing time visited three different cities four different courses and taught university students but also younger kids we had enough time to do activities such as sightseeing shopping going to different restaurants and also going out at night. All of our activities were organised by The go to Call members they provided us with food drinks accommodation, and everything was paid for. We were guided on how to structure our lessons and aside from the five days teaching the rest of the time we were able to do independent activities or organised sightseeing activities.