Program Reviews

I was lucky enough to spend two incredible months teaching English in Chinchina, Colombia. The prospect of free flights, food, accommodation and a qualification seemed too good to be true and I was waiting for the catch, but there isn't one. The programme was well set up to support us teaching, but we were also given a lot of freedom to teach they way we wanted to. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to travel to new places in Colombia and even Panama on the weekends. The people on my programme were from incredibly diverse backgrounds and were unfailingly interesting, helpful and fun to be around. I cannot recommend this programme enough. My only regret was having to leave after 2 months.

Programs boosted my confidence, affirming my potential as a teacher—an essential motivation for my journey here. Moreover, I've learned I can thrive on a different continent, broadening my horizons and embracing new possibilities. The immersive programs not only elevated my teaching skills but also instilled a profound sense of confidence in my abilities. This newfound assurance became a driving force behind my decision to embark on this transformative journey. Additionally, the experience illuminated the possibility of living and flourishing on a different continent. This realization has not only expanded my horizons but has also allowed me to embrace the richness of diverse cultures and perspectives. As I navigate this exciting chapter of my life, I am continually inspired by the prospect of making a meaningful impact as an educator in a global context.

I completed Gotoco's short-stay (two month) program in Vietnam. It was an amazing opportunity to have a funded placement in a teaching environment in South East Asia. Although you are technically a volunteer during your teaching placement, your flights, accommodation during the program, TESOL course and orientation activities are funded. You may also get a stipend to help cover some costs during your teaching placement. Participating in this program with other people in the same situation as you, made the experience a lot smoother and easier to build life-long friendships. I felt grateful to have made an impact to local Vietnamese students learning English. The program is an an eye-opener into travelling and working abroad, and it genuinely improves your confidence in navigating the daily challenges of living abroad. Having never had teaching experience prior to this program, doing a teaching role for the first time opened up my interests to explore teaching as a potential careerpath. It is worth remembering that living in Vietnam is very different to the UK, and so doing this program teaches you to be adaptable and being open to new aspects of living abroad i.e. food, accommodation, travelling, transportation, language, interacting with locals, cultural behaviour and traditions.

Some comments from my Thailand TESOL programme experience.

6 weeks travelling with Gotoco was a great experience, meeting so many new friends and travelling together.

Developing new skills as a teacher from no previous experience - phichit summer teaching camp to a confident and full time teacher ( I've almost been teaching for a year in Thailand now) .

My experience has been full of new culture, people and professional skills.

It has made me stronger and a more rounded person to have taken part & integrated into a foreign country for the first time.

Some personal highlights from my 6 weeks travelling with the gotoco team were -

Kanchanaburi - historical war museum and hellfire pass.

Bangkok - nightlife / eating out and river cruise.

Hua hin - sunrise on the beach with the monkeys & the nightlife.

Meals and drinks out with gotoco team and participants.

Date of experience: April 01, 2023

I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to a friend as it provides a unique blend of travel and teaching, fostering independence, and the chance to build lasting connections. This opportunity has benefited me immensely by instilling the confidence to travel, fully embracing the Balinese lifestyle, and enjoying the rewarding experience of teaching. Reflecting on my program, I feel fortunate to have been based in a beautiful village with the freedom to explore the rest of Bali. The two months were filled with gratitude for the experiences, and saying goodbye to my students was a bittersweet moment

I had an amazing time doing a short programme working in rural Thailand with gotoco! I think this opportunity was an amazing stepping stone to gaining more independence, seeing a different side of a country and being immersed in cultural experiences you may not normally be able to witness. I think it’s great value for money as you get all your food and accommodation paid for, for 6 weeks of training, and a week before and after the programme. They provide you with language lessons, what to expect & lots of other information beforehand. Staff welfare is good as there is always a GOTOCO staff member you can reach out to if you need extra support before or during the programme. Gotoco gives you step by step instructions on the visa process and what to do/bring beforehand to help you feel prepared. I will remember this experience forever!

As my time in Thailand comes to an end and I reflect on my placement with Gotoco, I find myself eager to share this experience with others.
The one universal reflection that I have found with Gotocoers is the appreciation for an experience we otherwise never would have gotten. Teaching with Gotoco offers travel, cultural exchange, school experience, and local excursions that plane old backpacking doesn’t afford you.
As a participant on the October Thailand Rural
School programme I had unique, and yes, sometimes difficult experiences.
I was welcomed by my school from the very first day. The students and Thai teachers were eager to meet me and made teaching such an enjoyable experience during my entire placement - even the cheeky students are respectful, funny, and a pleasure to teach.
Although teaching in a rural school can sometimes be boring in your free time, it’s easy to step just a little outside your comfort zone and get involved in the local school clubs and community. I had the pleasure of joining my schools badminton club - everyday after school I would attempt to play with the incredibly talented students and teachers - and even the schools director! It was an opportunity to interact with people on a more even field (not literally - I was very bad when I first started playing) and to let them see you as a person rather than a foreign teacher.
And you won’t be spending every day in your school! The Thai teachers go above and beyond to show you the best of what their town and province have to offer. I was taken to some beautiful temples and famous historical sites, as well as being treated to VIP status and traditional Thai dress at the local Loy Kratong festival.
But it’s also worth talking about the things that didn’t quite live up to expectations. Although Gotoco provide a funded opportunity that I wouldn’t change for anything, there were logistical and communication issues with coordinators that made things difficult at times. I often found that my Thai teachers would look to me for an answer to a question that we should have known (dates, travelling arrangements, programme expectations, etc.) but that we simply didn’t know - this was not communicated to us or to the Thai teachers acting as liaison.
That being said, my placement with Gotoco is one I believe every single person should get to experience. It helps you to grow as a person, build cultural tolerance and awareness, and make new friends from a part of the world otherwise inaccessible.

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.