Program Reviews

I joined the China Gotoco programme in the summer of 2024 and had a great experience. There were 40 of us altogether over a short 2 week programme. For many it was our first time teaching in a classroom setting and this was an unforgettable experience in a wonderful school in Hunan province. We were able to see a much larger amount of Hunan than we thought on either side of the teaching. The school were amazing hosts and we were able to build a really strong connection with our students throughout the time there, teaching a varied curriculum that was designed around making the learning fun and inclusive to all levels of our students. I would definitely recommend this programme to anyone who is thinking of teaching whether at home or abroad, it is certainly an unforgettable experience. The Gotoco staff were wonderful and very useful in everything from Visa applications to lesson planning.

I had such a great time teaching kids at MeisenTe Summer Camp in Dali! The experience was unique and I’m really grateful to Gotoco for providing this opportunity to live and work in such an interesting country. I felt warmly welcomed and supported by my Chinese colleagues who were equally proud of their work on the summer camp. I was able to experience new things every day such as rock climbing, mushroom foraging and making traditional rose flower cakes! Dali is an incredible place and I would recommend this program anyone looking for an adventure.

I met so many lovely and interesting people and it was such a new and fun way to spend the summer. I was based in Poland for three weeks with a forth 'culture' week in Warsaw and Krakow. The best part about doing it with Gotoco is that I stayed with a group of people my whole time there whereas other programmes have it as you are completely by yourself. Me and my group all became so close and there was always something to do. We all connected on deeper levels while becoming teachers and learning how to navigate a new culture and country together.

I did around 2 months on a GoToCo program teaching English in Thailand. We spent about 1 week altogether doing local activities and workshops based on the course. I really enjoyed the first week and getting to know everyone on the program and the program staff. At the end of the week we got our first stipend and told where we will be going to teach and what groups we would be in. I believe there could have been a little more of a personal effort from the staff so that there was more consideration as to who would be placed with who when we were sent off to our placements. Whilst on placement I didn’t enjoy the accomodation, so I paid for my own accommodation. There were some good suggestions on where to pick from the XploreAsia team.

I really enjoyed getting to know the local area and teaching my students. I was teaching in Chiang mai Thailand at a language school.

All in all I very much enjoyed my experience. I just think I would’ve felt more supported by my placement staff if the communication before during and after my placement was a little better and personable.

I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunity that Gotoco provided to teach in rural Thailand. I have received so much support for personal and professional development. The course is especially useful for obtaining the TESOL qualification. The course is well-organised and structured. I got to do so many wonderful things like take part in Buddhist festivals, watch school performances, try delicious Thai food and interact with locals. I will never forget my time in Thailand. Thank you so much!!!

I spent two months volunteering with Gotoco, teaching in Vietnam, and it was an incredible experience. I got to stay with the loveliest host family, gain teaching experience, and travel the country on my days off. The orientation, placement and end-of-programme trip were all amazing.

However, the application process was very long, and communication during application was very slow and frustrating at times. Information on the website was not always clear.

Overall though, I had an amazing time on the programme.

I loved my teaching experience in Poland. Going to a new country felt a bit scary at first, but meeting so many incredible people, both international and local, has made my time very enjoyable and fun. Although the teaching weeks were intense as the schedule was really packed, it was rewarding to see how by the end of every week the Polish kids improved and were more confident with their English. A truly enjoyable and life-changing experience overall.

Regarding the TEFL course, the practical assignments were a bit too long and they took quite a while to reply to the emails if we had queries. But it was straightforward to follow.

it was great, really enjoyed my time there! The highlights were meeting new people, being placed in environments i wouldn't think of going to. getting to explore new places and trying new things. It was a big push outside my comfort zone. It has made me a more patient person, i've really gotten to know myself a lot better. How i work with other people, what i am like in different scenarios and has overall made me very confident. Another highlight was the orientation week and meeting new people. getting long weekends off to travel the rest of thailand. how friendly everyone is and helpful.

This trip really opened my eyes in turns of travel. Even though I was always going to go to Australia this experience made me realise I can go anywhere the language barrier is not an issue. Learning about a whole new different culture was fascinating and living in a rural area where local people were so excited to have myself there are some of the memories I shall cherish forever. The team did an incredible job of running both a great orientation and end of programme trip, one being an amazing way to meet people and become settled in a completely new environment and one to celebrate with everyone together before moving on.
As someone who was already considering teaching as a career prospect the actual teaching was incredibly fun and useful for myself, and has only helped me further realised that is the path I am on. It has also opened up the idea of teaching abroad which is something I had not considered before I started this programme which is something I am very grateful for.
Overall, it was 3 of the best months of my life.

If you want to become more independent, appreciative of different cultures and want a head-start into teaching abroad, Gotoco's program is probably the best option I could suggest. It helped me develop in ways I couldn't see initially.

The program also offers the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting and lovely fellow travelling teachers, many of whom you may form long-term friendships with.

Overall, the organisation of the program, the people involved, and the country are all excellent and are worth checking out.