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

A great way to get into travelling alone if you've never done it before as you are put in touch with loads of similar people from all over the world and Gotoco provide a lot of support before you get there and while you're in China as well. I worked in Yangshuo which was amazing and the school Gotoco placed me in was fantastic - the staff were incredibly helpful and supportive in getting us used to teaching etc.

A great way to travel while also getting something for it - i.e. the TEFL which would usually cost you and you get to do the training abroad. For me I would have gone ahead with the program even without the offer of the TEFL after having such a great time so the qualification is a bonus! Even without, I enjoyed the travelling and immersive experience of living in China for an extended period of time and the teaching has given me so many skills that I can put on my CV and use in the future.

I love China and speaking Chinese with locals. I shed a lot of preconceived notions that I didn’t know I had. This trip has made me realize I lot of things that I’m glad I have realized. I have grown because
of teaching English in a foreign country and seeing the world is so big. This is especially important for Americans because we live in a bubble, and the rest of the world is different. Because of my program,
I am a better communicator and I am more assertive. In my experience, China is a place where if you want something, you can only rely on yourself to get it. My experiences have made me more confident in pursuing what I want. Overall, I am fortunate to have gone on this program, and I feel like I have changed as a person. Everyone should go on some trip like this to see the world, and Gotoco is a good option especially for those interested in teaching.

I strongly recommend Gotoco to all those people who want to experience China. The whole team helped me to have a full immersion in such a modern and dynamic country and not only I had the possibility to interact and socialize with a wide range of people, but also I had the chance to work for a leading company in Beijing while having fun.
I was part of the Wuhan-Beijing program. I first experienced Wuhan and had the chance to know the participants of my program and later, in Beijing, I had the possibility to work as an intern for a big company as Wall Street English school.
I appreciated the Gotoco teams efforts in preparing our program however, at times lack of communication between the host company and Gotoco caused some inconveniences. In any case, Richard, Daniel, and Franchesca were always helpful trying to accommodate any requests and doubt.
I will never forget this life-changing experience!

Gotoco is amazing. I enjoyed my stay and experience a lot. Communication with the team was very easy and professional but at same time friendly, always tried to find solution or provide as much information as possible.
While during my experience I learned a lot about Chinese culture , thanks to being with the locals I tried a lot of amazing food and learned some chinese on the way as well.
I had amazing opportunity and I didn't let it go and I am happy that I chose gotoco as my first volunteering experience because they make me feel like I am part of big family.
The recruitment process itself was long but I understand it was essensial for choosing right candidates with passion and a it of energy because that's what is a very important here.

It has helped me grow in confidence and gain independence. The language barrier was difficult but it just made you dedicate your time more to trying to learn the language. The students were so friendly and eager to learn and its a good thing to add to your CV and do something productive during the summer. Exploring shanghai and seeing how day to day life in china differs from the West was so fascinating !Learning the culture, the history and the language gave such an insight.The process was easy and the company was very supportive. They provided us with accommodation and food, and gave me the opportunity to come to such a unique country! It was such an amazing experience. The staff and students in the programme were by far the best part about it. They were so passionate about learning both the language and culture!

The location of yangshuo is absolutely beautiful and I loved every minute of it. The people I have met here, including the permanent staff, have been amazing to work with. This experience you could never get from a normal holiday, because it is so unique! It teaches you so much about living independently and relying on yourself to get by. Making friends around the UK that have changed my life. Also living in a country instead of just visiting it like a normal holiday. It has improved my confidence so much
Hiring a moped at the weekend and going on trips with the other teachers. It made the teaching all worth it because we got to be a tourist as well as living like a local
I would recommend any student who wants to have an amazing summer to give this ago!

My experience was gotoco was extremely good. They facilitated my first ever trip leaving Europe, and the opportunities that this offered were unmatchable. Teaching at Dahuwai camp in Yangshuo was eye-opening, exhausting and rewarding all at the same time; interacting with kids who have grown up in a different society with differing customs and social expectations is fascinating. Gotoco also help you with travelling in China – they offer 5 free nights in a hostel at their base in Yangshuo. Yangshuo is one of the most beautiful places I have been in my life, and the town itself is buzzing with activity. They also have very friendly ambassadors who show you all facets of Yangshuo life. I would greatly recommend this experience to all who are in the least bit tempted.

I would recommend GoToCo to a friend as the overall experience is incredible! I have made so many new friends, both chinese and other GoToCo participants, communication when you're out in China with the organisers is great and they really care about your experience, they were able to help greatly with a camp transfer in order to explore more of China and also were able to help greatly with travel arrangements. With this programme you are able to gain so many new skills and being able to immerse yourself in Chinese culture was great.
I believe I have developed my communication and confidence skills greatly - before I started this programme I would never have thought I could stand up on stage and introduce myself to a large audience in Mandarin, teach english lessons and lead numerous activities!

I spent 1 month in China with gotoco in July/August 2019. I was on the Anhui Beautiful Way project and the leaders of this camp were so welcoming, always going out of their way to help us. We stayed in a hotel on this scheme, no expense spared by the leaders. I worked on an outdoor summer camp in Huangshan, Anhui. Amazing scenery and facilities for the children.

Prior to leaving for China, I knew very little about what I would be doing on the camp, communication was pretty limited from gotoco and from the camp leaders. We had 4 nights in Hefei at the start of my month of work which myself and the other two gotoco-ers were completely unaware of. In addition to this, I was told that I would be separated from the other two gotoco-ers for part of the scheme and would be on my own in Hefei whilst they were staying in Huangshan. This was not something I was aware of prior to the trip and perhaps would have discouraged me from going to China. Luckily, this did not happen, but it was a last minute change that once again was poorly communicated to me (only found out 1 hour before I was meant to take the train back to Hefei from Huangshan!)

I felt safe for 100% of my time in China. Gotoco were always there to help us, especially when we found out that the camp we were placed on would finish 1 week earlier than expected. Gotoco provided us with some emergency funds to help with flight-rearrangement costs and extra travel costs. This was much appreciated.

Yangshuo was a great end to the trip, a slightly run down hostel and a room on the 6th floor without an elevator was less than ideal, yet didn't ruin the trip. The excursions were not cheap by Chinese standards, yet they were definitely exciting and worth doing.

I would recommend gotoco to anyone, just be mindful that until April (at the earliest), you will have no idea what you are doing, where you are going, or who you will be with.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in china this summer!! Some of the most enjoyable moments being the activities arranged by our host school for our free time!! These were free of charge for us teachers, and ranged from tea picking, kayaking, KTV, and more! Whilst teaching, you gain valuable skills in terms of intercultural communication, as well as building special relationships with the visiting students from around china!
During my programme I met a variety of people from all over the UK, from different areas of study, to universities, providing me with the change to meet people I otherwise never would have been able to meet, through this experience I made some lifelong connections!
I could not be happier with my time in china, and encourage others to participate in a programme!