Teach English in Thailand on a Paid Semester Teaching Contract with Greenheart Travel

I came to Thailand through Greenheart Travel in October 2016. What was initially a vague 6 month plan has since turned into living in Thailand for more than a year, with no intentions of leaving any time soon.

From the beginning, Sara Thacker and Greenheart Travel as a whole were very accommodating in answering the million and five questions I had once I signed on for the program. She was there to offer assistance about everything from visas to whether or not it was worth packing jeans. A short while before I was scheduled to leave for Thailand, myself and other participants were asked to join an interactive webinar where Sara broke down everything we could expect for ou first couple weeks in Thailand, and beyond.

In Thailand Greenheart works in partnership with XploreAsia, who are the ones who deliver the orientation week, TESOL course and find your placement. Both XploreAsia and Greenheart are available for assistance throughout your time in Thailand, and even a year later I am still part o the large teacher groups provided on Facebook which are fantastic for advice in terms of teaching and everything else.

Coming to Thailand has turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, and I highly reccomend Greenheart Travel’s program for the support they provide.

I had only traveled out of the country twice before making the move to Thailand. I wanted an adventure but I also wanted a support group I could go to if I ever felt lost. Greenheart was a great program that allowed me to make the move overseas with peace of mind. Sara Thacker is awesome and answered all of my questions promptly. Although it's a bit pricey, it's a great way to start your journey overseas.

Oh lordy, lordy where do I begin? Greenheart is the greatest organization for this sort of endeavor. I applied through them to teach English for a year in Thailand and they guided me through every step of the process in the most straightforward, professional, and pragmatic manner. Sara, my program manager, responded to every e-mail or question I had along the way and even while I was over there teaching at my school. There were even times when I called the office and she would walk me through anything I was having trouble with over the phone. I am now back in the United States after completing my year teaching at my school in Thailand and miss it every day. I'm not ruling out being a two time Greenheart alumni and doing it all over again. That's how much I loved the experience and the professionalism and dedication of this organization. They encourage you to chase your dreams. LOVE Greenheart!

Greenheart Travel is a great program for getting TESOL certified and teaching English in Thailand. Sarah, the program manager, is very responsive, helpful, and supportive. She enthusiastically answered all of my questions and concerns, despite the fact that she probably gets asked the same things all the time. She is also super friendly, approachable and knows what it's like to be in your shoes since she did a year teaching in South Korea with Greenheart. Greenheart's pre-departure support is extremely thorough. They provide everything from packing lists and webinars, to alumni interviews and informative blog posts from current teachers. Once you're in Thailand, you get passed off to another organization called Xplore Asia, which coordinates the orientation, TESOL course, and placements. Greenheart did a great job of explaining this pass-off and it seems like the two companies have solid communication with one another.
Overall, Greenheart is a solid program and it is very beneficial to spend a month in Thailand before diving into teaching. It is nice to have a network of people spread all over the country once you go off to your placement. I'm really glad I came here through Greenheart and my year in Thailand was probably the best year of my life!

Overall, I had an amazing experience teaching in Thailand through Greenheart Travel! Greenheart Travel did an excellent throughout the pre-departure process and during my time in Thailand to communicate all the necessary information and ensure that everything went smoothly! With the help of this program, I felt very prepared every step of the way and was able to have an incredible experience and meet so many wonderful friends along the way! I would definitely recommend this program to anyone hoping to teach English abroad!

If you're thinking of teaching abroad, my advice is to just go for it. It definitely won't be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.. and I promise you that if you talk yourself out of this opportunity you will spend the rest of your life asking yourself "what if?" More importantly, once you do decide to go for it, I highly recommend using a program (aka Greenheart) because there will be times when you need help or are feeling helpless and they can be an amazing leg to stand on.

Before I submitted my application, my mom and I traveled to Chicago to visit the Greenheart office where we met Sara, the program manager. She answered every question that my mom and I had and made us both feel 100% comfortable with me taking the leap and moving to Thailand for a year. Sara even reassured my mom that if there was ever any issue or concern, my mom could contact her personally and she would take care of the problem herself.

After completing my TESOL course in Hua Hin with 30 strangers who became my family, I was dropped off alone in central Bangkok at my new apartment building. I had been fighting with a bout of homesickness for the past three days and in the midst of it, I had to leave for my placement and everything just started to become very real. Fumbling through the front door with my 100 pounds of luggage, I held back tears because for the first time since moving abroad, I was really truly alone. I gave myself a mental pep talk to hold it together until I got to my room as I walked to the front desk to sign a rental agreement for this apartment (which I needed asap considering I had to be at my new school at 7 a.m. the next morning). I managed to keep my cool until I tried to pay, and as I frantically dug through my wallet I discovered that my US credit card was gone. In your first month, you won't be working yet so you won't be getting paid. That means whatever money you bring with you is all the money that you have to get you by, and I had suddenly lost access to mine. Cue the opening of the floodgates. I became overwhelmed with emotion as I handed over almost all of my cash just to get the lady to let me stay in the apartment for ONE NIGHT. I had no idea what I was going to do and I called my mom in a fit of hysterics. My mom insisted that I contact Greenheart or my employment agency for help but I insisted back that it was too embarrassing and I would just figure something out. However, the next morning I woke up to several messages from Sara, my TESOL course company, and my employment agency. I was given multiple options on how to transfer money into a Thai account that I could access and how to get a new card to me ASAP, etc. Essentially, the problem had already been solved for me and I barely had to lift a finger. Little did I know, my overprotective (yet so well meaning) mother had contacted Sara herself in a panic, and Sara stuck true to her word, solving the problem as quick as humanly possible. If I had been completely on my own with no program to have my back, who knows how long I would have had to go without any money. And if Sara hadn't been so attentive and great, my mom probably would have hopped on the first flight out here just to give me $50 to get through the week.

All in all, now I can laugh at the hot mess that I was that day and now I am happy as can be living my life in Bangkok. I have several people to thank for that, and Sara from Greenheart is definitely one of them. I said it once and I'll say it again: if you're thinking of teaching abroad... just go for it!

If you are reading this review, you have probably already decided to teach in Thailand. Good, because I could go on and on as to why it is one of the best things you could do for yourself, but we are already on the same page. Now, if you are wondering if Greenheart Travel is the organization through which you should teach in Thailand, the answer is yes! Each person I talked to at Greenheart seemed genuinely interested and excited for me the entire process. They stick with you the whole way through your time, and don't just drop you off in Thailand for you to fend for yourself. (I have heard horror stories about this.) Greenheart Travel takes care of so much for you and makes sure you are informed, so by the time you get to Thailand you have very little to worry about. The cultural orientation week and the TESOL course was fun and informative. Now that I am in my placement city, I am having the time of my life.

When I originally decided to take the TESOL course and move to Thailand to teach English, I was unaware of all the steps and difficulties it took to get there. However, Greenheart Travel made these complications easy and stress free during my time preparing to go abroad! They were there for every step, and answered any frantic questions I sent via email within a few hours. I think I even took their program for granted a little bit, because when I arrived in Thailand with no problems, I met people who had used other companies and had run into a number of issues before arriving. Even after being placed in a school, Greenheart would keep in contact to help assist with any problems. I honestly felt that they actually cared about each participant having a meaningful and memorable experience (I met many other Greenheart teachers once I was in Thailand who echoed the same feeling). However, possibly the most beneficial aspect of going through Greenheart Travel was the extensive and EXTREMELY helpful network of alumni. Even though I hadn't met most of them, if I was traveling anywhere in the country, needed help with a lesson plan, had a questions about the culture, or even help when returning back to the U.S, I could always reach out to the alumni for advice and suggestions. It was like having a friend in every area of the country, and that was honestly invaluable. I highly recommend this program!

Greenheart Travel was excellent in both preparing me to teach in Thailand and in helping me get there! They are there for you every step of the way. At times I would start to have questions, and before I could even reach out to them there would be an email with the answer in my inbox! They really have the whole Thai/teach abroad system down, and were super responsive if I ever needed help with anything!

I'm currently teaching with a British agency in Thailand. I started with Greenheart in the US. They have a Thai partner that they basically passed me off to when I arrived here. That partner did my TESOL training and got me the job with my current agency. So I've had 3 different groups overseeing my trip at the various stages. I think I made the best decision by going with Greenheart to get me started. They have have professional staff and a great support group on social media to help answer any questions. They are also culturally aware and chose a Thai partner that shares that awareness. With my current agency I met a lot of other teachers that are here for the wrong reasons and completely unprepared. Greenheart's Thai partner provided us with Thai language, culture, history lessons, and more, all with great staff. Additionally, the group I was with was filled with pretty great people.

I do think that there was some misinformation upfront about some details (like what you should bring, for example), but it was nothing serious and can be attributed to 1) the Thai way of life which involves misinformation or last minute information and 2) English teachers are in high demand so all of these entities are struggling to keep up with the workload so details can get compromised. Fortunately, there is a great support system online where you can ask virtually anything and someone will offer insight. I definitely recommend Greenheart over the others.

Moving to the other side of the globe can be both daunting and extremely stressful. Greenheart took all that stress away and made the entire process easy so that instead of worrying about the nitty gritty details of getting my visa and preparing all the forms and documents needed for my life in Thailand, I was able to focus more on mentally preparing myself for the journey. Sara was great, she always answered my emails the day of and had answers for both the big and small questions. Also, the Facebook community was incredibly useful and answered all the questions I had from what immunizations to get to what kind of bag to pack. Greenheart made the transition truly smooth and easy. Although it is a little pricey, it is absolutely worth it to go with a reputable company that makes the process stress free! I would 100% go Greenheart again and recommend it HIGHLY to anyone thinking of making the jump abroad! just do it!!!

If you're looking to teach abroad in Thailand and want an easy and smooth transition abroad, choose this program! Sara is AMAZING and makes the process very simple. She answers any emails, phone calls or questions you have within what seems like 30 seconds of reaching out to her! Obtaining your visa is made very easy and the program is definitely worth all of the other pre-departure assistance you receive. Once you've transitioned abroad you are paired up with another agency, but Greenheart continues to reach out to you and make sure you're adjusting smoothly. If for no other reason, go with Greenheart for Sara! She's wonderful!

I participated in the Greenheart Travel (GHT) - Teach in Thailand program in the spring of 2015. The TESOL certification course, via XploreAsia, takes place in one of two locations- Hua Hin, a town on the beach closer to Bangkok, or Chiang Mai, the ancient cultural capital of the north, a city surrounded by mountains & national parks. I chose Chiang Mai.

GHT, is the recruiter, basically the company that finds, selects, & prepares candidates for the move to Thailand, to participate in the TESOL course and then go on to get placed to teach in a Thai school. So they screen applicants & assist with the application process which is extremely straight forward, no loopholes or fine print, providing all necessary program information, details, and support prior to departure, happily answering any and every question you may have, making you feel as comfortable and prepared as you possibly can be for an experience such as this. They were incredible.

Sara, the Teach Abroad Programs Senior Manager for GHT, is the one you work with during the application & pre-departure process, and is AMAZING. GHT is a reputable organization with a strong mission statement that they really get behind well, and that's more than I can say for other companies I looked into for a similar experience; GHT was the way to go.

After arriving in Thailand, the TESOL course is actually administered via a partner organization called XploreAsia, FYI, but they are amazing too. So GHT is the recruiter for XA's course, and then XA places you in a school. XA is wonderful, they know how Thailand works, they prepare you for teaching and Thai culture as much as possible, show you a great time in the city you're in during the course, and get you set up with a legitimate school & teaching agency. They are there as support if you need it once you're placed, as well as GHT! Once you arrive, GHT is more in the background, as their job is primarily to get you here and set up successfully, but you still get updates (e-mails & such) every now & then checking to make sure things are well, and updating you on the latest with their organization.

My time-frame for changing my life forever in Thailand:

November 2014 - Began Application Process with GHT.
December 2014 - Got accepted with GHT for TESOL/Teach English in Thailand program.
March 2015 - Moved to Thailand. Began TESOL course in Chiang Mai.
Currently - I am living in Isan (northeastern Thailand), teaching English at a local elementary & secondary school in a small elephant village in the middle of a bunch of sugar cane & rice fields. Every day is an adventure.

Make the leap, change your life, & change the lives of others. Do your best to come over with minimal expectations for what this experience holds, as they will get shattered; but come with an open mind, and I promise you will not be disappointed.

One of my favorite quotes: "There's no certainty, only opportunity."

Traveling and living in a foreign country has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. After graduating college I did extensive research on how I could live and work abroad. I originally signed up for the CELTA course in Chiang Mai through International House, but then a friend of a friend recommended me to Greenheart Travel. Right away, I could sense the difference in the two companies. While there were no faults in the CELTA course, Greenheart Travel contacted me the same day I said I was interested in the program. Sara, who is in charge of the Teach in Thailand program, was extremely knowledgable, as well as friendly and very approachable. I felt like I could ask her any questions I had and she would always respond so quickly, it blew my mind. She must be glued to her email everyday with all the questions people ask. You'll never find her anything other than happy to help though, and this was one thing I found to be really important about Greenheart Travel as a whole. I definitely was very well prepared in coming to Thailand, they made the visa process extremely easy for me and I was even able to get a Multiple Entry Non B without a problem, so no visa runs for me! I would highly recommend Multiple Entry if you can get it, the extra money is worth it because you'll end up spending that money on a visa run in the future anyways. Overall, I think I absolutely made the right decision in choosing Greenheart Travel. I couldn't have asked for a better experience in working with them, as well as Sara. I love the company and I think what they do is amazing, especially because they understand these experiences first-hand. So if you're unsure of what program to choose in guiding your overseas teaching adventure, go with Greenheart!

When I first thought about teaching English in Thailand, I spent months researching programs and reading reviews. I was so scared I'd pick the wrong one, as there are many out there that are only out to make money and provide little support after they get your payment. Greenheart Travel's Teach in Thailand program is nothing like that, and is worth every penny you pay! I did so much research, and I promise they are the best out there.

Sara at Greenheart (she's amazing!) is the Thailand program manager, and a young twenty-something who has also taught English abroad. She's so friendly, positive, and passionate about helping participants have an incredibly meaningful experience. It's really easy for you to relate to her, and vice-versa because she's been in your shoes. She probably answered a hundred random questions I had before I even applied, and was always prompt and honest in her replies. And even now that I'm back in the States, she has kept in touch and I still feel a part of the Greenheart community.

Some things that stood out about Greenheart: They are a non-profit, they have a reputable Board of Directors, their program managers are all young adults who have been in your shoes, they have an actual office in Chicago, they are organized, honest and want the best for their participants.

It's important to understand that Greenheart Travel is the recruiter, and they work closely with XploreAsia, who is their in-country partner. They explain this on their website. XploreAsia is equally great, and once you get to Thailand, XploreAsia will run your unforgettable orientation week (baby elephants, Muay Thai classes, blessings by monks, Thai lessons, a beach party BBQ, meeting some of the most wonderful people ever!), find you a guaranteed placement (be open-minded, you probably won't end up on an island), and connect you with your agent. Your agent will be the person you'll go to if you have any difficulties at your school. If for some reason your agent can't resolve an issue, you would go to XploreAsia for help, and if you have issues with XploreAsia, Greenheart serves as a third party to help resolve those.

Greenheart also has a "Greenheart Teach in Thailand" Facebook page where past, current and potential teachers can ask questions, share experiences and feedback, and it's completely open and un-biased. Greenheart also links participant's personal blogs to their website. Reading these offers an extremely real glimpse into what moving and teaching in Thailand is like. I'd suggest taking a look at them and the Facebook page if you're seriously interested.

If you decide to teach in Thailand, I'd suggest leaving all expectations at home. When you arrive, you'll discover that people are friendly, but there's a big "mai pen rai" attitude, meaning go with the flow, don't let things bother/get to you. Thai people rarely get angry or show over-emotion.

Thailand isn't a cushy country, and no matter how great and organized your program is, you will encounter difficulties and frustrating situations. Sometimes they may be at your school (most of the time, it's because you're always told after the fact about what is going on - one day I arrived at my school and was told I was going on a field trip, which I only discovered the location of once we arrived), travel frustrations (mini-buses of doom without seat belts and hotels that don't exist), cultural frustrations, etc. And it's always hot. You will sweat a lot. If you don't do well with things not going your way all the time, then this might not be the country for you.

I'd also suggest being financially stable before you come to Thailand. Don't expect to pay off students loans or credit card bills with the money you make...you can expect to probably "break even" (cover your program fee and flights, cost of living, a little in-country travel), if you teach for one semester. There's a lot of costs associated with getting settled in Thailand (transportation to your placement, deposits on lodging, buying things for your apartment, visa runs after 3 months can be around $120, travel on the weekends, etc.) and it just makes for a much more enjoyable experience if you don't have debt looming over your head!

I reviewed Greenheart Travel several months ago towards the beginning of my time in Thailand. Now, after completing a year of service in Thailand, I feel more qualified to review this organization -- this incredible organization.

I had been living around Bangkok for the first 6 months of my stay. At the time, I didn't realize how great I really had it having many friends that I had made through Greenheart Travel so near -- just a bus ride away in most cases. After about 6 months, though, contracts were completed and the network of friends I had developed in Thailand became the network of friends I now had a 12 hour time difference with -- they went back to their home country. I was not ready to move on from Thailand and I wanted a more rural experience after living around Bangkok. I relocated to Northern Thailand to a very small, country-side town. I was alone and felt isolated being the only foreigner and English speaker in this village. I hadn't mentioned feeling this way on any platform, but Sara at Greenheart Travel had kept up with me and learned where I had relocated. She sent me a message letting me know of other Greenheart English teachers nearby that I can connect with! This made such a positive difference during my stay in rural Thailand. While it's incredibly important to integrate and interact with locals and to fully insert yourself into your new community -- I also know the benefits of having someone to talk to that speaks your language during this time, that understands what you're experiencing because they're experiencing it, as well. Greenheart Travels gets this.

This is just one example of Greenheart Travel's level of support, thoughtfulness, and innate empathy they have towards their teachers. With Greenheart Travel you're going to be cared for. If you're seeking to teach English or volunteer abroad and you're weighing out your options -- just go with Greenheart Travel.

I honestly could not have picked a better program provider than Greenheart. Sara Dorsey and the rest of the Greenheart team seriously amazed me. They are constantly bombarded with hundreds of questions from both future and current participants, yet they answer every single question in a timely manner. Tip: When in doubt, ask! Everyone else is probably wondering the same thing! Greenheart is extremely organized, professional, and thorough. They are experts at what they do, so they cover everything you will need before departing on your adventure. For example, they have packets of information they give to everyone prior to departure that answers a TON of your questions (Will someone pick me up from the airport? What kind of visa do I need? Etc.). Greenheart really seemed to be the most experienced and most reputable company when I was researching my options, and I spent hours doing so. But aside from professionalism, I honestly chose greenheart because of the community it builds. Even before departure, I had 30 new friends that I could chat with/ask questions before I even got to Thailand. Also, through their Facebook page (for past, present, and future participants) I was able to contact previous participants and ask them questions (What shoes should I bring? Would I be able to buy ____ in Thailand or should I bring some from home? Etc.). No other program has the community that Greenheart has. I can honestly say that those 30 strangers became my best friends over the orientation month, and being able to ask past participants questions reduced my stress TREMENDOUSLY!

So overall, PICK GREENHEART! I would truly recommend them to anyone. I did a lot of thorough research before choosing a program and Greenheart was #1 on my list over and over again. They offer the full package and more.

If you are considering doing this program, please JUST DO IT! You won't regret it, I promise!

Teaching in Thailand through greenheart was my first time going abroad and overall it was a great experience. The airport pick up and prearranged hotel was great after the more than 30 hours of travel to get to Thailand. Everything through greenheart was great, on the xplore Asia side I would have appreciated it if there was more information given to us on how to get around in suburban placements as the focus was on Bangkok proper and rural areas.

Another thing I love about the program is that the people at xplore Asia were encouraging and said they would help us find other placements if ours didn't work out or if we decide to come back to Thailand to teach again. Since I ended up leaving at the end of the semester I am happy that this option is still there for me in the future.

Greenheart Travel was so helpful in getting me set up with XploreAsia in order to get TESOL certified in Thailand! Sara Dorsey and other staff were extremely helpful in answering boatloads of questions that myself and others had prior to our journey to this amazing country. I would recommend asking a lot of questions, no matter how dumb they may seem. Chances are there are a bunch of other people wondering the exact same thing you are --- so don't be shy. I am so thankful that I chose Greenheart in getting set up here in Thailand. The amount of stress that I have been saved cannot be measured! I most definitely recommend using Greenheart Travel to help you go abroad, no matter where you want to end up!

Greenheart travel is incredibly organized and made the process of getting to Thailand very easy. Sara was constantly in touch from the moment I showed interest in the program. She responded to inquiries almost instantly and was happy to provide as much information as I needed. The process was just as organized once getting to Thailand. I felt so prepared arriving in Thailand through Greenheart travel, I would recommend this program in a heartbeat!