Year in Thailand Teaching Fellowship with Full Funding

Overall, I had a great time. The team was supportive, I made friends, I got to travel, I learned a bit of Thai, I got back into teaching, I loved my students and my school, and once the program was over I got to move to Vietnam and start a new chapter there, which I would have found much harder to do had I not already been here.

And the whole thing was fully funded too, giving an amazing opportunity to those of us who could have never afforded this otherwise.

I think it's a great opportunity for someone trying to get out of their comfort zone, travel, gain new skills, learn about a different culture, maybe change their career path.

That said, it's not for everyone and there are probably some people better suited for it than others. If you'd like to have the same life you had at home somewhere else, then it's probably not for you.

I will also add that it is an intense program. There is a lot happening and you do have to work. It's not all fun and games. You are there to teach and learn to be a teacher and you should take that responsibility seriously.

I had the best 6 months teaching in Thailand. My experience was fully funded by Gotoco and included about a month of travel and cultural experiences and activities that really immersed me into Thai culture. I have received a Level 5 TESOL qualification and have valuable teaching experience. There was so much opportunity to travel and meet so many new people, and was just overall the most incredible experience, which I cannot thank Gotoco enough for. For anyone wanting to travel or just experience a different way of life, then I couldn't recommend Gotoco more !

This was an incredible experience that I am grateful to of had.

The program was fully funded which means that it is accessible to many people. The team offer support throughout the program. Before departure they books your flights and insurance, host webinars for you to meet other participants, learn what to expect, and offer support and advice. Your accommodation, transport, activities, and food costs are all covered until you start to earn a wage at your placement. You could definitely get by without savings, however, I would advise to bring some of your own money if you would like to do added activities, drink alcohol or incase of something unforeseeable like breaking a laptop ect.

Upon arrival they offer a wide range of cultural activities which are both fun and educational. You get to travel to different locations, stay in some lovely accommodation, and eat some amazing food. You train to become a teacher and get to practice those new schools in summer camps. You also meet lots of new people and have fun! The staff we lovely and supportive throughout the experience. Once you are at your placement gotoco still offer support, meet ups, and educational talks. When you finish the program you are offered advice on the next steps such as purchasing insurance and still have the support of your teaching agency,

The program is a great way to move to a new country, meet new people, and gain transferable skills. All with support and minimal costs. It also gives you a great foundation for changing career and becoming a teacher by attaining a TESOL qualification for free.

I thoroughly enjoyed the program, made life long friend's, and chose to spend another 6 months in my placement school. This isn't to say I didn't naturally have challenging moments throughout the program which come from moving to a new country and starting a completely new career. However, I felt that if I needed support then it was available.

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 had a great time during my Gotoco programme. It was an incredible experience with many great excursions which allowed me to learn about Thailand and the culture there.

The teaching experience itself was challenging, even having experience as an English teacher before, it was challenging. This was down to the school where I was placed; for example I didn't have a teaching assistant in my class, class sizes were large (40+ students) and had to design exams and the curriculum myself. This was not the experience of all people on the programme, but many that were teaching at high schools had a similar workload to myself. If you want to progress as a teacher then this is an excellent way to do so, but I'd recommend if you're new to teaching or worried about the workload, it would be best to let them know you'd prefer to be placed in a primary school, as they do ask about your preferences.

Overall, I had the time of my life and would recommend this to anyone thinking about moving to Asia, teaching English or wanting an step in to travelling abroad, as it is a great way to see if it is for you whilst having a support network around you! Nonetheless, it is challenging and you will have ups and downs, so being in a good headspace and an expectation to work hard is needed, otherwise it may be too much for you.

The programme was supportive and very helpful throughout. I really enjoyed my time and participating in different activities everyday. I enjoyed how culturally focused the programme was and allowed me to learn so much about Thailand. Gotoco provides people with a unique and valuable experience to aid in future career prospects. It has also allowed me to make lifelong friendships with people from the cohort.

The group as a whole was super supportive and the chosen coordinators for my specific group were amazing! Besides the obvious travel for the first few months, I really enjoyed watching people in my group grow throughout the trip.

I had the incredible opportunity to teach English in Thailand for 6 weeks, and it was truly amazing!

The support from Gotoco was great, and they made the entire process smooth, from the initial application to my arrival. Their team was always ready to answer my questions and help us out. In Thailand, the cultural immersion, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of my students were beyond what I could have ever imagined. From the orientation week, I felt confident and well-prepared for the classroom, and made genuine connections with my students, and helping them develop their English language skills.

Gotoco helps you grow professionally, by doing the Tesol course, but more importantly I learned more about myself, gained a deeper understanding of Thai culture, and formed lifelong friendships with fellow teachers and locals. It's an experience that has left an indelible mark on my life. Definitely recommend!!

I remember looking for reviews before I travelled with Gotoco and worried that it was too good to be true. I completed the Thailand Summer Teaching and I genuinely had the best time. I felt safe at all times, met the most wonderful people (Thai people, gotocoers and other people travelling) and Gotoco organised everything well. We had the first week to learn about Thai culture and language but also took lesson on Tesol to help us deliver great teaching. I honestly recommend Gotoco and would love to join the program again!