Looking back on the experience, I can honestly say that I lived my best life during those two weeks. What began as an exciting opportunity became one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life. I had looked forward to teaching and engaging with university students, sharing knowledge while learning from their perspectives and experiences, and the reality exceeded all of my expectations. The students were inspiring, enthusiastic, and welcoming, making the experience both professionally fulfilling and personally meaningful.

My trip to Asia was my first, and it provided an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a completely different culture. I embraced the people, traditions, language, food, and way of life, gaining a much deeper appreciation for the diversity of the world around me. Meeting new people and building meaningful connections was one of the highlights of the experience, and I made friendships that I will cherish for years to come.

This journey represented a significant period of personal growth. I stepped well outside of my comfort zone and challenged myself in ways I never thought possible. I became more confident in making my own decisions independently, embraced new experiences without hesitation, and enjoyed the freedom to focus on my own personal development. For the first time in many years, I was able to concentrate solely on myself without the day-to-day responsibilities I have towards my family, which allowed me to grow in confidence and independence.

One of my biggest achievements was travelling halfway around the world despite my fear of flying. As someone who has always disliked flying, this was a challenge in itself, but overcoming that fear gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment and proved that I am capable of far more than I sometimes believe.
I truly experienced things I would never have dreamed of and created memories that will stay with me forever. None of this would have been quite the same without Hayley, Arron and Thuy, who were absolutely fantastic throughout the entire experience. Their support, encouragement, friendship and guidance played a huge role in making the trip so special and memorable.

I will never, ever forget my time there. It was a life-changing experience that enabled me to grow both personally and professionally, gave me friendships and memories to treasure, and showed me what is possible when I am willing to embrace new challenges and opportunities.

I did a 2 weeks course in Thailand teaching children and exploring the city absolutely loved it!!
Teaching children was incredibly rewarding, and their enthusiasm and kindness made every moment special. I also loved exploring the vibrant cities, discovering local culture, markets, and temples. The Thai cooking class was a real highlight, I learned to make authentic dishes and gained a new appreciation for the cuisine. It was the perfect mix of giving back, learning, and adventure. I can’t wait to return!

This programme was genuinely amazing in terms of support and experience, the organisers were super communicative and were always quick to help and respond even via email. The programmes itself was perfect, from the group activities planned to the guidance given regarding teaching. They were very accommodating and helpful.

As for accomodation, it was very clean and nice, you had to share with a couple people but overall it was tidy, clean and comfortable. Food was provided and transportations to and from the schools were paid for. It really is an experience you don't wanna miss out on.

The best thing I’ve ever done. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me grow , these type of experiences make you learn so much about yourself and the world- if you feel stuck and like your floating… DO THIS ! It helped me learn a lot about myself , what I do want and what I don’t want and I have come back home a completely different person . I feel unable to go back to normality now I know what more is out there in the world and I plan to continue my adventures thanks to Gotoco. I would recommend it to everyone

The whole experience was so incredible, mind-opening and, in many ways, surreal, that it is hard to break it down to define specific highlights. The people I travelled with and lived with for the two weeks were so amazing and varied that it made each day a new adventure, and, as for actually being in Vietnam, the sights were gorgeous, the locals so kind and courteous, the food so flavoursome and unique, and the culture so fascinating that I didn't want to leave! Seeing sights like the Lady Buddha, Mỹ Sơn temple complex and the Marble Mountains made for incredible and eye-opening expeditions and having the picturesque beach basically on our doorstep meant many a happy hour was spent in the sea or in deck chairs after teaching. Finally, the teaching itself was such a rewarding and confidence-building experience. It allowed me to gain so many practical skills, such as communication, public speaking, independence and leadership, that I can utilise to help me to obtain further work/placements abroad and was overall a very positive experience.

Two weeks in Thailand teaching children was not on my bucket list for 2026 but I am so glad I did it. You don't have to have any teaching experience, you just need to be able to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. Seeing the children having fun and learning the language was so rewarding. As well as teaching, you also get taken on excursions to go sightseeing and exploring the culture.

The application process was seamless and I got accepted very fast. Our programme leaders Emma and Morgan were amazing. They were supportive and able to help with anything we needed (and great tour guides). Thankyou Gotoco!

I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Vietnam thanks to Gotoco and Further Afield. The experience was one of a kind, and made even better by the group of people on the programme. I'll never forget my time on the programme: the teaching, the excursions, the food, the challenges, and the fun! In just two weeks, I've grown as a person, and I've witnessed others on the programme visibly develop themselves too.

Gaining a TEFL certification will also open doors to new opportunities to live and work abroad, and I'm excited to explore this possibility!

Highly recommend!

I joined Gotoco' Vietnam Programme.

Highlight:
The possibility of learning directly from Vietnamese people, their generosity in sharing their culture, the interactions with children and university students, and the believe that what you have done has given them more tools for becoming a successful global citizens.

All of my friends are asking me how to join.
It is one of those things that you can't quite believe is happening to you, it is an extraordinary programme. Vietnam is an incredibly beautiful place, but it is much more than that. People are incredible, kind, welcoming, engaging, and you learn a great deal about yourself and what you have to offer to the world.

I am so grateful, still at awe by what I had experienced, and wanting to do even more.