I recently completed this two-week programme, and it was an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish.

The absolute highlight for me was the people. Our group started out as complete strangers and bonded almost instantly, becoming close friends while sharing this unbelievable journey together. Beyond the amazing group dynamics, the cultural immersion was spectacular. Getting to explore a beautiful new destination and connect so deeply with the local community, families, and children was a privilege. The people and kids I met during my time there will honestly stay with me for life.

Professionally, the programme was invaluable. It offered a unique look into different cultural approaches to teaching and family dynamics, which has given me massive insights for my own career path. I came home with much stronger teamwork skills and a huge boost in confidence regarding my teaching abilities. The interpersonal skills you develop here are highly transferable to any future role involving children.

If you are thinking about joining this programme, don’t hesitate for a second. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, builds your professional skills, and leaves you with memories (and friendships) that last a lifetime. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

My time in Vietnam was an unforgettable experience, and it is a country that I would happily visit again. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed by how welcoming and friendly the people were. Everyone I met was kind, helpful, and eager to share their culture, which made me feel comfortable and at home throughout my stay.

One of my favourite things about Vietnam was the food. There was such a huge variety of dishes to try, and every region seemed to have its own unique flavours and specialities. Whether it was enjoying a bowl of pho, trying fresh spring rolls, or experiencing the incredible street food culture, I loved being able to explore Vietnamese cuisine. The food was not only delicious but also very affordable, making it easy to try new things every day.

I also loved the beautiful scenery and landscapes. Vietnam has an amazing mixture of bustling cities, peaceful countryside, mountains, and beaches. Travelling around the country allowed me to experience many different environments, and I was constantly amazed by how diverse and picturesque everything was. There were so many opportunities to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of the country.

Another highlight of my time in Vietnam was experiencing the culture and traditions. I enjoyed learning about local customs and seeing how important family and community are in everyday life. Visiting markets, temples, and historical sites gave me a greater appreciation for the country’s rich history and heritage. I found the culture fascinating and enjoyed learning more about it through daily interactions and experiences.

I particularly appreciated how affordable life in Vietnam was. Transportation, food, and activities were all reasonably priced, which meant I could experience so much without spending a lot of money. This allowed me to make the most of my time and enjoy everything the country had to offer.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience was the opportunity to teach English. Working with students and seeing their enthusiasm for learning was incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling. I loved building relationships with the children and watching their confidence develop as they practised speaking English. It was a valuable experience that taught me a lot and created many memories that I will always treasure.

Overall, my time in Vietnam was an incredible experience filled with amazing people, delicious food, beautiful scenery, and meaningful memories. I learned a great deal, both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced such a vibrant and welcoming country. Vietnam exceeded my expectations in many ways, and it is a place that will always hold a special place in my heart.

Taking part in this programme was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had, primarily because it pushed me far beyond my normal routine and comfort zone. While I had travelled before, combining meaningful work with exploring a foreign country brought a completely new perspective. It has given me the confidence to consider similar opportunities in the future and reassured me that stepping into the unknown can lead to personal growth.
A standout aspect of the experience was teaching. Standing in front of groups of children and Thai teachers initially felt daunting, but it quickly became empowering. It helped me realise that I still have valuable skills to offer and that learning does not stop at any age. This renewed sense of self-belief has carried over into how I now view my professional abilities.
Living and working alongside people from diverse backgrounds, industries, and age groups was another key highlight. Despite starting as strangers, we formed a supportive and respectful community. Feeling accepted and having my opinion valued reinforced my confidence in integrating into new environments. This has given me reassurance that when I move into new roles in the future, I will be able to build positive working relationships with colleagues.
In terms of career impact, the programme has been highly beneficial. It has strengthened my confidence, improved my communication skills, and demonstrated adaptability—all of which are valuable in any professional setting. Adding this experience to my CV will help distinguish me from other candidates, and I now feel that I would present myself more confidently during interviews.
I would absolutely recommend this programme to others, and I already have. It is an incredible opportunity to grow personally and professionally while experiencing a different culture. It highlights that there are many options beyond traditional career paths and that working abroad can be both achievable and rewarding.

This course was amazing, I met lots of new amazing people who I am still friends with post trip. I experienced stuff that many of my school friends had never had the chance to see.
Throughout this trip I left my comfort zone repeatedly and was motivated to do activities I wouldn’t usually do, for example going to historical sites like temples. Or exploring cities and towns aimlessly without any strict deadlines or any expectations. Through the course we got introduced to lots of new food and drinks that we may not have in the UK

Absolutely Fantastic! I have just returned after having the best time of my life! A once in a lifetime opportunity. This programme has changed me to the best version of myself. My confidence and independence has grown second to none. I now appreciate and am so so much more grateful for having what I need, my loved ones and life. Material things are unrealistic and being humble is enough. I have learnt massively about culture, myself, others, teaching, appreciation and accountability. Learnt I can travel alone. The people are phenomenal and fantastic and friendly. The food is beautiful and the sun ‘wow’! Please do not think about going or be afraid just go! You have nothing to lose but everything to gain! I said to my children before I left “If I can do this, I can do anything” and I did it!!! You can too!!! Get signed up now!!! Absolutely amazing! Thank you Gotoco!!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and felt it exceeded my initial expectations! Firstly I applied off a whim with no expectations of being accepted however when I received the email to confirm my placement I was so excited to travel to Thailand for the first time, putting myself well out of my comfort zone to meet a group of likeminded individuals and to teach English language in a fun and engaging way to children aged 7-12!

The first few days we were introduced to eachother (fellow participants) and begin lesson planning. Not only did we teach English but we had cultural trips too which were all arranged for us which included temple visits and a boat trip!

I would do this 10x over if I could - I am also excited to complete my TEFL qualification which can be done at your own pace!

I completed my teaching experience abroad through Gotoco under in Vietnam and it was genuinely life-changing. What sets Gotoco apart is that it is one of the few programmes that is uniquely well-funded, making international teaching accessible in a way that other providers simply don’t offer.

The support throughout was excellent, from placement preparation to cultural immersion, and the experience of teaching young children English abroad was both rewarding and professionally invaluable. I came back with real classroom confidence, a TEFL qualification in progress, and memories that will last a lifetime.

If you’re considering teaching abroad and want a programme that is well-organised, well-supported, and well-funded — Gotoco is absolutely the one to go with. Highly recommended!

My favourite part was the teaching, I was anxious on the first day, but that went by the second day. I thought I would be totally out of my depth but the support from Gotoco was amazing and I was well prepared which gave me more confidence. When working with the teachers on our last teaching day I expected this to be the hardest lesson, but I did a lot more planning and had lots of back-up ideas depending on the teachers language ability and this one went really successfully, which goes to show how vital it is to plan lessons in advance. The students were fantastic and it was a real pleasure supporting them in their learning and it helped me to understand teaching a foreign language and give me some more scope to understanding the TEFL training and actually putting it into practice.

We stayed in quite a small town which was in a rural area and it was not set up for tourists, in that there were few restaurants, no souvenirs and English signage, which made it really nice and a truly authentic taste of what life was like for local residents. I have not really experienced anything like this within my travels as most holiday destinations are geared up towards tourism. We got quite a lot of attention from the locals as they were not used to tourists which was interesting.

Eating, going out and shopping like the locals was a fun experience, the food is amazing and I ate everything and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. I have eaten in Thai restaurants before, but this authentic food from markets and in local restaurants and food establishments was a genuine experience of local food as apposed to English-Thai takeaway food.

I had an amazing time on excursions in Ayutthaya, Utahi Thani and Bangkok, organised by our group leaders and also some things I had organised myself. Every experience was something new and there are plenty of things to experience, from food and markets, to modes of transport and temples galore. We also had a boat trip and a morning where we hired bicycles which were things that I didn't know were factored in to our stay. I was amazed by the temples, each very individual and unique, I was in aw when entering some of the beautiful buildings and shocked by the size of the Buddha. The people take really good care of the temples, both old ruins and more modern temples and you can see people are proud to have these vast monuments and respect them and utilize them. It was nice to see Thai tourists as well as non-Thai tourists enjoying these splendors and taking time to appreciate their history and significance to local people.

I really enjoyed our brief but fun-filled time in Bangkok, so I had the opportunity to experience a quiet culture in Uthai Thani and well as the hustle bustle of busy Bangkok for our final days in the midst of the city in China Town. Once again, our group leaders used their experience and knowledge to pick and recommend delightful eateries and gave us the best opportunities to explore together as a group and well as individually to make the most of our time. I really enjoyed every minute of my time in Thailand, it was more than I could have ever expected.