Teaching internship & TEFL Certification (Thailand, Vietnam, Europe, China, India)

I had an incredible time teaching in Thailand in GOTOCO’s January Rural Schools Programme. Placed in a group of 4 in a small village in central Thailand near Phitsanulok, myself and my fellow English teachers and new-found friends had the most amazing 6 weeks. From school trips to sports days to English camps we really did it all.
Our main host, the headteacher of the school, was super inviting and made sure to include us in all of the events going on at the school as well as taking us on trips around Thailand every weekend. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach English in Thailand in a fully funded programme.

My only issue with the programme is regarding the TESOL programme which is currently being amended according to the programme organisers. It was disorganised and I hope in the future it is better planned and prepared.

I took part in the Thailand Rural Teaching programme in January 2024 and had an amazing experience. I enjoyed being able to experience and understand new cultures and learn the in's and out's of a whole melting pot of cultures, religions and ways of life that I had not been exposed to before. Furthermore, I was able to experience all this while helping children in rural areas practice and learn English, which hopefully had positively impacted their lives as it has mine. Being able gain an insight into rural Thailand had been an invaluable experience and GOTOCO was a key part of that, through their programme, support and activities they plan.

I feel like the trip had a good balance between fostering independence while also having support when needed. Whether that be from Gotoco themselves or from the placement hosts. Being able to develop independence was very enjoyable for me. It has allowed to practice my teaching skills in a classroom setting while also giving me a taster of what working abroad would be like. It also allowed me to work on my lesson planning skills. It's a relatively easy application procedure and it offers the opportunity for further professional and personal development. It allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture and experiences you wouldn't have in the UK.

The school I was placed in was very good. We had freedom to make our own decisions in terms of lesson plans and free time activities while also being given guidance and suggestions when needed.

The post programme trip was a big highlight for me. It was well-organised and was in a location that was suitable but a bit more off the beaten path. We were also taken to local places ran by local people which is a good thing.

I can only give the program 4 stars as I felt that the TESOL course wasn't handled great. We weren't given any warning that the first unit of the TESOL course had to be done before the end of the placement and we weren't even able to properly access it until we were halfway through our placements. Feedback on the course assingments has been slow as well.

Overall, I would reccomend this program to anyone looking for an adventure while also being open to pursuing a career in Teaching English as a foreign Language.

I taught English as a foreign language in Kamphaeng Phet University for 2 months and I would highly recommend doing this through Gotoco who are a supportive, experienced small team. My highlights were the cultural exchange and opportunity to live in Thailand for a short period. During this time I felt like I had a second home with a new routine. It was nice to meet local people and teachers who were very welcoming and invited us to events. There are minimal upfront costs eg dbs check, visa and paying for your own flights and £200 deposit. The flight costs are reimbursed when you complete the program and deposit returned when you complete the TEFL course.

This is an amazing opportunity to experience a new country and try something completely different to what you may be used to. Whether you want to explore a new country, trial teaching English as a career path or just meet some amazing like minded people, this programme can be what you want it to be.

The programme gives you a great introduction to the country and opportunity to meet like minded people at the start of the programme to make you feel settled before you start your placement. In the first few days of the programme you are led by an amazing team who teach you about teaching techniques and strategies as well as organising cultural activities.

The placements themselves can be an amazing opportunity to learn a lot about yourself and lifestyles of the locals. Completing the TESOL for free is also an added bonus as it can usually cost upwards of £500.

100% recommend this experience. Just immerse yourself fully in it and that's when you will get the most out of it.

I taught English in Vietnam for 2 months what was an amazing experience. I would not have had an experience like this without the programme. Everyone at the learning centre were very accommodating and friendly and gave us all the support we needed. I was also lucky enough to be invited along to a Vietnamese wedding as well which was such a unique experience and one I will remember for ever. All the fellow GOTOCO lot were not too far and we all managed to meet up at weekends and had a great time together during the induction in Hanoi and on the end of programme trip in Da Nang/ Hoi An.

I did Summer camps in Poland with Gotoco for three weeks. My role was talking to the participants of the camp aged ten to eighteen. I enjoyed having conversations with the participants and participating in the English learning games. A lot of Tesol programs that offer you Tesol qualifications require you to pay, but Gotoco pays for a lot of stuff for you and does not require you to pay them, so it's very affordable. The negatives were the long hours and the availability of vegan food. To conclude, I had a lot of fun, and everyone was really kind and helpful. If you are considering partaking in a summer camp with Gotoco, I would recommend it.

Gotoco's 3-month programme in Colombia was one of the best experiences I've had - I couldn't believe that it offered me a fully-funded opportunity to both teach and travel in a new country. The application process was straightforward, the other participants on the programme were all lovely and we were able to make lasting connections. Not only this, but the country was absolutely beautiful and Gotoco helped to arrange lots of opportunities for activities and travel which made the experience even better. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to gain teaching experience/discover a new country.