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

Going to Colombia with GotoCo was a once in a lifetime experience. Before we left, GotoCo supported our application and gave us informative presentations and Q&A sessions which made the process less daunting. The coordinators and the rest of the group were so lovely and supportive, I felt that I could bring up any concerns easily. A fully funded trip is so hard to come by, and GotoCo was the only organisation that I found which paid for flights and accomodation. Trying teaching for the first time whilst gaining a fully funded TEFL qualification is a great opportunity after university or school and I feel like my CV has now got a boost.

I underwent the 3-month programme in Chinchiná, Colombia and can't recommend it enough. The placement is fully-funded and you're supported by Gotoco every step of the way, from the application stage to the end of the programme. If you're unsure about what you want to do career-wise, especially if you've just finished uni, it's a great opportunity to gain practical experience in teaching as well as travelling on a budget – you have lots of free time to see the rest of the country on your days off and getting round Colombia is very inexpensive. The accommodation and placement school are both excellent and you feel very included in the local community quickly, plus you meet so many new friends with your cohort you never feel lonely!

This program offered an amazing opportunity to travel and explore Thailand whilst working and living in a rural town where I learnt Thai culture and made friends with the locals. It is a great way to build confidence and independence and to get your level 5 TESOL qualification!
The people that I met and memories that I made on this program made it even more special. Being with the Gotoco company meant that I was apart of a larger group of participants so we could offer support and share our experiences with each other in order to strengthen our friendships.

I was lucky enough to spend two incredible months teaching English in Chinchina, Colombia. The prospect of free flights, food, accommodation and a qualification seemed too good to be true and I was waiting for the catch, but there isn't one. The programme was well set up to support us teaching, but we were also given a lot of freedom to teach they way we wanted to. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to travel to new places in Colombia and even Panama on the weekends. The people on my programme were from incredibly diverse backgrounds and were unfailingly interesting, helpful and fun to be around. I cannot recommend this programme enough. My only regret was having to leave after 2 months.

Programs boosted my confidence, affirming my potential as a teacher—an essential motivation for my journey here. Moreover, I've learned I can thrive on a different continent, broadening my horizons and embracing new possibilities. The immersive programs not only elevated my teaching skills but also instilled a profound sense of confidence in my abilities. This newfound assurance became a driving force behind my decision to embark on this transformative journey. Additionally, the experience illuminated the possibility of living and flourishing on a different continent. This realization has not only expanded my horizons but has also allowed me to embrace the richness of diverse cultures and perspectives. As I navigate this exciting chapter of my life, I am continually inspired by the prospect of making a meaningful impact as an educator in a global context.

I completed Gotoco's short-stay (two month) program in Vietnam. It was an amazing opportunity to have a funded placement in a teaching environment in South East Asia. Although you are technically a volunteer during your teaching placement, your flights, accommodation during the program, TESOL course and orientation activities are funded. You may also get a stipend to help cover some costs during your teaching placement. Participating in this program with other people in the same situation as you, made the experience a lot smoother and easier to build life-long friendships. I felt grateful to have made an impact to local Vietnamese students learning English. The program is an an eye-opener into travelling and working abroad, and it genuinely improves your confidence in navigating the daily challenges of living abroad. Having never had teaching experience prior to this program, doing a teaching role for the first time opened up my interests to explore teaching as a potential careerpath. It is worth remembering that living in Vietnam is very different to the UK, and so doing this program teaches you to be adaptable and being open to new aspects of living abroad i.e. food, accommodation, travelling, transportation, language, interacting with locals, cultural behaviour and traditions.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to a friend as it provides a unique blend of travel and teaching, fostering independence, and the chance to build lasting connections. This opportunity has benefited me immensely by instilling the confidence to travel, fully embracing the Balinese lifestyle, and enjoying the rewarding experience of teaching. Reflecting on my program, I feel fortunate to have been based in a beautiful village with the freedom to explore the rest of Bali. The two months were filled with gratitude for the experiences, and saying goodbye to my students was a bittersweet moment

I had an amazing time doing a short programme working in rural Thailand with gotoco! I think this opportunity was an amazing stepping stone to gaining more independence, seeing a different side of a country and being immersed in cultural experiences you may not normally be able to witness. I think it’s great value for money as you get all your food and accommodation paid for, for 6 weeks of training, and a week before and after the programme. They provide you with language lessons, what to expect & lots of other information beforehand. Staff welfare is good as there is always a GOTOCO staff member you can reach out to if you need extra support before or during the programme. Gotoco gives you step by step instructions on the visa process and what to do/bring beforehand to help you feel prepared. I will remember this experience forever!