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

Getting indulgenced in the local community of Vietnam and seeing what it likes to be a teacher. Really opened my eyes up to what is required and teaching children . Flights are reimbursed at the end of the programme and food was covered with a stipend. Vietnam is a beautiful country and decided to stay on after the programme to travel!

My highlight was watching kids smile from me teaching, such a humbling experience. The location didn't have a lot of English presence so we were took back when people approached me in the shops and kids running up to you.

The best thing about my experience was experiencing a true taste of Vietnamese life from living in my small town, mostly surrounded by Vietnamese locals. Juxtaposing this with my weekend/ post-programme trips to larger cities across Vietnam really gave me the full experience of Vietnam and what it has to offer. This programme has afforded me many opportunities that I would not have had by simply travelling through Vietnam. From exposure to local customs to the people I have met, it has enriched my time in Vietnam far more than coming as a tourist would have.

The bali gotoco programme was too good to be true in some aspects in relation to funded flights and meals as well as accommodation. It was great to live nearby a busy town while still living in a quieter village surrounded by local businesses and families. I feel that our cohort became apart of their community by being invited to gatherings such as weddings and festivals and really gave an insight to how kind the baliense people are. The opportunity to travel to bali and teach was incredible and would reccomend to anyone who is thinking of doing it.

I would recommend Gotoco to a friend or family member as it is a great opportunity for people who can't afford expensive programs. It's also a great opportunity to see the other side of the world.
I had a great experience with the program as I thought all excursions and accommodations were very well organized and planned. I'm very happy with all the transport that was organized as well.
For me, the most enjoyable moments on the trip were visiting the railway in Kanchanaburi where I tried fried bananas for the first time (they were delicious!), and also the canal tour in Bangkok at the end of the trip.

I enjoyed the programme overall. The teaching hours were short so you had lots of time to explore Bali and do whatever else you wanted in the local area on teachings days.

I gained some classroom teaching experience which meant I was able to gain confidence speaking and maintaining control over a group. The most useful skill was being able to change your plans as you went along, so reading the room and realising if they liked an activity or didn't, and how to improve it.

Most enjoyable moments - The weekend trips away when I met some locals and was able to see a different side to Bali - a more genuine and local experience that wasn't glamorous but was fascinating.

Going to teach English in Thailand for 2 months was the best decision I have ever made. I met incredible people, experienced once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and learnt so much about myself.

The school I taught in were very supportive and my accommodation was great. The teaching and lesson-planning was quite challenging, but in the best way. I believe I really developed my own personal skills and discovered how hard I can work when I put my mind to it. The kids I taught were amazing and were so eager and happy to learn.

The cultural activities provided by Gotoco before and after the placement were amazing too. The programme also gives you the stepping stone into your own travelling after the course, which is great if you’re a little worried about travelling at first. I met some great people who I ended up travelling with. It was the most rewarding experience I’ve ever taken part in and would urge everyone considering it to take the plunge. Of course, it’s scary at first - but I can promise you, it’s so worth it.

Embarking on a trip to Italy for a month with complete strangers I have to admit I was nervous, however there was no reason to be. After the introduction part of the trip, which included teaching on how to run the camps during the days and cultural activities in the evenings we were sent out by train into Austria. While on camp we stayed with host families and were left to our own devices to run our own camps how we wanted, while being completely immersed in the local culture during the rest of the days. At the end of the camps we also had a short cultural trip to Venice, having the chance to completely explore and experience the city.

Gotoco is a great opportunity for gaining teaching experience and exploring the culture of a different country. It also allows you to gain a TEFL qualification, which is essential when wanting to teach English as a second language abroad. And yes, it really is fully funded! It might seem impossible at first but the Turin scheme fortunately makes it possible. A one-of-a-kind opportunity for travel. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to explore the world, teach and leave their comfort zone.