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

Was a little daunting at first as the prospect of teaching in a totally foreign country was quite scary, but after getting into the swing of things it was an amazing experience where I learned a lot and met some amazing people. I had some issues during my stay, such as having to switch accomodation, but it was handled well by the school I was at. I'd say if you're looking for a way to spend your summer and you're not quite sure what you want to do, I'd highly recommend GotoCo. The trip to Yangshuo is also an absolute must.

A lovely way to spend part of your summer, I was sent to Ningbo for a survival camp and really enjoyed teaching my classes, you ended up really bonding with the kids there and learning a lot about Chinese culture. We did things like hike, make bows and arrows out of bamboo and make teepee tents also using the bamboo. GotoCo also provides a trip to Yangzhou which I would definitely recommend people look into as loads of opportunities were provided. They were really useful in the preparation for the trip, aiding us with the visa and giving us a SIM card.

I think program Gotoco is great opportunity to visit China in really cheap way. I met there a lots of amazing people there which told me more about Chinese culture and about China. It wasn't just a travel I could feel this atmosphere and get to know this country from the inside. I visited beautiful places witch made a great impression on me. I think it was adventure of my life and everybody should try something like this. Now I have so many fantastic memories and some new friendship for whole life.

Spending my summer teaching in Yangshuo was such an incredible and enriching experience and I feel so grateful for Gotoco providing me with this opportunity. Over the six weeks I spent in China, I met so many wonderful children, gained valuable teaching experience and made lifelong friends. I was lucky enough to teach in the beautiful surroundings of Guilin and it was lovely to see this side to China.

The application process for the programme was generally straightforward and day to day expenses were relatively low with food and accommodation provided by the camp we were working for. I would highly recommend spending your summer here!!

It was smooth and organised. The contact from Gotoco was friendly, reassuring, and constant, so I felt safe and happy about going to China. The specific information about my camp was a little misleading.

I would recommend going to teach English at a summer camp or school because it is a totally new and exciting experience that feels very rewarding. I would also recommend the Yangshuo trip after the programme because it was a lot of fun.

The highlight of being in China was the opportunity to be totally outside my comfort zone. Being far from home, immersed in a totally different culture and responsible for teaching and entertaining classes of children, meant I had to rapidly adapt and develop initiative and confidence.

Cover your rent/food bills, provide a great opportunity into the local culture and get the chance to gain a teaching qualification while teaching English to classes as big as 15 students. You meet some great people and have some very different experiences, scenery is amazing, especially around Guilin and Yangshuo. You can also interview business owners in the afternoon and the ability to discuss perspectives into local socioeconomic news.

You can rent scooters in the afternoon and visit many of the unique high-street shops, part of our daily schedule was taking the students into the city centres to interview travellers from outside of China, such as Australia and America. This was a great opportunity for the students to practice their English whilst also being able to talk to other travellers from outside of China.

Really enjoyed my summer in China with Gotoco. The work was really meaningful and the locations were beautiful. The kids were very sweet and made it much more rewarding.

joined a program in Beijing working with Wall Street English and adult learners of English. While not directly teaching students, I was able to gain valuable insights into the teaching process. This program has benefitted me by giving me a glimpse into Chinese culture and life. I have met so many new people from all over the world. With some of the lower level students, it was very difficult to explain concepts in English to them, but through trying different ways and acting out words, I was able to become a better communicator and teacher. I think Gotoco will give you a valuable experience in China at very reasonable cost (there is only the cost of the plane ticket and visa), and is a great chance to explore China as a university student.

Really good way to see China would strongly recommend the experience to others.

Had some issues at the first camp I was at but Gotoco helped with my movement from this camp to another very quickly and smoothly. They tried their hardest to keep me in the area and when that wasn't possible sent me to a very nice location in Yangshuo.

Please tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments of the trip?

My most enjoyable moments were going to yangshuo for the first time with my school. The surrounding nature was beautiful. I also enjoyed going tea picking with my class at the school.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?

My favourite part of the experience was making friends with the Chinese councillors as well the foreign ones. Additionally I enjoyed bonding with the children at both of my school's.

Would you recommend participating to a friend and if so why?

Because experiencing Chiba is something I think more people should do. Whilst the first placement was not as described the program handled this problem fairly well in sending us to a new place.

How would you say the overall experience has benefitted you?

I have picked up a fair amount of Chinese by myself as the first school did not provide Chinese lessons. I have also gained valuable experience in teaching children which will be useful in future work.