The programme enabled me to visit a part of China I would not have otherwise visited and having an occupation upon arrival gave me the confidence to travel to China solo after the end of the programme, something I probably wouldn't have done otherwise. My favourite part of visiting China was befriending Chinese people and the Yangshuo trip. Having an organised camp enabled me access to an intense experience with Chinese teachers, the sort of local interaction that is difficult to achieve when simply travelling alone. Working days are quite long as even when you are not teaching you will be expected to interact with and oversee the children on the camp but this opens the door for a more immersive experience and provides constant exposure to Chinese culture.

My advice is be adaptable in every situation and have fun. Also, make the most of your time and enjoy every moment of it. I really enjoyed working as part of a team and making a difference in people's lives. Wanting to do something good that benefits others. I liked helping others and building good healthy relationship among my co workers. Also getting to know the students and learning each other's cultures. It was a great opportunity and gain a qualification. I would definitely recommend this trip to my friends and university students. It's worth it. And an unforgettable time. Everyone really had a great time and fun. If you get a chance go for this programme. It's something you can never experience anywhere else. Just go for it and see if you like it

It is a great experience in showing you what kind of person you are when you are thrown into a experience that is different to anything you would normally do. It is also a great opportunity to meet likeminded people with similar interested as well as mixing with people from different walks of life as yours. Furthermore Gotoco is also as close to being a real teacher as you can get with little experience, making it a great way to see if teaching is an option for you after university and to gain experience for your CV.

Teaching the children was the best experience on the trip as it gave me the opportunity to see what the real life of being a teacher was like.

Exploring Shantou and Chenghai was also a great experience as they are city that have not been touched by tourism and the people haven’t met many foreigners there, so everything felt very real and authentic. It also made you kind of like a celebrity and everyone wanted to speak to you have take photos with you. In the first week we were there we went to the park to play some American football and got surrounded by other 100 Chinese people wanting to join in.

Hosting the bilingual festival was also a highlight for me as it meant I got to interact with the kids and parents very regularly, which was very interesting. Finally, the downtime with the other participants was a lot of fun because we were allowed to do whatever we wanted as long as we were in the scheduled lessons. So things like chilling on the roof and having a laugh while overlooking Chenghai at night is a definite highlight for me.

I really enjoyed discovering Chinese culture: visiting places after class, eating local food, learning Chinese custom. I also really enjoyed spending time with other gotocoers in Yangshuo, as well as spending time with the teaching team during my placement.
I think the highlights of my experience are the trip to Yangshuo and the teaching part. The relationship you develop with Chinese students and the other Gotocoers is very rewarding. I would recommend Gotoco to a friend because the experience is unique and really enriching. Even if it is not an easy experience because days are long, teaching is tiring and being in a completely different country with a really different culture can be complicated, the overall experience is really gratifying.

I participated in the program this summer and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think this was such a good opportunity to gain valuable experience, visit china and make a difference.
This program allowed me to visit china with free accomodation, food and a TEFL, on a budget. The only things I had to pay for were flights and my VISA, as well as the extra travelling I did after.
The company paid for a trip to Yangshuo after where we were able to meet other participants from other schools and exchange experiences. It did seem from other people that having a good experience was luck of the draw - it depended what school you got as they were all extremely different and what the other participants were like. Its also worth saying that the company give you information about the school and area before going out- although the information I received was completely inaccurate. The area was nothing like they said really, it was advertised as having lots of things to do and places to hike around which it didnt. it also said that we would be doing activities with the kids outside, but we did nothing like that except teach english. I think I only enjoyed the experience this much due to the people I met and my travels after. Had I not got on with the people, the teaching would have been far less enjoyable.
My only negative for the program was the lack of response from the company and the length of time it took them to respond to my emails; they were not contactable by phone either. This was annoying as when I initially started my application they were great at responding to questions but as soon as I had problems with anything such as my interviewer not turning up and changing the times, not hearing from the school or not recieving my deposit back, it took numerous emails to get a response.
Overall I would recommend this to my friends but make them wary of certain parts.

Staff were responsive and helpful, quickly finding me a suitable placement in which I was very happy.

I would recommend GOTOCO as a unique opportunity to challenge yourself by working abroad in an extremely different culture, build teaching skills, confidence and making new friends while also travelling.

The highlights of my experience in China were meeting and befriending Chinese people, this helped me build an understanding of the culture.

The welcoming environment of the camp I was working in was also a major positive. The places I was able to visit, rural and urban were enriched by the people I visited them with.

This programme provided me with a range of experiences I would not have had the chance to have otherwise.

Spending such an extended time in China, working with a multitude of Chinese people, making new friends and exploring the country have broadened me as a person.

Experience teaching has taught me the importance of approaching new challenges with enthusiasm and energy. For this, you will often be rewarded.

My programme was in two different locations, Wuhan and Beijing, which allowed me to experience two different cities in China. In both locations, I thought the accommodation (we stayed in university accommodation) and food provided were great.

I enjoyed interacting with the students and learning lots about Chinese culture. I also really enjoyed the time off from our program, getting to explore the city and its attractions, especially the Great Wall. It was also really nice to have a big group of Gotoco participants so it never got lonely and I ended up making lots of great friendships. I also really enjoyed the Yangshuo trip at the end, I would definitely recommend going!

Overall, this was an amazing way for me to spend my summer vacation. It allowed me to gain experience teaching, obtain a teaching qualification, meet new people and experience life in China.

This is a very unique program and it offers a great opportunity to visit and learn more about China. It was so rewarding to work with the kids and help them develop their skills and confidence in English. It was a reciprocal feeling as we also had a chance to build our skills in communication, organisation, and leadership. Traveling to China and meeting the local people as well as the foreign teachers who are from all over the world has made me more curious - I want to explore more! The Gotoco alumna is a diverse network and has really expanded my world. I would recommend this trip to someone who has a big sense of adventure, wonder (China's natural beauty is stunning), who is flexible and can quickly adapt to new situations, and is open to learning and feeling vulnerable at times.