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

I really enjoyed my teaching experience in China. I was considering volunteering abroad for awhile but didn't know where to start, which was why I found GOTOCO so useful because they guide you through the application process and attempt to assign you to a school that matches your requirements. The application process was pretty smooth - aside from some visa issues that were more so the result of changes to protocol rather than any issue with GOTOCO, and the teaching went really well. The accommodation provided was very comfortable and high-quality, and the school and its staff were organised and helpful. I was able to meet many amazing people from lots of different cultures as a result of this program and couldn't be happier!
The only main issues I had was that I only found out my school in April despite applying in October, however I found the communication with the team to be very fast via email and they did try their best to answer any questions I had. Also, the school I taught at had very limited vegetarian options despite stating that I would be fine, so try and ensure the school you are given definitely are willing to provide a variety of food options if you are veggie/vegan! - coming from a veggie who survived on rice, salad and watermelon for two weeks ;)

Please tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments of the trip?
My most enjoyable moments are really making friends with some of the children, being able to chat to some of them for a very long time, and seeing them progress and learn something. Making new friends with fellow teachers, and going on all sorts of adventures with them was the absolute highlight.

How would you say the overall experience has benefitted you?
I am more confident, have gained teaching experience, have experienced some of Chinese culture and the customs in China in general, am now used to cockroaches big spiders, the heat, and operating in an environment where there is no English spoken most of the time. I've improved my leadership, time management and organisation skills, as I followed my lesson plan and taught 6 40-minute lessons a day.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?
It was an unforgettable experience to be a teacher in a foreign country and to be able to have an influence on the children's lives.

Would you recommend participating to a friend and if so why?
This is a character shaping and character changing experience, you discover a completely new side of yourself in such a foreign culture, it can't really be explained, you have to live through it.

The Yangshuo trip was very fun, meeting up with everyone else on the programme and exploring the beautiful scenery of the town. All activities were great but could of been organised better, but will be very difficult as the group was very large and people would often be late or change their minds.
Working in the Chinese school was very strange and confusing at first, there was very little information about what we would be doing up until the first day of teaching. However, once it got going, it was a very rewarding and fun experience.
Even though things would seem very confusing at first, it all works out and teaching in China is very fun, rewarding and a great experience that you would never forget.
The programme has given me experiences I will never forget. Being completely out of my comfort zone on the other side of the world made me more confident and created great memories.

Gotoco is an amazing company that helped me have some of the best 6.5 weeks of my life! They are very helpful throughout the entire process and always answer emails in order to make your experience as easy as possible.

I was put into a program where I stayed with a host family who were the owners of the school and I could not have asked for a better experience there because of them. They were welcoming and treated me like part of the family. They always wanted to experience new things and showed me so much Chinese culture. Dinners consisted of exchanging stories from our countries and learning from each-other.

Teaching there was really enjoyable and the students loved me. I was welcomed by all of them everyday and they were so fascinated to learn from me and to learn about Canada. In addition, I took part in many travel opportunities including going to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Qingdao City, and exploring every part of the city I was in, Jiaozhou.

Gotoco offers different amazing opportunities for those who want to travel to China and learn more about its culture and language. During my program in Beijing, I taught two adorable and energetic children from my homestay. At first, I was worried because I did not have much teaching experience. The kids also spoke very good English, so helping them improve their English skills was a little bit of a challenge for me. However, I had a fun time experimenting with different ways of teaching and keeping the children engage, stepping outside of my comfort zone and gaining confidence in myself.

The host family was very nice and welcoming, taking me out with the kids to watch movies or go to local restaurants to try various Chinese cuisine. They even brought me to Shenzhen with them for the Spring Festival.

I had a wonderful time on my program through Gotoco. Gotoco provided a great opportunity where I could travel to another country and discover myself in new ways.

The whole process of applying and preparing for the trip was laid out for me in easy steps, with constant support along the way.

Having participated in the program, I've definitely learned a lot about myself and how to be more independent and confident in my abilities. I have more world and traveling experience, I tried new foods and found new favorites, I've explored cities that I didn't know the names of previously, I've gotten to meet so many new people and learn more about them--I've just grown so much. Even when times were hard or I got frustrated, I learned that I was able to figure out the situation and overcome it, which has made me a stronger person!

My program was an activities camp, so I had the opportunity to rock climb, go sailing, learn archery and golf, visit a museum and an observatory, and more. It was always really enjoyable and rewarding when the kids worked up the courage to try and have a conversation in English with me! Most of the time they would be hesitant to speak with me as their English levels were very low, but some of the kids were more brave and made an effort to sit with me at lunch and ask me questions, and bond with me during the program.

I would definitely recommend applying for a program through Gotoco if a) you're looking for an easy and fun way to explore China, b) you want to do something that will look great on your CV/resumé and make you stand out, c) you're interested in getting your TEFL certificate for FREE which can open up many doors for you in the future, or d) you don't know what to do with your summer and just want something interesting to fill that time with. There's so many reasons to go, and even if you discover that teaching isn't your thing (it's definitely not mine!) or China is too much for you long-term, it's still an incredible experience that you will remember forever and be grateful for.

Gotoco provides an amazing opportunity of spending a self fulfilling summer. I really enjoyed teaching and actually plan to do it in the future in my gap year after university. The TEFL qualification that you earn through the programs really is an invaluable qualification you can fall back on. As you are in a completely different place the people you meet and the bonds you make are really strong. I have met one of my best friends during my summer in china, something i never thought id do.

Spending so many weeks somewhere so far away may seem very daunting at first but the memories you make during this time are worth missing a few weeks with home friends. I feel like the independence and the self reliance that is tested when your so far away is really character building. My and my friend from the program travelled to nearby cities together which was very fun and Yangshou was the most beautiful place I have seen in my life.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?

It's hard to choose one thing that stands out as the best from my experience in China, however I feel that the entire experience revolved around teaching the children, and allowing them to grow within my care. I loved putting on the performance at the end, and seeing the children display what they had learnt. The children excelled and being able to actually gauge their progress was very rewarding.

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

I would definitely recommend participating in this program to a friend as I have found it both informative, hugely educational, and wholly rewarding. I am genuinely moved to have been a part of the education process for these children, and having a TEFL qualification means I can help children communicate better with the world, no matter where they are. Also, being able to learn more about another culture from within it in a educational capacity has taught me to be more curious about the world in general.

How did you find the recruitment process?

I found it easily accessible and the people I interacted with were very helpful and kind. I would happily recommend the program to a friend. However, I would make the relationship between the family and the tutor more transparent, in terms of money paid to house the tutor, and the specific expectations. It might be better to arrange a tutoring schedule with the tutor and the parent through the school, as this would sidestep and language barriers.