Reviews

It was very easy to go through the application process, complete all the steps, and be ready to volunteer in Costa Rica. All the support we received throughout the process made sure that we felt safe, prepared, and were making an impact on the local community. I would highly recommend IVHQ, and hope to do future volunteer missions with them.

I spent six weeks at LTL Taipei taking a 1-on-1 Chinese course. From the beginning, everything was easy and well organized. Communication before my arrival was smooth, the classes were great, and there were plenty of activities outside of class. Even though I had 1-on-1 lessons, I still got to know other students and teachers quite easily. The atmosphere at the school is very friendly and relaxed. There are many international students speaking English, and many people in Taipei speak good English as well. But if you make an effort to meet locals and use Chinese in everyday life, there are still plenty of opportunities to practice. Taipei itself is also a great city to study in—very convenient, easy to get around, and there’s always something to do. Just be prepared for the VERY hot and rainy weather in June/July! I had Jessica 老師 as my teacher, and she quickly understood my level and asked what I wanted to achieve. Although I had learned Simplified Chinese before, that wasn’t a problem at all. LTL Taipei teaches both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and I got used to Traditional much faster than I expected. Since my main goal was to refresh my Chinese and improve my speaking, Jessica adapted the lessons to me instead of just following the textbook. From day one, we spoke almost entirely in Chinese, which helped a lot with my listening and speaking. I had classes every morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but I never felt overwhelmed and the four hours always went by surprisingly quickly. Jessica was also very kind and supportive—she even brought me breakfast a few times! After six weeks, I could really feel that my Chinese had improved. There were different activities every week, such as Mahjong, karaoke, museums, cultural activities, and group lunches near the school. Sunny and Riona put so much effort into organizing everything. They were always friendly and approachable, and they definitely made the course more enjoyable! Alin organized my classes and found a teacher who was a really good match for me. Greta was also very helpful before and during my stay. I had some issues with my original homestay arrangement, and she took my concerns seriously and really tried to help find a solution, which I appreciated a lot. The only thing I think could be improved is the homestay program. From my own experience and from talking to other students, the quality of host families seems to vary quite a bit. It would be helpful to have more consistent standards regarding things like cleanliness, distance from the school, and how involved the host family is. I also think it would be better to get information about the homestay earlier. Considering the price, renting a private room or apartment nearby can sometimes be a better option. Of course, I’m sure there are also many great host families—it may just depend a little on luck. Overall, I’d definitely recommend LTL Taipei to anyone thinking about studying Chinese in Taiwan. I learned a lot in six weeks, met some really nice people, and had a great time. If I come back to Taipei, I’d definitely consider taking another course at LTL.

I recently completed my TEFL course with The TEFL Academy and had a really positive experience. The course was well organised, easy to follow, and covered lots of useful topics, especially lesson planning, teaching grammar and vocabulary, and creating engaging activities. I really liked that the assignments were practical and made me think about how I would actually use what I learned in the classroom. The online format was also convenient because I could study at my own pace. I would have liked to see a few more examples of completed assignments, but overall I’m very happy with the course. I feel much more confident as a teacher now and would definitely recommend The TEFL Academy to anyone considering a TEFL qualification.

Overall I truly loved the program. I felt super comfortable and I give all of the credit to Expanish. From the moment I arrived at school until I left I really felt that they only had the best intentions for me.

This past summer I had the ultimate privilege of going abroad for a Marketing and Business Development Intern in Lisbon, Portugal. To say I had the one of the best summers of my life is an understatement, working in a city as beautiful and vibrant as Portugal was a such a rewarding experience both professionally and personally.

My time in Madrid was the best three months of my life; I learned so much about myself and was able to meet a bunch of new people. I loved how easygoing Madrid was, from the transportation to how nice the people were. I was able to experience the Madrid culture and try new foods. It took a little bit to get used to the 9-hour time difference and the late dinners. I also loved how easy it was to travel around Europe because Madrid has easy access to trains and flights. Lastly, I had the best roommates and made lifelong memories. The Intern Group was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. More specifically, Lalita and Corinne were so helpful while being in Madrid. Anytime I had a question, they were able to answer it very quickly. Also, getting to be in a group with other interns made the experience a lot easier because we were able to connect and relate to each other's experiences. I was able to make lifelong friends with some of the people in the group. The Bubble (the company that I worked with) made it very welcoming and allowed me to ask any questions that I was unsure about. They gave me many hands-on tasks, which I am grateful for because I gained a lot of experience. Overall, Madrid makes it extremely easy to adapt to and is a great place to do an internship. There is always something to do, and you will 100% make lifelong memories and friendships.

<we had a lot of fun working with the kids at our daycare placement. <also, the care and attention of the <maximo Nivel staff was top notch. <i had a minor illness while abroad and they got me all the treatment <i needed to be back on my feet in a day without missing my excursions.

Completing the Level 3 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language has been a valuable and rewarding learning experience for me. The programme provided me with a good foundation in teaching English to learners whose first language is not English. I particularly appreciated the sections on lesson planning, teaching grammar, pronunciation, classroom management and different teaching approaches. The programme helped me understand how to make lessons more learner-centred, engaging and suitable for different levels of English proficiency. The course also increased my confidence as an English teacher and gave me practical ideas that I can apply in both online and face-to-face teaching. The assessments encouraged me to reflect on my understanding and apply what I had learned. Overall, I found the Level 3 TEFL programme informative, practical and relevant. It has added to my teaching skills and has motivated me to continue developing professionally in the field of English language teaching. I would recommend this programme to anyone who already has an interest in teaching and would like to develop a foundation in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

The home stay was great, felt very welcome always and the food was great. My lessons were well organised and the teachers were always passionate in helping me improve, and felt like I improved a lot in only 3 weeks. Great experience overall, and i would recommend to anyone that wants to learn a new language.

I had a great time volunteering for this program. I did not know what to expect from Cusco and it was a cool way to throw myself out there and get out of my comfort zone. For people solo travelling alone, this program made it easy and comforting to do. I learned a lot and had lots of hands on experience.