Reviews

Overall, I would rank this trip as an 8/10. The trip was more geared towards OT students than SLP students. This was mainly due to the language barrier. I wish that in the future this trip would have more translators to help accommodate to speech needs in the facilities. The hotel that we stayed in during our time in Bulgaria was super rough. It was very gross and it didn’t feel like it was being cleaned very well, specifically the beds. It was fun to meet people during the trip and hangout, but I wish that I would have been able to long before the trip began. The information for the trip was only sent out 6 days before departure. I was hoping that it would have been sent out 2-4 weeks before departure. This would have been nice for meeting other people travelling. This is more of a general suggestion, but I hope that Therapy Abroad can update their website! When I first came across the site, it looked like a scam. It’s just a website with several broken links and it requires you to put down $1,000 for the deposit. If there’s anything you guys can do to make the marketing better, please do!

After graduating in business from Madrid, I wanted international experience before settling into a career. GAC placed me with a logistics company in Shanghai's Pudong district. From week one, I was working on real projects – analyzing supply chains, negotiating with suppliers, and presenting to clients. My mentor taught me how Chinese business culture works – fast, direct, and relationship-driven. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I returned to Spain with a job offer and a whole new perspective. Best decision I ever made.

Participating in this teaching program was an absolutely incredible experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me embrace my independence. The hands-on teaching was incredibly rewarding and really built my confidence in leading activities. Beyond the classroom, I loved every part of the Vietnamese culture. We had amazing cultural immersion, from the first group day at the beach to the traditional cooking classes. My favorite part was having daily chats with our wonderful Vietnamese hosts, which made me feel deeply connected to the local community. The staff on the ground, especially Aaron and Hayley, were exceptional. They managed the group with a kind, supportive approach that was truly inspiring. Whenever anyone had an issue, they were extremely helpful and resolved it quickly to keep everyone safe and happy. I completely fell in love with Vietnam, and I am definitely coming back!

Have been with TM for two summers of intensive classes (chengdu location) and my Chinese has seriously improved. The teachers (and all other staff) are extremely knowledgeable, super accepting , understanding, and very helpful. Learning chinese at TM helps you get very integrated into the local culture and you’ll be practicing chinese all day with the teachers and fellow students. The community is very welcoming and wholesome. People from all age ranges and from all over the world come together and have a great time here. I wholeheartedly recommend studying at TM if you’re going to be in Chengdu for any extended period of time!

One of the biggest highlights of the trip was working alongside and supporting Hayley and Aaron throughout the teaching programme. It was incredibly rewarding to take an active role in delivering sessions rather than simply observing. Teaching required me to think on my feet, adapt to different situations, and respond to students in the moment, which made every session engaging and helped me grow in confidence. Standing in front of peers and large groups of university students was something I found daunting at first. Delivering a lecture to around 100 students in a hot and humid lecture theatre was a challenge in itself, but the positive feedback I received afterwards made it all worthwhile. Hearing that my presentations were engaging and well delivered gave me confidence in my public speaking, and finishing the programme with a strong final teaching session felt like a real achievement. Some of my favourite memories came from the quieter moments outside of teaching. Sitting with a coffee while watching spectacular thunderstorms, seeing mangos fall from the trees, enjoying the evening fireworks, and wandering through the night market all made everyday life feel special. I also made the most of the affordable local prices by treating myself to two haircuts, beard trims, and a relaxing massage. The cultural experiences were just as memorable. Exploring Hoi An Old Town, trying my hand at lantern making, and soaking up the atmosphere of the historic streets were definite highlights. I also enjoyed trying egg coffee, taking a bus tour to visit local temples, watching traditional rice paper being made, going on a boat trip, and having lunch at a family-run restaurant. Climbing Marble Mountain was another unforgettable experience, with stunning views that made the climb well worth the effort. The trip ended perfectly with drinks at a rooftop bar, watching the sunset after the final teaching session and reflecting on everything I had experienced. It was a fitting end to a journey that combined professional development, cultural immersion, personal challenges, and unforgettable memories. Looking back, this experience has had a lasting impact on both my personal and professional development. The greatest change has been in my confidence, particularly with public speaking, which is something I have often avoided in the past. Teaching large groups of university students in a completely different cultural setting pushed me well outside my comfort zone and showed me that I am capable of communicating effectively, even in unfamiliar situations. I developed stronger communication, adaptability, leadership, and teamwork skills, while learning to remain calm and respond positively when plans changed unexpectedly. These are skills that will benefit me throughout my career and have undoubtedly made me more confident and employable. I would wholeheartedly recommend this programme to anyone looking to challenge themselves, build confidence, and experience personal and professional growth.

In June, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Chengdu attending an intensive Chinese language course at the LTL-School. Having previously lived in China for two and a half years, I wanted to refresh and improve my Chinese skills. LTL’s promise of an immersive learning experience, combined with the option of staying with a Chinese host family, immediately caught my attention. Organization Everything went very smoothly from start to finish. My initial contact with the school was excellent, and the staff were always patient and helpful when answering my questions. Airport pickup was well organized and completely hassle-free. While it would have been nice to receive the host family’s contact details and address a little earlier, this ultimately turned out not to be an issue at all. Homestay I stayed with a wonderful host who stopped by every day to prepare breakfast and dinner. She made me feel incredibly welcome from the very beginning, and I had plenty of opportunities to chat with her. She was very patient, and I really appreciated having someone to practice my Chinese with outside of the classroom. At the same time, I enjoyed having my own room and bathroom, which gave me enough privacy to relax and recharge after classes. Location I absolutely loved Chengdu. I know China quite well and have visited many major cities, but Chengdu ranks very high on my list. This is largely due to my overwhelmingly positive experiences with the local people. Everyone I met was warm, welcoming, and genuinely interested in talking to me. Whenever locals realized that I could hold a conversation in Chinese, they were delighted and often eager to chat. Being surrounded by people who are willing to engage with you in Chinese is incredibly motivating and helps build confidence. One thing I would highly recommend is taking your study materials to one of Chengdu’s many teahouses after class. Immersing yourself in the city’s tea culture while reviewing what you have learned creates a unique and enjoyable learning environment—and I genuinely believe it helps. The Chengdu School My language course was very intensive. I booked two weeks of one-on-one lessons, four hours per day. In addition, I spent at least two hours each evening reviewing material and preparing for the next day’s lessons. It was demanding, but that was exactly what I was looking for. If you truly want to improve, there is no substitute for consistent study and actively using what you learn. One minor challenge was the schedule. Occasionally, I had afternoon classes that finished at 6 p.m., followed by lessons starting between 8 and 9 a.m. the next morning. On those occasions, I sometimes felt a bit rushed when preparing for the following day. However, this was only a small issue and did not significantly affect my overall experience. During my stay, I had three different teachers, each with their own teaching style, which I found refreshing. Most of my lessons were with LTL-Teacher Michael, who did an excellent job (foto below). He has a deep understanding of Chinese grammar, language learning, and Chinese culture. We had many interesting discussions, and his enthusiasm made the four hours of daily lessons pass surprisingly quickly. Conclusion If you are looking for a welcoming and immersive environment to improve your Chinese, I can highly recommend LTL Chengdu. The combination of dedicated teachers, a supportive homestay experience, and the friendly atmosphere of Chengdu creates an excellent setting for language learning.

I was lucky enough to spend two weeks teaching English in Vietnam, and what an incredible experience it was. The weather was certainly scorching and took a little getting used to, but the whole trip was truly unforgettable. We had the opportunity to teach children from toddler age right through to university students, which was both rewarding and, at times, a little outside my comfort zone. That said, I absolutely loved it. I feel I gained so much from the experience, and I hope the students did too. Being part of a group of 29 worked really well, with a great balance of teaching, lesson preparation, sightseeing and social time. The team, the food, the local people and the whole experience were fantastic. Outside of the classroom, we had the chance to explore Vietnamese culture properly — making our own lanterns, cooking traditional Vietnamese food, learning how to make Vietnamese drip coffee, climbing Marble Mountain and meeting some brilliant locals along the way. It was a fantastic opportunity, full of learning, laughter and new experiences. I would 100% recommend it to anyone who gets the chance.

I had an absolutely incredible experience with Gotoco and the Turing Scheme programme in Vietnam. Over the two weeks, I not only learned about a different culture and way of life, but I also learned a great deal about myself. The opportunity to teach, connect with local communities, and work alongside such amazing people was truly life-changing. The support from the Gotoco team throughout the programme was outstanding. A special thank you to Hayley and Aaron, who did an amazing job organising everything and ensuring participants felt supported from start to finish. The experience helped me develop valuable skills in communication, leadership, adaptability, and confidence, all of which will benefit me both personally and professionally. Meeting the children, teachers, and fellow participants created memories that will stay with me forever. I returned home with new friendships, a greater appreciation for different cultures, and many unforgettable memories. I would highly recommend Gotoco to anyone considering an international teaching and cultural exchange programme. Thank you, Gotoco, for an experience I will never forget. I would love the opportunity to participate again in the future.

I stayed with a family in Marinilla, eating local food and learning the local language. We went to schools in the countryside to teach children English and other subjects, spent time with older people and visited Medellin, Guatape, La Piedra de El Penol and more!

This has genuinely been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I am so grateful that I took the leap and signed up, because it has given me memories, friendships and confidence that I will carry with me forever. Before coming to Vietnam, there were so many things I never imagined I’d be brave enough to do. Over the past two weeks I’ve pushed myself outside my comfort zone in the best possible way. From trying amazing new foods, exploring a completely different culture, riding on Grab scooters through busy streets, and going out in the evenings with the wonderful friends I made, every day brought a new adventure. I met so many incredible people from all over the world, and I truly never expected to form such genuine friendships in such a short time. The teaching itself was the highlight of the entire experience. Spending time with the children was incredibly rewarding, and seeing their enthusiasm, curiosity and confidence grow made every moment worthwhile. It reminded me how meaningful even small acts of kindness, encouragement and patience can be. Having the opportunity to complete my TEFL certification alongside the placement made the experience even more valuable and has given me skills and confidence that I’ll carry into the future. This programme has changed me for the better. It has helped me become more confident, more independent and far more willing to embrace new experiences instead of being afraid of them. More than anything, I learned so much about myself: what I’m capable of, how strong I can be when I challenge myself, and the kind of person I am and can be. It showed me that I’m far more resilient than I ever realised and gave me the confidence to trust myself in situations that once would have terrified me. I returned home with a newfound confidence, lifelong friendships, a deeper appreciation for different cultures, and memories I’ll treasure forever. It was truly life-changing. I also want to say a huge thank you to Haley and Aaron. They were both absolutely fantastic throughout the programme. They were always supportive, approachable, encouraging and happy to help with anything we needed. Their enthusiasm, kindness and reassurance made such a difference, and knowing they were there meant we always felt supported from start to finish. I honestly couldn’t recommend this opportunity highly enough. If you’re even thinking about applying, do it. You never know how much it might change your life until you experience it yourself. I’ll definitely be recommending it to all of my friends and encouraging them to sign up, because it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I will always be grateful for this opportunity and for everything it has taught me.