Kayla Koerting joined our project at Jiangxi Normal University in Nanchang in the summer of 2017. Please read on to view her feedback:

Could you please tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments of the trip?

The most enjoyable parts were meeting all the new people. It was nice to be able to teach at a university, because many of the students were my age. Because of this, we were able to make friends and do activities that we liked doing.

I made a lot of friends from all over the world in China. It was really nice.

Which were the highlights of the lessons, cultural excursions and outdoor activities?

When I was teaching at the school with middle-school aged children, it was so nice to teach. They were all so excited to learn, so they were very engaged in my activities.

How would you say the overall experience has benefited you?

I think that going to China really helped me grow more confident. To go to a country where I cannot communicate was a big challenge for me.

It was my first time traveling abroad, let alone traveling by myself. The whole trip was a huge learning experience for me to gain confidence.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?

Once again, the people I met at the school, in Yangshuo, and in my teaching team were all amazing people. I know that they will be my friends for a very long time, and that I will still be able to talk to them years down the line.

Also, China is a beautiful country, and taking the train to Yangshuo was such a good way to see the beauty of a part of the country.

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

I would absolutely recommend Gotoco to a friend. I am actually thinking about doing the program again next year, and recruiting some of the people at the USC Rossier School of Education. I am getting a minor in Education & Society, but I know a lot of people that are minoring in TESOL.