I-to-I

Advantages: Plenty of placements to choose from, Weekend TEFL course fun
Disadvantages: Disorganised, staff un-informed, expensive for service received

...online. I found the i-to-i website whilst looking for a TEFL course. I was thinking of returning to Greece and thought a TEFL qualification would be useful. I booked for the weekend course, which I took in Leeds in March 2004. The course consisted of 20 hours training in 2 days, so was very intensive and hard work, but lots of fun. There were far too many people on the course for the size of the room used. There was just a circle of chairs - no ...
...I was due to leave, i-to-i phoned to say that they had just discovered that despite the fact that they had put me on a 3 month project Nov -Feb, the school would be closing at Xmas for the summer holidays! They asked if I wanted to cut my project short or move onto something else for the remainder of my stay. I decided to move on to the Lima orphanage project. They also said that I 'might be disappointed' in the eco-garden! Oner of their staff had ... Read review

Advantages: Enjoyable placement, loved working with kids
Disadvantages: Disorganised, overpriced, left to your own, some projects dont exist, some false information

...went on a trip with i-to-i for 2 months. While I had a fantastic experience working with the children, teaching them, seeing Africa and making friends, the companies lack of organisation was a complete disappointment, especially after the money that I raised (£1600). Firstly, the accomodation was not as promised. I was offered a homestay with a family. What it actually was, was an apartment with other volunteers. The host was never at home (she ...
...before I flew home, all i-to-i coordinators didn't seem to be around (a few were in Nairobi), and it occured to me that I was going to be alone when I got to Nairobi, which is not a good idea, especially with 25kg of luggage! So I made my phone calls, and a friend of someone who works on one of the projects had to go with me to Nairobi, and I had to pay for his transport there and back - a 5 hour round trip to Nairobi -, which I wasn't best pleased ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly agency with a personal touch, good links with placement countries and wide variety of programmes
Disadvantages: some communication problems over what was included in my prize (a minor quibble)

I-to-I held a competition in conjunction with The Grauniad two years ago. On the unexplored inside pages of the Education section, you simply had to phone up to win a chance of teaching English in Sri Lanka - all expenses paid. I won!!!!! I got into close phone contact with the I-to-I staff and they were quite a helpful bunch. They sent me reams of information and it was very easy to pick a suitable weekend to take the 40 hour TEFL certificate. ...
...a good chance to socialise. I-to-I organise placements in several countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Russia, Costa Rica and Bolivia. You can work in a professional capacity (say if you are a journalist or an administrator) as well as an EFL teacher. In Sri Lanka, you can work on a turtle sanctuary. There are fees for all of the programmes as well as for the placement. However, once you are there your on-site accomodation and food is free - the ... Read review

Advantages: Very few
Disadvantages: Wide ranging

...2006 Our problems with I-to-I began on the first day at our initial project, St Benedict’s Primary School, on which we were due to begin teaching. Rather than acting as English teachers (as was our expectation given that our placement was ‘Teaching English in Mombasa’), we were also delegated Science and Mathematics classes – each of which were to be taught to a high level. On expressing our discomfort with this given our lack of notice or preparation, ...
...the head-teacher, the volunteers and I-to-I staff. The result of this was an agreement to reallocate the involved volunteers to a different project. However, through the course of the meeting several things became apparent. Firstly, that I-to-I had entirely misrepresented the role and requirements of volunteers undertaking this project; that our function was in fact superfluous as the school was well staffed, resourced and effectively run; similarly, ... Read review

Advantages: ?
Disadvantages: expense, unethical company

...work' in Nakuru. Unfortunately i-to-i are not interested in actually doing something ethical for these communities, but making money out of the desire for good-willed people to help others. I am not one for complaining but I feel that i-to-i's failure to be ethical should be documented. None of the massive cost that is paid to do projects go to the placements and although this was made clear to us (after booking) before we went, I am still not satisfied ...
...IS included (it's not anymore- i-to-i withdrew it and put the prices up so we paid more without it) and even how 'even the building project includes the TEFL course' (it doesn't). The projects we did have some super people organising them (not anything to do with i-to-i) and even encourage a trip extension or return trip without involving i-to-i (they are more than willing to help and provide support). However, I can't help but feel that these projects ... Read review

Advantages: attractions
Disadvantages: pebble beaches

...I recently went to Brighton to visit a very dear school friend of mine. Whilst I was there I went for walks and got some wonderful pictures which I have yet to download onto my computer. I stayed with my friend and her family and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am thinking of moving there as I find where I live very boring with no nightlife. I met someone whilst I was there but I will write about that another time. I was made very welcome whilst I was there, not only by my friend and her family but by the locals. I cannot wait to go again. I know that it is short and sweet but I hope you enjoyed the read. I am thinking of moving there in the New Year.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: it is free
Disadvantages: need some walking

...visiting trafalgar square was a wise choice to me. i am lucky to be able to have enough time in my hand to take a good look round the area. it's great place. something haunting, it brings out the mood in you. i can't really explain this, for i do not know. however, give trafalgar square a visit and you'll get what i mean. it was my last day in london and since i almost visited anywhere i have in my brochure, i decided. why not...so i did. and thank goodness i did. i would have scolded myself if i did not visit this place. if i have a chance to visit london again. i would have done the same thing.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: direct flight
Disadvantages: Awful Staff

...I travelled to Doha on Qatar Airways in January, to work at the Commercial Bank Masters golf tournament .when I tried to fly home 2 weeks later on the Sunday, I was told I couldnt fly as I had not confirmed my flight so I rebooked my flight for the following day. When I arrived on the Monday, I was told that I couldnt fly as I didnot have the print out of my flight details which I should have been given when I made the outward journey. I was not given this paperwork, After I had been at the airport for 8 hours I was told I could fly if I purchased a Business Class ticket as there were no economy seats left. I agreed to but this ticket and sort out the problem with my original ticket when I got home. I purchased the ticket but was then told that they had sold me the wrong ticket so I couldnot fly. I asked for my money back... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful