I taught in Kraków Poland and I love that city so much. The program though, horrible. Terrible communication with the office, terrible communication with the school. We were told we'd live in an apartment as the previous teachers did. A week and a half before we left we were told we'd be in host families saying how excited everyone was to host us. We got there and ended up in the apartment because there were no families available. We were told when they did we'd get to move out and they said they'd live with in 30 minutes of the school. The first girl to move into a host family lived an hour and a half away by tram. 45 minutes by car. They next too girls moved into a host family together still about 45 minutes away. The last girl and I were left in the apartment for 2 months. We were told we'd be moving into a new apartment on a Thursday. Then it was Saturday. Then it was Tuesday. Then as we were packing our stuff in the car to move they said oh you're going to a host family. Actually it's just one lady. Her grandson will do the summer program so it will just be you Guys and her. Then they said she wasn't ready so we stayed a few nights at the school owners house but they were having guests come so we had to stay the night in an Airbnb. Then we took a weekend trip and on Monday we waited and waited and finally were able to move into this lady's house. She spoke NO English. We were promised they would all speak English. The head teacher was also promised her own room. We shared one. A tiny office sized room. We got slept on couch/ futon things. The program director came for a mid semester visit to "fix our problems" which was really 6 weeks before we left. Jared made any problem we had our fault. We let us talk to him individually and I had a lot of concerns I wanted to make him aware of. I ended up crying and walking out because he was horrible. According to him it was my fault for going on the problem if I wanted to not have those problems I shouldn't have come on the program. When we left Poland we were told airport vehicles would pick us all up "with nice men in nice suits" we got a generic taxi with a women who couldn't even lift our luggage. The girl who lived the farthest away was alone in that house for 2 weeks while her host family went on vacation. They originally said she might move in with us were we literally had no room and then they said she'd stay with the grandfather who didn't like her because she didn't speak Polish and he didn't speak English and she was also scared to be around so their solution was to leave her in the house with no one around if something were to happen. The school coordinators kept giving us the run around whenever we'd ask them anything. Also we were told we'd be teaching under privileged kids. Then we were told when we got there we were teaching the richest kids in the city. We taught over privileged kids and they coordinators never had our back when it came to discipline. We are at one cafe across the street every day with gross food. We were told our food would be paid for but the food was so nasty a lot of times we'd go across the street to the convince store for hot dogs just so we had something to eat. Jared the director of the program didn't give a rats about the volunteers. He cared only about the money and keeping up the allusion that this is a good program. the teaching method is stupid and that's probably way their they only language program to teach that way. It does a disservice to the kids constantly changing out teachers because it takes a while to figure out how to teach and by the time we're good at it it's time for a new group. I would not recommend this program to my worst enemy. Such a waste of money. It's a scam honestly they get we pay THEM for the labor we did and the kids families pay them! A lot!! We literally never once felt like we had our feet on solid ground because they never gave us the whole truth and told us things at the very last second. read more

I am currently in Taiwan teaching for an ILP affiliated school and I love it! I have always wanted to teach English in a foreign country but I never really had the guts to do it. I had a friend show me an advertisement for teaching in Thailand for ILP, and after some pushing and persuading to apply from her, I took the first step. After my first interaction with an ILP representative I was excited and knew I wanted to do this! They were so supportive, they talked me through all of my fears, reservations, and questions, and as a worry wart I had a lot of them they had to deal with! They did so with care and understand. Now you must have noticed that it said I applied for Thailand but am currently in Taiwan, that is because due to the timeline of when I was applying and when I needed to depart for Thailand I would not have time to go through the visa process after getting the passport I had never had the need of before this opportunity. But my caring ILP representatives knew how much I wanted to do this and wanted to help me! So they helped me find other positions I could apply for in both China and Taiwan. After applying for the Taiwan position and being accepted they did not leave me. From getting my needed paperwork to help me decide what I needed to pack in my suitcases they were there for me, even though I'm sure they didn't want to hold my hand as much as I wanted them to. They understood what a scary thing leaving the country for so long can be, especially for someone's first time as was my situation, and we're so supportive. I love being here in Taiwan and I never would have had this opportunity if it was not for ILP! I highly recommend them to anyone who is wanting to travel, experience a different culture, and/or help people! And even if you are a little bit scared, know that the personal growth, the cuddles from your cute students, and all of the things you would otherwise never get a chance to see or do make it so worth it! Good luck future ILP teacher! read more

I taught English with ILP in Moscow, Russia the Spring of 2019. I'm not going to lie it was hard. I had just graduated high school and was teaching 14 year old kids who realized I was not that much older than them. I did not enjoy teaching and had some real problems with a couple of my students. But ILP knew how to handle it. Between my head teacher and the program coordinator they were constantly helping me come up with new ideas and ways to engage the students I taught. They helped me get to the point that I can say I am glad I did ILP not just because I got to travel. I am a much more confident teacher and I know I can do hard things and get a long with hard people. The other great thing about ILP's program is that you are given vacation days. You get plenty of time to explore the city you live in but also time to see other parts of the world you are close to. I think this experience is totally what you make of it, if you go about it with a good attitude and are willing to get out and do things it will be a great experience. I do not regret choosing ILP at all and I would 100% recommend it for anyone! Some advice for anyone going on the program: Treat teaching like a job; all jobs take work and have frustrations but there are rewarding times like when 14 year olds pull together Shakespeare and you still don't know how. When you aren't teaching get out and see the city you are in! I don't care if it is -20 degrees and a blizzard or 110 and humid. Netflix will be there when you get home; you won't always be a 23 minute metro ride from St. Basils Cathedral. read more

I volunteered in China with ILP and then went back again to Russia and loved loved loved both experiences. My first semester in China was incredible: it was a bit rough at first living abroad in such a different culture but I loved teaching and my kids (even on the hard days) and got to see so much of the country and culture. I made such good friends on my China program and couldn't stop thinking about going again, so I decided to go spend a semester in Russia with ILP as a head teacher. I'm so glad I didn't just do ILP once! In Russia, I got very close to my host family, and came home with life-long friends and memories. The entire time i was there, I felt safe, listened to, and comfortable knowing I had in-country resources and ILP staff in Utah who were informed about what was happening on my semesters. For me, ILP was exactly what I was looking for -- the chance to not just visit a country, but live there and truly soak up the culture and the whole experience of living somewhere new. I was able to do so much traveling around countries that you typically don't get to travel to. My parents came to visit me after my semester in Russia which was a lovely way to show them all about this country I had totally fallen in love with. They ended up loving Russia just as much as me. Would absolutely recommend ILP to someone who wants to make a difference and do some traveling. read more

I looked into the ILP program for well over a year before I signed a contract and started packing my bags. For a year, ILP staff was on top of it with answering any questions I had about the various programs. I was accepted for a volunteer program and was ecstatic, shortly after, I heard about the professional program in Thailand and Taiwan and pulled my volunteer application. I was a semester and a half away from graduating with my bachelors and I decided I would apply for the paid program to teach in Taiwan. Over a year later, I am graduated and am currently teaching at an elementary school in Taiwan thanks to ILP and their professional program. The method used to teach is really the best way I can think about teaching a foreign language and seeing it in the school, it really works. I love my job and I will be here for at least a year. I love seeing these kids everyday and being called Teacha Sarah puts a smile on my face any time of the day. ILP made it possible for me to teach at this amazing school and I would recommend this program to anyone who is willing to expound their world view and truly find yourself and your ability to love through a different culture and people. It's hard some days, but so is everything that is worth living for. I have absolutely fallen in love with the country of Taiwan and each and every one of the kids I have the opportunity to teach. read more

Two of my daughters have enjoyed different ILP semesters, one to China, the other to Thailand. And, one daughter went again as a head teacher, Both of my daughters greatly benefited from their participation, each gaining valuable leadership and organizational skills, learning from their responsibilities with the classroom, and dealing with the students and staff at the location. Plus, each had terrific travel opportunities in country and the surrounding area. Great friends were made, and these relationships continue, enriching each daughter. I am impressed in the care and attention ILP takes to design each semester in the respective country and each school location. I did not feel, at the time their participation, any concern about a lack of available information re: the program, the country, the facilities, etc., nor a lack of preparation for living abroad. ILP does a great job having this type of information available to ensure their participants are prepared. I would certainly recommend ILP to other students and their parents for those seeking a rewarding working/teaching experience while living abroad. read more

I loved my time with ILP. I went to Moscow, Russia from January to June of 2019, and I loved it. I got so close with my host family. I was able to see so much of the city. The metro system is awesome to get you all over the city, and you get a pass from the program. I taught from 4:30-7:30 Monday-Friday, then had the mornings and weekends to do whatever we wanted! I fell in love with the culture, the food, the people, not to mention the kiddos. I absolutely adored my sweet kids. I loved teaching so much I went through a life crisis during my semester thinking I needed to change my major to teaching. ILP was very supportive throughout as well. I never felt unsafe or abandoned because of the guidelines they set. My head teacher was phenomenal in helping us lesson plan, find ideas, and manage the classroom. I want to go back as many times as possible. You won't regret volunteering with ILP read more

I LOVED my ILP experience! I did two semesters with them, one in China and one in Thailand. Compared to other programs I was looking into ILP was by far the most affordable. They made sure that me and the other girls I was volunteering with got plenty of time off for vacations and we had a great coordinator to help us plan our trips and book train/plane tickets. The kids were adorable and so much fun to teach! My last trip was a few years ago and I still am in contact with some of my students! Some of my best friends were made on this program and I am so grateful for the many ways going with ILP has blessed my life. The staff in the office was so nice and helpful! I always felt like I could call in with any questions I had and someone was always happy to help me. I love ILP! read more

I LOVED my experience being an ILP volunteer in Russia! My favorite part of the experience was the many opportunities to see what it is like to live there vs going on vacation there. Living with a host family, going to "work" each day with the cutest kids that I fell in love with, taking weekly classes myself to learn the language and having a local Russian who was there to support us and taught us so much about the culture, all gave me a much more rich experience than I could have imagined. There was support available for teaching too from an experienced teacher so I never felt lost trying to plan my lessons. There was also time for Fun and weekend travel which was amazing. It was also affordable. One of my favorite life memories! read more

ILP is a wonderful program! They are very organized and their mission is so important. The directors really care about each and every one of their volunteers. I was able to go to Moscow, Russia with ILP for about four months. While there, I taught English to kids, met new people, tried new food, and experienced an amazing culture that I never thought I would love so much. I am so incredibly grateful for my time in Russia. It changed my entire life, and I hope to go somewhere with ILP again. I will never forget the lifelong friendships I made there, or the gorgeous country itself. I grew so much from my experience, and I don't regret it at all. I highly recommend looking into ILP! read more

ILP IS THE BEST. I went with them to China, Thailand, Dominican Republic, and Poland and it was truly the best time of my life. I met all of my best friends, taught the cutest kids, and went on the greatest adventures. Living in another country is something everyone should experience. You learn so much about yourself and others and your love for the people and their country grows more than you could ever imagine. The world is incredible. I will never forget my experiences and i'm so grateful to ILP for that! I still talk about ILP every single day and want everyone to sign up with them because they're that great and you will not regret going! read more

I cannot thank ILP for all that they do in providing such an incredible experience to all of their English teachers. I made memories that I will keep forever because of ILP. Living in Thailand was an opportunity that I'll never forget. I was able to grow as an individual and travel throughout the beautiful country. ILP provides their volunteers with so much information regarding their country to help them feel prepared and excited for their semester. Their blog posts and country webpages were so informational and helpful! ILP is such a great organization, I refer them to anyone who is looking for an incredible life experience. read more

I volunteered with ILP for 4 semesters in China and Thailand, as well as teaching for one year with their professional program in Taiwan. Every experience I had with ILP was amazing! The experiences I had were life changing and taught me so much about myself, others, and the world around me. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend their programs to anyone! The staff are great and are always there and happy to talk to anyone with questions, and they continue to keep in contact while you are abroad. I felt well taken care of and safe during all of my time working with them. read more

My time with ILP was a total letdown. Frustrated doesn't even begin to cover it. The advertised experience was way off from what actually went down. I won't go into specifics, but safety was a serious concern, and ILP just didn't want to hear it. Instead of addressing the issues, they brushed them off and blamed others. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this program to my worst enemy. If you're considering it, think twice. It's not worth the headache and feeling like your safety doesn't matter. Save yourself the trouble and look elsewhere. read more

I miss my time in China so much! I went 2 years ago and I've been back twice already and already planing a third! It for sure was difficult to adjust at first but I had amazing teachers and friends that made it so much easier and made my time there great! You have to go with an open mind and don't expect it will be easy breezy! It never is when you travel across the world! I still have a great relationship with the Chinese teachers and the students and their families, they are always so happy when I come to visit! read more

Both of our girls have worked as volunteers with ILP. And they loved it! As parents we couldn't have been happier. Our oldest worked in Lithuania, Ukraine and China. Our 2nd daughter worked in China and Thailand. ILP always insures their safety and was amazing at helping us with any needs we had. Our girls loved the people they met, the teaching experiences and traveling. They both said they would highly recommend it to any of their friends. We are excited for our son to be able to have the same experiences. read more

I went to Romania with ILP 3 years ago and I still talk about it like it happened yesterday! The experience was amazing and I really grew as a person. Their were a couple hiccups when I was over there and the staff and directors we so quick to respond and help smooth out everything! I will always recommend ILP to people, if I ever have the chance to go again I wouldn't hesitate for a second. They really are the best and you will get an experience you will never forget and that will change your life! :D read more

I LOVED my experience with ILP. I went to the Dominican Republic over the summer a couple of years ago, and I still think about the people all the time. Teaching the underprivileged children was more of a learning experience for me than it was them. The Dominican Republic opened my eyes and made me grateful for everything that I have been given. ILP is an awesome program and gives us the opportunity to travel and see the world while serving and changing lives in an affordable way. read more

I haven't heard anything but good things with ILP. This program offers the perfect opportunity to serve, travel to unique places, make new friends, and grow personally. Two of my sisters have gone to teach English with ILP- they have lasting memories, lessons and friends from their experiences. I've been able to see how wonderful ILP is through them as they continue to reminisce on their memories. Thank you for providing such wonderful opportunities ILP!! read more