Program Reviews

This program has been so fun! Obviously there are going to be adjustments and learning curves. Paperwork and appointments are stressful and honestly once you move to Madrid it is up to you (and your school) to figure out/keep track of bank/visa appointments, but the orientation was very comprehensive and everyone in your group goes through the same process as you which definitely helps! I have yet to have a boring weekend and even small things like going to the store or trips to work are all the more interesting in a completely new setting! I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in getting a look at real life in Spain!

I loved this program! There is so much support offered for the government processes (visa, tie, opening a bank account, ect) and any of my questions were answered very quickly over email or text message. There was also an orientation provided in Spain when I landed which gave me the opportunity to ask questions, learn more, and fill out necessary paperwork with help and guidance on the spot.
One thing is your school placement may be far from the center of Madrid. For example, my school is about an hour and a half away on the metro or an hour on the bus which I do not mind but some people may. No program is perfect but CIEE provided so much support and guidance it was worth the cost in my opinion.

I have had a good experience in Madrid so far. CIEE provides a good foundation for preparing for your departure such as VISA and appointment help, as well as in-country support and help. Madrid is an incredible city with many things to do however moving abroad in any capacity is going to have its downsides such as the language barrier and a feeling of isolation, however, CIEE does provide good social support as there are so many other American teaching assistants in Madrid to connect with. I am only about 1.5 months into my program and although I have dealt with the challenges of moving to a new country with a different language it can only go up from here and I have CIEE to turn to with any questions.

CIEE provided me all of the necessary steps to successfully move internationally. Additionally, whenever I needed more assistance than what I could find on their extensive Canvas course, I always got an email response to my question in less than 24-48 hours. Even more, the group of people who are selected to participate in this program are like minded. As a result of this, I have made incredible friends who share my values and beliefs. The Community of Madrid bilingual program with which we work through CIEE allows us time and energy to pursue travel opportunities, explore new areas, and try new activities and hobbies. Finally, I participated in the immersion program which gave me the opportunity to live with a host family for a month and take Spanish language classes where I learned so much about Spanish culture, customs, and of course, the language!

My experience has been nothing short of amazing. CIEE has done an incredible job getting me to where I needed and provided help in every step. Even something so small as directions to the desk at the airport on the first day of getting to Madrid. I´m so lucky that I chose to work in Madrid through CIEE because there is 24 hour support and many ways to meet people through the program. A few of my closest friends I´ve made here were in my orientation group. Speaking of orientation, CIEE did an amazing job breaking down the most beneficial points to know, while not keeping us there for hours at a time (the jetlag was real!), and they understood that.

CIEE was a great choice for me when choosing to teach abroad. It was something I wanted to do for a few years. After researching several other teach abroad programs, CIEE offered the best value for my money. Once accepted into the program the hand-holding began with detailed steps and timelines. Believe me this is what you want when moving overseas. Take the time to read and re-read everything CIEE sends your way. It is super helpful and eased a lot of nerves when it came to the process. Once in country, expect the same helpfulness and knowledge.

Before deciding to teach abroad, I didn’t know the amount of tedious work that goes into the VISA process, getting Insurance, job guarantee, and more. If It weren’t for the amazing support from CIEE every single step of the way, I would not of even made It here. They break down every single step, and make It so easy. It was and continues to be so comforting to know that they are there to answer every question. Their unwavering support didn’t stop once we arrived either. Orientation was so informative and helpful. They made what could be a daunting and overwhelming experience feel simple and exciting. I cannot recommend CIEE enough.

This class went by super quick even though it was 10 weeks long. The teacher was amazing and always responded really fast and was always helpful and understanding when something went wrong. I feel a lot more prepared to teach English as a foreign/second language after taking this class. I was also able to make meaningful relationships with my classmates and will be able to stay connected with them even after this class is over. It helped that a lot of my classmates are planning on teaching at the same place as me.

I had never taught before, so I’m very glad I took the CIEE TEFL course! I learned a lot about how to react to different cultures and classroom situations that I will reflect back on during my teaching. I had an excellent teacher who helped me with any questions I had. I was also given the opportunity to create my own lesson plan and receive feedback on it. I also got to interact with other students who also plan to teach abroad! In addition, I’m thankful I was required to get real teaching experience. I would recommend this class to others!

This course was straightforward and easy to keep track of all assignments, due dates, and seminar hours. The course instructor provided great feedback on all written assignments and helped with providing ideas for completing the practicum hours. CIEE was flexible in providing an extension on the practicum hours when I needed more team for the 8 hours of active teaching I had to do, which was extremely helpful in completing. I was able to complete this course while also working full-time. Many others in my course were also using the placement assistance after completion of the course, even though I am not, they seemed like they were getting plenty of support in learning about their new classroom and we had assignments for students to practice on their lesson plans using their new class portfolios they recieved.