CIEE TEFL Online 150-Hour TEFL Certificate Course

After graduating from Temple with a degree in Chinese, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do. Add in the complications of a worldwide pandemic, and I was stuck at home with a degree I didn't know what to do with, and a part-time job at my university that could and probably would end soon.

Even in the before times, before the pandemic, I was interested in becoming a teacher. Possibly a Mandarin teacher in the United States, or maybe an English teacher in China. As I thought about what to do, I came to the idea that I should get a TEFL certificate. That way, I would have the certification to at least teach English, and I could potentially get a job being an online teacher, both to save up some money and gain experience so that when the world opened up again, I would be able to be a teacher.

The decision to pick CIEE was an easy one. I had already went through CIEE to study abroad in Beijing in 2018, and I had an amazing time. It also helped that as an alum, I got a discount on tuition. So, I signed up for CIEE.

The course itself was entirely online, with weekly video meetings, and assignments that were due on certain days. This is where I began to run into problems; I have ADHD, which makes it quite difficult for me to regulate my time and stay on task. I began to fall behind.

To my immense relief and eternal gratitude, CIEE was more than helpful. After emailing and discussing my situation with the professor, I got accommodations to assist me in my work. I know it's often said that places of learning "want you to succeed," but it's never been more obvious with CIEE. They truly went above and beyond to help me, and I will always recommend it!

Of course, I did have to put in the work. None of CIEE's accommodations would have helped me if I didn't put in the work myself to catch up. They will help you get to where you need to be, but they will not help you float by with minimal effort.

The professors were kind and always answered any questions we had about the material. The material itself was easy to understand, if a bit tedious to work through. The course is designed so that wherever you end up teaching, you will have the tools needed.

I feel that I learned many things that will help me in my journey to become a language teacher, and for anyone considering the same, whether it's a passion for language or a resume builder, I recommend getting certified through CIEE!

The CIEE program is interactive, informative, and thorough. It has taught me so much and I am so glad I decided to complete the program. The teacher is professional and engaging and all of the material is targeted and very informational. The assignments help in understanding and engaging teaching muscles and the live classes really help to cement knowledge and how to apply it.
For anyone considering teaching English as a foreign language courses, this is the one to choose. It costs less than a college class and teaches just as much if not more!

The modules and assignments are relatable and provide practical application of the material presented. The hours and content volume descripted in the recruitment materials are accurate, yet also manageable. Your personal motivation will drive you along with the usefulness of what you are learning. I've been a secondary teacher, administrator and coach however much of what was provided in these modules differed from what was taught in our teacher induction programs. The emphasis on intercultural education is vital for ALL educators!

It's a lot of content to cover and can seem like an overwhelming amount of information at a time, but I'm in my last semester in college during finals season and am still finding the TEFL course manageable! You not only get to learn, but can also meet others who are going through it with you. It's a way to meet cool people and even if we're not going to the same location it's helpful to know you're not alone. It also doesn't hurt that the certification goes with you on your resume as you move forward. Would recommend!

I am very glad I took the CIEE Certification course and I highly recommend it. I didn’t have any prior experience as a teacher before I took the course, but my amazing instructor guided me through the learning process and was always there for me. She helped me understand the different aspects of teaching and the importance of my students’ cultural and personal differences. I liked that the course is structured in a way that allows the students to finish their assignments on their own time. I was able to balance my full-time job and the online classes.

The course does have a lot of reading and content to cover, however it’s very doable. Each unit and module have a VERY well summarized page at the end. My tutor is with us for the whole course, and genuinely cares about my progress. I’m having a lot of fun doing the course, and I’m very excited to take this knowledge through the rest of my life! What is nice about the TEFL certification is that it lasts you for life, so you don’t have to feel pressured to go out right after you finish the class.

I would recommend this program to anyone! It is a lot of work, but it is definitely worth the time and is pretty interesting. Everything you learn is necessary for teaching, and you are constantly engaged with others through conversations between you, your classmates, and the teacher. I also like that it requires the practicum to have you experience life in the classroom. This course really prepares you for teaching abroad, and I am so glad I took it. I will feel more at ease now when teaching, knowing the things I do.

The class is definitely worth the price. The online platform is easy to navigate and very straightforward. The class is very engaging, so be prepared! This class will require a lot of work, but you will learn a lot. There are plenty of additional sources given to you that you may save for future use, and the class really pushes you to interact with your classmates. The weekly live tutorials are optional but VERY helpful. You can get out of this course what you put into it, so make sure to put in the extra effort.