CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Program Reviews

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Ana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE TEFL: Great overall program (especially to prepare for in-person teaching)

I decided to get my TEFL certification after doing an exchange year abroad (which had partially been supported by CIEE). Throughout the program, the CIEE staff and course instructor were very helpful with any questions, etc. I found this TEFL program to be premier compared to others, in that it is 150 hours in total, with a mandatory practicum, which truly helps apply what you learn in the course to a real-life situation. I had also been able to find my practicum location relatively easily with help from CIEE, which was a big relief for me. The actual course portion was detailed, touching base on a variety of areas that a TEFL teacher should be aware of. The graded assignments were also good practice to reinforce key points, especially when it came to lesson planning. All in all, my experience taking this course was positive, and it has helped me a lot in my current tutoring positions.

Pros
  • Pretty flexible due to the online format
  • Can get help afterwards in finding a teaching placement
  • Plethora of resources to help with teaching
Cons
  • Focuses on mainly in-person teaching (not so much for online teaching)
  • May be more time-consuming than initially thought (try to not do the course when your particularly busy)
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Ruth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE TEFL in preparation for Teach Abroad in Madrid, Spain

The CIEE TEFL program was perfect for me after graduating college. It prepared me to teach english abroad in many ways, from reminders on english grammar to teaching techniques to detailed explanations on how to create a lesson plan and eventually put it to use! The staff was extremely kind and supportive, and even allowed me an extension on my practicum when I was too busy to get it done in the allotted time. I also took the course online which made it very convenient. With online classes, it is hard to make the experience interactive. However, with this class, I felt a bond with my classmates through peer reviews, discussions in class, and discussion boards. My instructors were both incredible and made learning really fun, which I appreciated since it also gave a great example of how a good teacher guides their students to acquiring language and new information.

Pros
  • The class was convenient and effective in communicating how to teach english as a foreign or other language.
  • It was worth the time spent, especially with the practicum hours
  • It gave me access to tons of resources and connections for teaching abroad.
Cons
  • additional fee for practicum extension
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Nicole
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE TEFL prep for Thailand

Program was good I definitely feel like the first couple of modules were more useful then the last. it started getting very repetitive but I did learn a lot of great useful ideas for when I’m teaching abroad! I thought my teacher Alix was great and provided us with good examples and great feedback. I thought doing the graded assignments were interesting because it allowed us to make lesson plans as if we were teachers. overall I do think this class helped prepare me better for teaching abroad! thank you!

Pros
  • Learned new things regarding grammar
  • Gained useful info for teaching
  • Learned about different cultures
Cons
  • Canvas sometimes was glitchy
  • Became repetitive
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Zara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Success

The CIEE short term teach english program is a great experience. CIEE provides a lot of support during the lead up to the program and throughout. The visa process and the housing search are the most stressful aspects of the process, and CIEE really helped provide support. The one downside of the program is the price. You have to pay a CIEE fee, which I think is a bit too expensive. If you apply directly through the ministry, I believe it is free, however you do not have the guarantee of being in Madrid.

Pros
  • Great city
  • Learn Spanish
  • Friendly locals
Cons
  • A lot of variety in the type of school you could be placed in
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Grace
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible Experience, Time Management Needed

The CIEE team is marvelous. They respons promptly to questions about enrolling and any questions during the course. My experience with the course instructor was also wonderful. CIEE has recruited really knowledgeable people who are so excited to share everything they know about the TEFL field with you, which makes the prospect of the practicum less daunting. The online platform is fairly intuitive, but engagement with classmates is really what you make it. You get out what you put in. A word of caution, though: 11 weeks goes by FAST. There is a lot of material to get through, plus assignments, so it's important to stay on top of it. When the website suggests 2-3 hours per day, take it seriously.

Pros
  • A lot of good content on teaching techniques
  • Approachable and helpful instructors
  • CIEE is really supportive the whole way through
Cons
  • Fast-paced; would be hard to catch up if you fell behind
  • Goes over grammar, but there's little time spent solidifying the knowledge together
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Camila
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I loved this program

This program offers significant content and live sessions for those who look forward to entering the teaching field, and for those who want to further their education. I've been an English teacher for a while and wanted to get extra training in ESL. Therefore, I made the decision to join this program. The flexibility of the course and the support that the CIEE team offers, encourages you to accomplish your goals successfully. I'm glad I took this program. I was able to add this experience to my resume and find more job opportunities.

Pros
  • Online program
  • Flexibility
  • Content
Cons
  • It was difficult to find a place for the practicum until I realized that CIEE helps you find it, too.
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Alexis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teach English Abroad Spain CiEE

This program made moving abroad very smooth! They help so much with figuring out paperwork that I personally would have been so lost with. They also make sure to keep in contact with you when you’re abroad and respond to any questions or problems you may run into fast. Getting to travel on the weekends and being able to connect with people from all over the world is something I very much appreciate about the program I did! I have now done two programs with them and definitely would recommend them to anyone!!!

Pros
  • Travel Europe
  • Immerse in another culture
  • Opportunity to try to learn another language
Cons
  • they don’t help with finding housing
  • $1000 a month means you really have to budget
  • homesick at times
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Cimone
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience Abroad Thanks to CIEE

Here is my story and I hope it helps others who are interested in teaching abroad understand the impact that it can have on your life. I first found CIEE at the end of 2016. I knew that I wanted to teach abroad, but I wasn’t sure how to get started. When I first applied, I was paired up with Luke Beland, who to this day I cannot express the amount of appreciation I have for him. I wanted to work in the public school system and after completing my TEFL and my application, I interviewed with the Epik program but unfortunately due to a mistake on my end, I was not given the position. Luke called me to let me know of the issue and that I couldn’t continue with public schools, but he told me that it wasn’t too late and that I could move my application to a hagwon. There were only 2 weeks left, so I knew I had to work hard to get the chance to go in 2017. After I completed my end, he got me an interview with a hagwon in Paju and I passed! I was so excited that I was finally going to go to Korea! He made the process for pre-departure very easy, including the visa process. When I arrived in Korea, I did experience a bit of a culture shock. I thought my work ethic was superb but seeing the long hours and hard work from the Korean teachers and their expectations was next level. It wasn’t to the point that I would quit or felt overwhelmed, but it definitely made me work harder and become more flexible. CIEE set the expectations for me beforehand and in my interview, I was told most of the tasks I would need to complete but doing and seeing it in person is a little different. I’m happy to say that rising to the challenge helped me grow in ways I didn’t know was possible. That’s why I would like to stress to people who are interested in going abroad that being flexible and accepting of the country’s culture (including the work culture) is crucial to getting the most out of the experience in a positive way. CIEE did offer an orientation and multiple get togethers in my first year. I was happy to meet other teachers that would be in a short distance from me. Although I was in Paju and the meeting was in Seoul, it wasn’t hard to get to. Korea’s public transportation is really the best in the world, in my opinion, and going to the orientation prepared me for using it during my stay. I was happy to also meet the in-country team that would be supporting me during my time, although I think I contacted Luke more and he was always willing to help.
My salary was standard, as all my other friends who didn’t use CIEE, received the same pay. I know people might think 2.1 KRW isn’t a lot for the month, but when you don’t need to pay rent, utilities, TV, etc. it really goes a long way. I was able to use that money to travel all around Korea and experience so many of their different festivals. I fell in love with country, the job, and the kids. I decided after my contract ended, to stay on with my hagwon. I was promoted to Head Foreign Teacher. Soon after, I got married and due to my husband’s job location, we relocated to Gimpo, where I had my first child. The hagwon in Gimpo was definitely a bit more demanding, which made me understand that not all hagwons are the same and I really appreciated the one that Luke set me up with. I eventually moved back to the States with my husband and now 2 children. Besides meeting my other half and having my two bundles of joy, I took so much away from my time in Korea. I feel truly fortunate to have had this amazing experience and it all started with CIEE and a coordinator who did not give up on me, even when things didn’t look so rosy. So, if you are reading this, I hope you can take away from it that getting the right organization to help you in the beginning is very important! It’s important to get off on the right foot and to feel supported as the first year can be the most difficult due to assimilating to a new culture. Also, being open and flexible will help you not to take things so harshly and can eliminate a lot of the stress that may come from going abroad. It helps you appreciate the opportunity you have and to take full advantage of learning and adapting to a new culture. Finally, if you are looking for a game changer in your life, this might really be a program for you!

Pros
  • Being fully supported
  • Learning a new culture and gaining new skills
  • Seeing the beauty that is Korea
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you for your sharing your story, Cimone! It's amazing how teaching in South Korea had such a profound impact on your life.

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Taylor
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A HUGE help in getting me started on my S.Korea journey!

I'm really thankful I decided to go with CIEE when I initially made the decision to teach English abroad in South Korea. I chose to go the public school/EPIK route, and, as someone who has no experience with teaching, I was intimidated by the program's application. CIEE provided me with LOTS of resources (lesson plan tips, an EPIK application guide) that made me feel much more confident and organized during the process. I was also really impressed with how communicative they were and how quickly they responded to all my questions (which was A LOT since EPIK and the visa require a lot of documentation). The TEFL course was helpful - and, in my case, my pay increased for having the certification. Even after my arrival in Korea, CIEE provided support, messaged to see how my experience was going, and connected me to other CIEE staff nearby in case I needed anything.

If you're thinking about teaching abroad in Korea, I highly recommend going through CIEE. Having the extra support before and after arriving can take so much stress off your plate - and your priority should be on having a once and a lifetime experience!

Pros
  • Was able to connect with others who were going to South Korea
  • Due to CIEE's connections I was able to be located in Seoul as someone dropped out last minute.
Cons
  • This was during the pandemic so there were a lot of restrictions on travel.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you so much for your recommendation, Taylor. We're so glad you valued CIEE's support with the EPIK application process as well as after arriving in South Korea.

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Kaelyn
1/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Review

Normally, I don’t write and post reviews, but I felt like I needed to warn others about CIEE. CIEE is an organization that is just full of lies. I’m actually kind of sad to write negatively about them because I really did have a very positive experience doing a study abroad program through them back in college. Therefore, I assumed I would have an equally positive experience doing a teach abroad program through them. Unfortunately, I assumed wrong. When I received my first contract offer from Luke Beland, the CIEE person in charge of communicating about job offers, I had many questions. I wanted to make sure that this was a good offer. He said that I probably wouldn’t get another offer and I should just accept the one I was given. He also assured me that 2.2 million won was much higher than the average salary because most teachers only get paid 2.1 million won. In fact, he was quite wrong. For a kindergarten hagwon, a 9am-6pm job, the pay should be at least 2.4/2.5 million won for all the work you must do. I asked him if he had any concerns about the contract and he told me no. Yet, this job couldn’t have been with a worse hagwon. The director of the hagwon had me work at 3 different branches within my 4 months of being in Korea. I never felt like I ever got into a routine because I was constantly being moved from school to school. For 2 of those months, I had to commute back and forth between 2 different schools, which were on opposite sides of the city, and which was also time-consuming and exhausting. I purposely chose the hagwon route so I would only be at one school, so obviously I was upset. There were also so many changes, extra work not specified in the contract, and a lack of help or understanding from CIEE. I paid CIEE all this money for support, yet Brad, who is supposed to be your go-to in-country support, continued to gaslight me and make me seem like everything I was going through was “normal.” In fact, none of it was normal, as I found out after talking to other foreign teachers who had been teaching at hagwons in Korea for several years. In fact, he assured me that everyone who used CIEE has had positive experiences at this particular hagwon. Actually, 5 different foreign teachers who also used CIEE have quit from this hagwon in the 5 months that I have been living and working in Korea. So that was another lie they told me. Our orientation was also a joke and was really just an excuse to eat one dinner together and then have the rest be free time. We weren’t actually given any advice on how to be good teachers or anything related to teaching. I felt burnt-out after only 3 months. In fact, I had to move to an apartment all the way across the city, a 12km distance, in a completely different neighborhood in order to be closer to my new school. This particular hagwon has many different issues. First of all, there was no support whatsoever for the foreign teachers. I was thrown into my new school with my new kindergarten class with no help or guidance, yet I was expected to do everything perfectly. Some of the students were also really badly behaved, but because their parents were paying money to the school, they wouldn’t be kicked out. They would always listen and respect the Korean teacher, but never the foreign teacher, which made classroom management nearly impossible. The foreign teachers were also required to pretty much do everything, except talk to the student’s parents. This means taking the kids to the bathroom, serving them lunch, writing weekly logs, writing weekly comments, and writing monthly report cards for all the students. We also taught up to 9 classes a day, including classes such as Math and Science. In fact, I know some teachers who taught 45 classes a week for only 2.2 million won. We were also in charge of all the special events, which occurred frequently each month. In addition, there was a complete lack of communication between Korean teachers and foreign teachers, and usually the Korean teachers would expect the foreign teachers to guess what they were thinking and get mad when we didn’t do things exactly how they wanted. There were also many last minute projects, last minute requirements, and constant changes to projects/expectations. Even though we had “break” times which were only 30 minutes here and there, we couldn’t really take the break because we had to do all of these other preparation things for classes, events, etc. I couldn’t even relax during lunch since I was constantly serving the kids more food, so by the time I ate, my food was cold. This particular hagwon is also quite cheap, as seen in the very crappy apartments we were given. I know that if I had just used a different recruiter, I would probably have ended up at a much better hagwon and I wouldn’t be leaving my contract early. Unfortunately, my mental health has deteriorated and seeing as this country does not have adequate resources to support me, I had no choice but to leave. While I did enjoy living in Korea itself, the job couldn’t have been worse, and CIEE is a large part to blame for this, seeing as they set me up with this school. Hopefully my review will help others avoid the same HUGE mistake I made choosing CIEE to guide me in this work abroad journey.

Cons
  • Everything
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Kaelyn, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We work hard to support all program participants while setting realistic expectations and I understand your expectations were not met. We are interested in learning about your experience in more detail and encourage you to reach out to use directly.