Program Reviews

CIEE is a great program. They made the visa process very easy. They connect with the AuxMadrid program in Spain which is excellent. I couldn't be more satisfied. You are a Language and Cultural Assistant in the community of Madrid. You will be placed at a school of your choosing for this program, either an elementary school or secondary school. I choose secondary and I am very happy because I teach middle schoolers and high schoolers. You always have a co-teacher, because you are only the assistant. You do not need to be in charge of grading or classroom management, what could be better than that!

It is FREE to teach in spain when applying through the government. The only difference you will find when applying through CIEE is their advertised "comprehensive support" including health insurance and orientation programs. The health insurance only covers emergencies, so you have to pay entirely out of pocket to see any doctor in any other circumstance. It also does not cover ANY public medical facilities, so you have to see expensive private doctors who you must pay out of pocket and then simply hope the insurance company (itself owned by CIEE -- i.e. a racket) pays you back at some point. The "support" is almost exclusively email-based and all the information they provide is readily available online. The orientation information is also readily available for free. Basically, you're paying almost 3000 USD for a week in a hotel and an email address to which you can direct questions. Not worth it. None of the answers provide any information that you can't just google. The only redeeming quality, as far as I'm aware, is that the Spanish government will place you in any Spanish city while CIEE guarantees a place in the Community of Madrid (but not the center of Madrid). Unless you have never traveled overseas and will be completely overwhelmed by any bureaucratic or administrative processes, don't waste your money.

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!

So I paid the fee, I don't wanna repeat how much cause it just reminds me of what I lost. I came late because of Covid restrictions, and they literally didn't give me a single dollar for food, or hotel accommodation as promised. They didn't even recommend me a place to stay.

On top of that, I had to go to the emergency room for tonsilitis and their insurance policy has ignored me for 5 months about my reimbursement. I had an emergency and called the 24/7 emergency hotline (i mean i do pay for it) the representative picked up as if I was a burden. I wasn't even calling at a weird time it was 10am!

I got ripped off. They made me read my documents myself, do everything myself, and when
I emailed them for help, they just said "read the document".

This isn't my first studyabroad program. I've gone abroad with API, Barcelona SAE, and they were absolutely accomodating. They were helpful. Picked up the phone when I had emergencies even at 2am without complaint. One girl from Barcelona SAE helped me by just being my mentor and talking to me when I felt homesick.

I'm giving them a 5 because the people in the program are pretty nice. I'd apply through the ministry, Fullbright, or any other study abroad program.

I'll say one nice thing, but if you have never traveled abroad and want someone to hold your hand, I guess CIEE would be your last choice. There are other great third parties that will actually use your money to help you.

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!

The process of moving to Spain is confusing. Moving during a pandemic is even more complicated, with constantly changing legal restrictions. CIEE made an overwhelming process manageable by providing step-by-step guides for everything: applying for a VISA, registering as a Spanish resident, getting a residency card, etc. Additionally, they sent out periodic email updates to participants letting us know about travel restrictions and curfew changes throughout the year. CIEE does carry a hefty price tag, which is why some auxiliars opt to apply directly through the Spanish government. However, when I talked to participants who applied through the govt, I was often shocked by how little information they were provided with. They had to figure out on their own how to get a TIE card, how to renew for the next year, etc. For me, CIEE was worth it.

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.