Program Reviews

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.

I just wanted to write this because I’m truly impressed with the return on investment from the Teach in Spain program. Spanish bureaucracy in general is a nightmare from what I’ve gathered, but the whole Covid situation makes it so much more ridiculous. But CIEE has been on point every step of the way.

From guiding us through the complex process of getting our visas back home, to welcoming us into Spain and laying out every single step from that point forward. They really do make the insanity that is Spanish bureaucracy as simplified and painless as possible. Their customer service is always amazing, and they're always happy to help resolve whatever issue you’re having. Definitely worth signing up for.

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.

This course offers a ton of great information that is challenging and growing. Make sure you have a few hours a day to spend on this because that is how you will get the most out of the program. If you have the time, I would recommend it in a heartbeat. I had no previous teaching experience so I have been consistently learning and believe that it can benefit me in any type of classroom teaching experience. I love how it goes beyond teaching and includes culture, history, and grammar (which we never learn in school anyway). It is truly an amazing experience!

Different programs offer different levels of support during your time abroad. One of CIEE's biggest selling points is that they offer you continued support during your time abroad in case anything comes up. For a little while during the Coronavirus outbreak CIEE was offering us support and updated information, but then they decided that they were going to shut down their operation suddenly in many countries. Almost all of the 'continued support' that they had to offer us came from email updates. The rest of Spain is working from home, so I do not understand why they couldn't do the same in order to keep us informed. I was already a bit dissapointed with what I got out of the program given the price, and now I want to warn other people of what might happen to them. This is the nightmare scenario of moving abroad, and one of the main reasons to use a program, and CIEE abandoned us. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.