Program Reviews

Overall I had an excellent experience with CIEE, and would recommend this program to anyone. They did a fantastic job helping support us through the logistical pieces of the visa process, as well as giving great information about what to expect in the role of language assistant and how to excel in this role through the very useful online pre-departure course. Even when there were challenging elements of the paperwork to get to Spain, CIEE was always there to support and did what they could to facilitate the process. The in country training was excellent as well and really helped me feel very well prepared for the first day in the classroom!

Teaching in Chile was a life changing experience. Having the ability to work in another country, gain professional experience, while being exposed to new people and cultures is invaluable to young, up and coming professionals. Chilean people are amazingly friendly and curious, they are always open to a conversation and learning about new people they meet. The independence gained from this experience is also important; it’s a step out into the real world, paying rent, having a work schedule and responsibilities, being 100% dependent on your own decisions and all the life lessons that come with it, and to top it off, learning to do all of these things in language other than English!

CIEE creates a fun, safe, and collaborative environment! I taught in Uttaradit for 6 months and had so much support through CIEE staff, the locals, and the other members of my travel buddies. I had plenty of time on the weekends and holidays to travel, whether that was by myself or with the friends I met along the way. Figuring out the ins and outs of traveling was easy with CIEE. I was paid almost double what locals get paid, so money was never an issue. Things in Thailand tend to be cheap too.

I would 100% recommend the Teach in Thailand program through CIEE. Following college, I had the dream of teaching while traveling abroad, and through this organization, that dream was able to come true. CIEE was affordable, reliable and helped make the pre-departure process go as smooth as possible. I highly advise doing this program, and have absolutely nothing negative to say. This was by far the opportunity of a lifetime! I was able to travel the country, teach the MOST adorable students all while making a surplus of friends.

I had a great experience during my CIEE TEFL certification program. I enjoyed connecting virtually with my classmates and learning more about teaching, from grammar and curriculum to navigating cultural differences in the classroom. The cost was manageable, the schedule of the coursework wasn't too overwhelming and I especially liked the weekly live meetings with a tutor to help you through the program. I walked away feeling empowered to be the best TEFL teacher I can be, and I'd highly recommend this teaching certificate to anyone!

Not only was I learning to be the most efficient ESL teacher I could be, but I was actually enjoying the process of it!
My tutor, Mina, was helpful and insightful every step of the way, she made sure we understood the material and applied it correctly. Belen-- the technical tutor-- was always kind and quick to respond with any question regarding the site, which is very easy to navigate and understand.
The lessons themself were also filled with very useful information that I apply to this day, there's no way to explain it further, you'll have to try it yourself!

The CIEE TEFL 150-hour course was a great way to become certified to teach English as a second language. First of all, the platform was easily accessible from the app on a phone or a laptop. It should be noted, however, that online meetings can only be accessed through a laptop or computer. The teachers were well-educated, knowledgeable, and very helpful with reminders and outside support. Plus, there are a variety of people available to help you with any questions you may have, and the response time was almost always within a 24-hour window. It was really great to be able to learn alongside other students and have forums to chat online with the other students. I highly recommend the CIEE TEFL course!

After graduating from college, I was looking for opportunities to teach abroad and CIEE was highly recommended; I am so happy I decided to do this experience with them! Before I even officially applied for the program, I was able to speak with the Teach In Thailand US coordinator to gather details about the program such as pay and housing. I also made frequent calls with her when applying for the program (it's a rigorous process to teach in Asia and I needed a lot of support, CIEE was there for me the whole application process!)They have continued to support me through my teaching and living in Thailand for the past 6 months. I trust this program so much that I decided to sign up for a full year abroad, and it has been the best decision! (bonus perk, you get a stipend for teaching for the entire year and a 10% discount if you sign up for another program with them again). So many non-CIEE teachers that I have spoken to in Thailand have had questionable or difficult experiences with the program they chose to travel and teach with; I can honestly say I have NO complaints with my experience with CIEE! The support you have with the team in Thailand is so amazing; I've gotten support anywhere from step-by-step Visa application instructions to restaurant and hostel recommendations! If you are wanting to teach abroad, I would DEFINITELY go with CIEE

After graduating college I decided that I wanted to teach abroad. When I researched programs CIEE was one of the first ones to come up. CIEE provided many unique teaching opportunities that really stuck out to me. I decided to apply for their 12 month Teach in Thailand Program, and it was the best decision I have made! CIEE supported me through every step of the application process. Even as I've been teaching and living here for nearly half a year they are still here to support me. I have grown so much through this experience and can not wait to see what the next few months hold!

I had a great experience with CIEE's Teach in Spain program. Personally, I think it is worth the start up costs as the assistance and guidance CIEE provides before departure as well as upon arrival and the whole time you are abroad is so helpful. The visa application process can be a nightmare and a lot of red tape, but CIEE breaks it down for you. I trust their staff a lot and have had very positive experiences with them. One staff member even helped my friend out a lot when she had to pull out of the program last minute. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to go out of their comfort zone and do something unique! It has been a great first year post-college for me.