Program Reviews

When I first received my placement I was a bit disappointed. Like the dozens of other applicants I had list my preferences for the south or by Bangkok. Instead, I was placed in a Nakhon Phanom, a small town in Northeast Thailand right on the border with Laos. I could not be happier with my placement. Here I was able to immerse myself fully into my role as an educator and apart of my Isan community. The unique placement allowed for a very special experience. My students, the residents and my co teachers quickly welcomed me into their tight knit family that only a small town could boast. Students quickly learned that I loved Thai food and would give me various snacks to try. Residents would see me in town and give me lifts when it was too hot for me to be walking. Or give free Hong Thong and take me to bars just after one meeting. Co teachers would literally come to my house to check in on me when sick. While I didn’t get to experience the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or the beautiful beaches, I got something much more meaningful and precious. I had a new family. I am so grateful for my placement in the Amazing Isan region.

I taught with OEG for the second semester of the 2018 school year, and OEG was, and still continues to be even a year after my employment with them, a fantastic resource for interfacing with the infamously bureaucratic Thai immigration system. Most recently, I've received help with employment documents relating to Thai immigration, and what is usually a never ending ordeal of paperwork has been made pretty simple on my end with their great approachability and responsiveness. Not to mention that this help is only necessary because I am teaching in Thailand again this year due to my first experience being so great.

For your first experience in Thailand, OEG is the perfect choice because they provide you with an orientation that gets you acquainted with other new teachers and support staff as well as the basics of Thai language and culture. Once you get to your school, OEG provides support which makes it easier to get the necessary documentation to stay and work in Thailand and their support staff, many of whom are teachers here as well, are extremely friendly and helpful with any questions you might have.

Managing your expectations for the school facilities in Thailand is important, but most schools, from what I've heard and in my personal experience, have the means to accommodate any teaching style with enough effort on the teacher's part. If you use PowerPoint in the classroom, computers and classroom projectors are quite common. You will always at least have a blackboard and chalk, but if you're placed in a city you'll almost certainly have more. The school I was placed at had TVs in the classroom as well as a whiteboard and projector, and even air conditioning in most of the classrooms.

Overall I completely recommend this program and had nothing but good experiences in regards to everything OEG provided. If you want to teach abroad and haven't dealt with the Thai employment system before, doing this program is undeniably the best way to go. The initial cost is nothing compared to the information and experience it provides you with, and it makes your future trips abroad much easier to manage.

After I desired a shift in my career path, I applied to the program because it seemed like a great, immersive, but short-term opportunity. It turned out to be an excellent decision, and I have no doubt it will be for you too. CIEE is there with you every step of the way and streamlines the process - so whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned traveler, you'll be confident getting on that plane.

You can choose your preference for what age group you want to teach, so the sooner you apply, the better! You will likely teach a mix of different grades, which makes for a lot of fun. As far as how much "lesson planning" - that's up to you and the teachers. For some classes, I would propose things via email to teachers (like cultural presentations and games about Thanksgiving, etc), and they were thrilled. Other teachers preferred me to assist, rather than to lead. Both sides of this were really valuable, however!

I took this TEFL certification through CIEE to go with my teach abroad program in South Korea, Spring 2020. At first, I really thought the course was a little overwhelming, it did seem like there was always so much to do and working full-time did leave me a little nervous. Fortunately, you develop a routine with this course incredibly quick and the tutors are always understanding and supportive. Before you realise it, you've already completed the course and you're closer to your next destination!

The beginning of the course was easy and light to get you settled in the first week. They help you will the function of the website and process you will go through. I had an excellent class who were involved in the chats. I would say the hardest part was to remember to go back into the discussion board and do a follow up on the you classmates comments. If you truly want to get help with teaching ESL this course will help you with all of the basics and has a great community to assist you. I wish you all the best and Join CIEE.

My transition to Madrid was nothing but easy and carefree due to the helpful and constant support I felt from the CIEE staff. Their pre-departure guides were available for step by step instruction which made the process stress free. Once arriving to Madrid, the orientation taught me what I needed to know about living in this new city, my job, and allowed me to meet new friends! I always felt I could ask for help if needed! Overall, teaching English to students has been such a fun and rewarding experience that I would recommend for anyone wanting to grow and discover new places!

I thought that it was an excellent program, especially for those that have no teaching experience. This program helped me to create lesson plans, and introduced me to some problems that I could face as a future ESL teacher. I think that this program allowed me to learn more about myself, and what kind of methods that I gravitate towards. It also taught me what some of my weaknesses are and how to improve them. As a beginner ESL teacher, I found thus very useful, and it set me on the right track for my ESL career.

CIEE's online modules were entertaining and fun. They were very well designed, by people who really understand how to teach. There was a good mix of readings, videos, quizzes, conversations, and interactive challenges.
My tutor was passionate about producing good English teachers, and she pushed each of us to challenge ourselves and become the best teachers we could be.
This course includes a practicum, and there was a lot of support provided to help us find a great practicum that suited our needs. CIEE TEFL has connections with schools all over the country that are familiar with TEFL trainees, and happy to host you. This is a great connection to have, as schools can sometimes be hesitant to take on a TEFL trainee if they aren't familiar with the TEFL program.
I also liked the emphasis on the many varied challenges of teaching abroad, and how you can rise to them! So overall, a great experience that I would definitely recommend to any aspiring English teacher!

I have been very happy with my choice to go abroad with CIEE so far. I am currently in South Korea, a few months into my program, and CIEE has continued to support me even once I arrived. I applied to the EPIK program through CIEE and during that entire application process I had constant support and communication through an advisor. CIEE looked over my application and additional materials to make sure I was as prepared as possible. Although it might be a bit pricey, with the TEFL certification included, it was well worth the price in my opinion because they act as a security network if you need it. Also you gain a certification which you can use anywhere and anytime. Once you arrive in Korea there is also an orientation where you can meet other English teachers in the program.

I was a bit skeptical about taking this class. I've never taken an online class, so I was a bit nervous going into it, but I'm now in week eight of the course and am happy with my decision to go through with it. I have an already busy schedule, so being able to plan when I take my class around my existing schedule has made my life significantly easier than it would have been if I'd taken a traditional in person class. I wasn't so sure how it would work out being in contact with classmates and my tutor when I was having difficulty, but my tutor, Lynn, is EXCELLENT and in constant communication. I don't believe I've ever once sent her a message that she didn't respond within a few hours. Even from far away, she is incredibly present.
In February I will be joining CIEE and a few of my classmates in South Korea where I will be teaching for a year. It's been exciting to get to know them, if only virtually. Comparing and contrasting what my experience may be like with others going to different countries reminds me of just how far this work can go!