CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Program Reviews

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Lucy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE TEFL Review

The course covered a lot of ground, including pedagogical strategies, technical language content, and behavioral management suggestions. It made me think in advance of what style I should and could employ as a teacher, and got me excited for the program. I liked that their was a live component of the program, with the ability to interact with other students in the class. Receiving feedback on my work submissions also helped keep me on track and motivated. I thought that the quiz part of the program also helped motivate me to review the course material, and being able to re-take these quizzes allowed for some flexibility as well. The discussion groups were one of my favorite parts of the course, because I got to engage in conversation with people from all over the country and discuss our upcoming adventures.

What would you improve about this program?
I would have loved if some aspects of it could have been tailored more specifically to my program. For example, I taught abroad in the Czech Republic, and wished I'd had more knowledge of their academic style beforehand.
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Mayan
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great opportunity

Coming to Korea has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience. The kids I work with are great and always put a smile on my face. I would however recommend going with EPIK (public teaching) over a hagwon if you can get it, because the extent to which you will have to work, and the quality of Hagwons can vary quite a bit. Some people may work six hours a day, some may work nine or ten. It's good to do some thorough research into where you are working. Exploring Seoul has been a wonderful time as well, especially with my new coworkers who have been very gracious in helping me adjust. There's a lot of individual planning that goes into teaching in a Hagwon, so be ready. CIEE was spectacular during the. application process. They were open to communicate at any time, and they even hired a recruiter to place me in a Hagwon. Overall a great place to live and CIEE has been wonderful to work with.

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you Mayan for the positive words. Your comments about Hagwons are absolutely true, and it is something we try and be transparent about from the beginning. The differences between them and EPIK are great, so it's important for teachers to understand the differences and pick which one makes sense for them. It's great to hear that you are enjoying Seoul and I'm sure you will continue to have an amazing experience!

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Dave
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very useful for those who wish to teach abroad

I enrolled in CIEE's TEFL course while I was teaching abroad in Spain. It was 130 online hours plus 20 practicum hours. Our group met weekly online to work on whatever project was needed that week. Our teacher was very helpful and guided us diligently. I got my TEFL certificate in two months and used that TEFL certificate to get a job teaching abroad in Chile. I highly recommend it for those who plan to teach English abroad. Many jobs require it and it shows us many good ESL/EFL teaching strategies.

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Mark
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in South Korea through CIEE

CIEE guided me in getting hired at a school in Gwangju. Although the schedule at the school is demanding (I have 15-20 classes every day), I am happy working here. My manager and co-workers have helped ease my transition into the country and culture, and my students are amazing. It is rewarding to see my students’ progress in their English skills, and I enjoy hearing my students shout my name then give me a huge hug.

Also, CIEE tries to ease teachers’ transitions into the country and culture at an orientation in Seoul. This orientation helped me meet teachers from Gwangju and from all across the country.

Overall, I recommend this program to anyone interested in teaching in South Korea. CIEE tries to make the process as easy as they can; their staff are incredibly supportive.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I enjoy exploring South Korea and think that all teachers should set aside time for that. Make the most of your time in the country—staying in your apartment all the time is not doing that!
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

It's great to hear that you are enjoying your experience so far! I love that you are already seeing the progress of your student's English and I know you will continue to do so.

Enjoy Korea and I'm so happy we were able to get you there!

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Ally
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very Helpful

I’m lucky to have been able to make a few friends through orientation that make it easy to have someone to count on. My other teachers who went through different programs don’t know anyone else besides the teachers in the school, and they wished they had an orientation like mine. It was also nice to have other professionals to ask questions to that are outside of my school. I also liked that I was able to have my emails answered fairly quickly and my recruiter did not tell me lies like what my other co teachers had gone through with their companies. They wish they did something similar to what I found with CIEE and I am very happy that I was able to do this orientation with other teachers who were on the same boat as I was when first coming to Korea.

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you Ally for taking the time to write a review. It's great to hear that you got so much out of the program! I hope you continue to have and build great relationships and enjoy your time in Korea.

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Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision I Have Ever Made

I arrived in Madrid exactly two months ago and have loved every minute of my experience through CIEE. I feel incredibly grateful towards CIEE and all of the support the program has offered; I definitely wouldn't have wanted to begin my career teaching abroad any other way.

CIEE has been helpful from the beginning. The support team is incredibly friendly, and they responded to all of my emails very quickly with genuinely helpful responses. Having to apply for my visa felt extremely daunting and confusing, and CIEE's guidance throughout that process was invaluable.

Their various checklists, being added into a CIEE Facebook group, and the consistent email updates helped me feel assured in my decision to teach abroad and allowed me to communicate with fellow auxiliars before I even got to Madrid.

Once you arrive in Spain, there is a several day orientation, and I could not be more thankful for those few days. I learned so much about Spain, life as an auxiliar in Spain, and so much more. I also met my roommate and a great group of friends during these days. During the orientation, I attended a flamenco show—it was super fun—with my orientation leader and group, and she showed us around the city a little bit. I thought it was cool that CIEE made an effort to introduce us to some of the culture of Spain from the very beginning.

CIEE has also sent an email each month with information about upcoming festivals and events; it's been a very nice way to find out more about what's going on around the city.

I would definitely recommend teaching abroad through CIEE. Without this program, I wouldn't have met the friends that I have now or have felt as comfortable stepping into my role as an auxiliar. Meeting and hearing from auxiliars that didn't go through CIEE has only reinforced how glad I am that I signed up for the program.

Every person I have met that works for CIEE has been very friendly and ready to answer any questions or address any concerns. I am really grateful that I discovered CIEE and am excited to see what is to come in my remaining time as an auxiliar!

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Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE's TEFL Course Offered Invaluable Preparation for Teaching Abroad

I began my TEFL course through CIEE in March 2019 while finishing up my last semester of undergrad, six months before leaving to teach abroad in Spain. I would recommend working ahead if possible; doing so helped me to balance my school work, job, and this course without feeling too overwhelmed.

The course offers amazing resources and modules that prepare you to teach with a diverse range of age levels and group sizes. I also gained insight about working with different cultural groups and was able to refresh my memory on grammar rules (something I hadn't realized I needed!). Since coming to Spain, I have utilized much of what I learned through the TEFL course with my students and in my private tutoring lessons.

My instructor was extremely helpful and accommodating. There were weekly video chat sessions that we had to attend, which I was unable to due to a conflicting work schedule, and she allowed me to watch the recorded sessions on my own time and take notes for credit. She also responded very quickly to all of my questions and messages, and I felt like she genuinely cared about my progress and success in the course.

There is a 20-hour practicum requirement, which initially felt daunting, but I ended up really enjoying my experience. I worked with adults at an ESL center and gained a lot of confidence in my abilities as a teacher. I think the practicum is a very unique part of the TEFL course and am glad that I had the opportunity to do it.

I would highly recommend the TEFL course, especially if you feel unsure about what teaching abroad really entails, because of how much more prepared I now feel in the classroom and in my tutoring sessions.

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Carolina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teach in South Korea

I’m so glad I chose the CIEE program to help me teach in South Korea! Finding a program can be so overwhelming and moving to a country that you don’t know much about can add on to that level of stress. But with CIEE, I felt prepared for my travels and safe in my school decision. CIEE worked with me to help me find a school in the city I wanted to live in, and they helped me find reputable schools with good pay. While in the country, they gave everyone in the program an weekend orientation session where I learned more about Korean culture. It is also where I met other people in the program, and I ended up making lots of connections with other teachers who live all around South Korea and near me. I highly recommend choosing CIEE to go abroad with!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Definitely the language. But luckily, it’s easy to learn how to read Korean.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thanks Carolina for the great review. It was such a pleasure to work with you and I'm glad you felt supported pre-departure and that you had a great time at orientation!

Continue to enjoy your time and always feel free to share photos of your time there :).

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Jonah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching in South Korea Through CIEE

I had a positive experience with CIEE. I wanted to travel to South Korea to teach English with my girlfriend after we both graduated from college. CIEE worked with us and connected us to a school in Korea that hires couples. It was a really good fit and we’re happy CIEE helped us find something that worked for us. The orientation weekend in Seoul was a lot of fun and a great way to connect with other foreign teachers and get to see some of the capital. In general, CIEE is great at making sure you have the resources to connect with other foreigners while here in Korea. Overall, CIEE was very responsive throughout the application process, offered very helpful visa assistance, and gave us immediate in-country support when we arrived. If you want to teach abroad, CIEE can get you there.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make connections as soon as possible. Even if you're normally introverted, you need to be willing to put yourself out there, especially in the first month or two. Finding a group to belong to here is crucial!
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

I'm so happy that you are having a positive experience so far. Your advise and feedback is really appreciated and I hope you continue to love your time in Korea!

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Madeline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE Teach Abroad

While there were definitely some issues with communication and support while I was in America from the US team, I would still recommend this program. The TEFL Certification is very good and easily allows for you to complete it while working or going to school.

The overseas staff is great, and the person in charge of helping people find placements in private schools, Yumi, was very helpful and accommodating. She helped me find a great school quickly due to an unexpected change of plans. She also talked with me through the weekend when I was booking a flight after receiving my visa, even though she was not obligated to do so.

South Korea is a great country to live in, and as a young woman, I feel incredibly safe here. It is also modern and rich with history, so there is a great balance of things to experience.