Program Reviews

Thus far this program has been an excellent experience that has helped me learn to work in an international environment, build my resume, and improve my Spanish, all while getting to live abroad in Madrid. Although not without its own challenges, I would still highly recommend this program.

The pay certainly leaves a lot to be desired. The bulk of my monthly stipend of 900€/month goes towards food and rent. Seemingly, rent prices have been on the rise in recent years and the pay has not increased to match it. I have relied heavily on my own savings for most of my entertainment and travels. Although I would imagine it would be possible to live off the stipend alone, I could not imagine it would be that easy or nearly as fun. While I am on this topic, Learnlight's (the company you work for in Madrid) way of managing and tracking the hours for your monthly work requirement is extremely complicated and confusing. They rely on a rolling balance system that deducts hours worked from a "positive" month (over 50 hours) to make up for hours in a "negative" (under 50 hours) month and then pays you every two or three months at 18€/hour for that balance. It sounds confusing because it is; and if you don't keep a close eye on it you might miss out on some of your compensation.

My experience working with Learnlight has had its ups and downs. I have experienced some disorganization on the part of Learnlight (breakdowns in communication, being provided with the wrong locations of clients, etc...) Although these issues are not too frequent, it can still be a nuisance. That being said, the classroom management software and material provided on their platform is an excellent tool that makes lesson planning easy and efficient once you understand how to use it. Students' feelings about the platform material is mixed but certainly a good starting point.

I feel the two week intensive training provided by Learnlight at the start of the program was sufficient to prepare me for classes. However, it certainly took me a few weeks to really get into the swing of things and build my confidence when teaching classes. Unfortunately, the training did not allow for much time to get settled and find an apartment (which is not as easy of a task as it may sound). I do wish Learnlight provided more support in this process or provided a slightly longer accommodation to provide more time for this process.

What I would recommend to anyone who is interested in this program?
1) Make your visa appointment early (like do it right now!) It's free to make and cancel the appointment and it will save you a lot of anxiety in the future.
2) This is really a personal choice depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to have but set aside some savings and be ready to part with it. Personally, I would recommend upwards of $3,500.
3) Practice your Spanish. It's not an official requirement but I would argue you need some Spanish to get you into many of the companies.
4) Do the grammar course before you go and study it. The more English grammar you know the easier the training is when you arrive and the more confidence you will have in lessons.

Overall this has been a wonderful experience. I heave already gained a lot from this program and I am excited for more to come. Presented again with the choice to go, I would take it 10/10 times-just don't expect to make a fortune!

This program is awesome! I had never been abroad before, but I felt very prepared by CIEE for my adventure abroad. They guide you through everything from getting your visa to what to bring with you! They also offer a TEFL certification course online, which I highly recommend if you’re looking to get certified.
They are also extremely helpful once you are here in Spain. They have an orientation that helps you get settled and set up your life in Madrid, including looking for housing, getting a phone plan, and getting all your documentation ready for your time here. They even make the appointment to get your ID card, which saves a lot of time and effort. They also tell you all about how to get around and the different options you have for public transportation.
The compensation for teaching is enough to get you through if you budget carefully, and you still have plenty of time to travel and see other parts of Spain and/or Europe. Plus, there’s a ton to do in Madrid itself! I am having a wonderful experience, and CIEE staff here in Madrid is always available to help with any questions or concerns I have.

I knew that I wanted to teach in S. Korea, but I wasn't sure what steps I needed to take, what forms to fill out, how to get a TEFL, how to find a school, ... (the list goes on and on). CIEE was there every step of the way, answering my questions and helping me achieve my goal. There were times while I was taking the TEFL course where it felt like I was wasting my time, and I didn't think that teaching would be for me. But thankfully, I decided to stick it through thanks to the open communication of multiple CIEE staff members and their friendliness. The day before my flight from the U.S. to S. Korea, my visa was lost in the mail. I had to track it down, frantically calling every post office I could think of. At one point, there were 2 CIEE staff members who were spending their Friday morning helping me call around, dedicated to making sure that I got on that plane the next day. We found the visa, they called me to answer any final questions I had (and to calm me down), and sure enough, here I am writing this review in my apartment in Korea! Everyone has been great, and the program made this entire process MUCH easier. It also was nice knowing that I was never alone, and there was a group of people on my team, working behind the scenes every step of the way.

I have used CIEE twice to go abroad. The first time was when I studied abroad while still a university student, and the second time is now. CIEE is a great organization that is very understanding of situations that one might have and are willing to help as much as possible. Without their help and assistance, I might not have been able to go abroad, so I’m forever grateful to them.

CIEE’s support doesn’t stop once you’re abroad, but continues in the best way possible. They give you the opportunity to create your own network of people by having orientations which allows you to meet other CIEE participants. Also, although you come through CIEE, they don’t force you to do anything. We have the freedom to make our own memories, have our own experiences, and solve our own problems. But, when you’re in a bind and really need help, CIEE is there. Just remember: CIEE is there to help, but you should still be responsible and make wise choices.

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.

I used CIEE to apply with the English Program in Korea (EPIK) and received help and support through what could be a long stressful application process. I applied and passed my interview in 2018 but could not accept for personal reasons. When it was time to reapply the next year, CIEE made sure I had everything I needed, and supported through the TEFL and with additional documents. I really liked their style of giving the TEFL, it was multi faceted and interesting. The orientation in Seoul was also very fun and helped me meet a lot of great people . Overall, though it was a financially a lot, It was worth having the extra security and options at hand. It really was a easy process all the way till the end. I love being in Korea and enjoy the benefits and opportunities that EPIK and CIEE gave me!

The program staff was able to place me near the location of my choice. The school they placed me at has been a great fit, and while CIEE provides most of their support during pre-departure, the school they placed me in has helped me get settled into my life and job. Commiting to teach in a foreign country seems daunting, but there will be other teachers who will help and support you along the way. CIEE does provide an in country orientation once you arrive which was a really good opportunity to meet new people. If there is any legal issues, the CIEE team will always be there to help. I highly recommend this program if you are looking for fun and a convenient way to fuel your travelling. The job is fairly easy and pays well, giving you plenty of time and resources to do the things you love.

I am definitely glad that I signed up to participate in Teach in Spain this year. The CIEE staff was extremely helpful in preparing us to come to Spain, taking us step-by-step through the visa application process, etc. It is good to know that they are available to answer my questions and help as needed. One of the difficult things about this program is that there is no housing assistance. The hardest part about moving to Spain was finding housing, but it's not impossible. Fortunately, I was placed at a school that I really like and I am enjoying my experience as a language assistant so far. My compensation is sufficient to cover the general costs of living in Madrid. The only thing I would change about my experience so far is the orientation. I had already found housing when orientation began and so I did not stay in the hotel that was provided by CIEE and I wish I could have gotten compensated. The price of the program is a bit steep considering, but I don't regret my decision.

I learned various important vocabulary terms and skills through the online TEFL course. The material was manageable, but I think the amount of time necessary to complete tasks should have been more evenly distributed so that the workload would be more consistent. I also think that the quizzes were not reflective of actual learning progress and that there should be a more comprehensive and affective for assessing learning. The most helpful parts of the course were the assignments in which we had to create lesson plans and do mock lessons. Also, the practicum was extremely helpful. I learned the most about teaching from having experiences in actual classrooms. I am also glad to have received so much material from the course, which I am now trying to implement in my classes.

Thus far the Teach in Spain Professional Program has been a good experience. Learning to interact with professionals in a different culture has been an invaluable and resume boosting experience, not to mention getting to live in another culture.
The pay (900 €/month) is certainly low considering the cost of living. Although I imagine it would be possible to live on without your own savings or supplementary income, I could not imagine that it would be enjoyable. Rent and groceries consume the bulk of my stipend every month. If you want to be able to enjoy the city to its fullest and travel you need to have savings set aside for your time here.

Working with Learnlight has been okay. They can sometimes be a little disorganized (wrong addresses for clients, missing pay adjustments, breakdowns in communication etc...) but the teaching material and class management software provided on their platform makes teaching and time management much easier. Work place policies (such as requiring a sick note from a doctor to have your classes covered) can be a nuisance. I will say what you pay for the program in total is fair considering your first month of housing is included and the amount of support you recieve in navigating the Spanish legal/immigration system.

So if you are interested in this program this is what I would recommend: 1) Make your visa appointment before you are accepted to the program (like do it right now). Cancelling is free and it will save you a lot of panicking in the future. 2) Set aside upwards of $3,000 in savings depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to have. You could never save too much. 3) Do the damn grammar course and study the summary units. People have managed without it but knowing your grammar will make your first two weeks a lot easier. 4) It's not an official requirement but you need to speak some Spanish. I have had to talk my way past security (expect TSA like screenings on your fist day in any company) on numerous occasions to get to some lessons-this would have been impossible without knowing Spanish. So practice up!

Overall, practicing Spanish, developing intercultural skills, and living in Madrid is why I chose this program and this program delivered it. Yea there are some headaches at times but in the end it's worth it. I have made some great friends, gained valuable experience, and have had a hell of a time. Just don't expect to make a fortune! Presented again with the choice to go, I would do it without a second thought.