CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

So much to say!
First of all, CIEE is amazing and worth the price to go with them. Camila and Katy helped tremendously with visas, residency, finding a place to live, and preparing for the trip.
Duoc is great. Some American teachers struggled with their lack of preparation for us, but once we got into the groove we all did great. I had never taught before in my life, but Duoc was there with any question I had. You definitely have to be proactive and ask questions. Duoc will gladly help you, but they will not be the first ones to give you everything you need. You have to ask!
Duoc pays about $900 a month, which is enough to live off of but you may want to get a tutoring job to travel or save money.
I work in Los Cerrillos and live in Bellavista, about an hour commute. It isn't too bad, especially since I go reverse commute. I do have to take a metro and a bus.
I love my coworkers and my students. My students are so sweet and work hard. Teaching came at an ease for me but I was so nervous since I had never taught before. Duoc gives you student books to go off and and they are super easy to follow. At times, they are a little dull but you can ask coworkers and other TIPs for more material or create your own. Most tips have about 5-7 classes, all about 90 min, but some have 3 hour. Duoc has Saturday classes, but no TIPs this year have any. I don't have Friday classes which is very nice, but not everyone has Friday off. I also don't have any night classes, and most TIPs don't work past 7. Chile is pretty pricey, but not too bad. Going out to eat is very expensive and adds up, so when you're in the hostel take advantage of the kitchen. It's pretty easy to travel around Chile. Flights are cheap and bus rides are even cheaper. Santiago itself is very but but so easy to get around since the metro and bus system goes to every corner of the city. I haven't yet felt unsafe, but it's easy to avoid dangerous areas. I have a phone plan and a bank account, which CIEE helps you set up. Any questions I have I can ask and overall it's been an amazing experience.

My time in Chile has been nothing but enjoyable. The transition from the US to Chile was very easy with the help of CIEE. They prepared us before and after arrival with cultural lessons and information sessions to help as acclimate to the new culture and lifestyle. CIEE was very helpful in the visa process and helping us with our ID cards and Chilean bank accounts. Our coordinator in Chile is always available for any questions we may have and checks in just to make sure we are doing well. It's definitely nice knowing we have a familiar face to turn to if we have any questions.

Chile is an amazing country. It's very easy to navigate and the people are very friendly and willing to help you if needed. I've even had the chance to make friends not only with Chileans but people from all over the world. Every weekend there is something new to do or see. If you like hiking, Chile has amazing hikes and are easily accessible through public transportation. There's often street fairs on the weekends that sell handmade goods. It also has a really fun night life, it's very common to go for a long late dinner with friends and hang out on restaurant patios. It has everything from nice restaurants, to bars and clubs. There's definitely something for everyone.

One of the things I enjoy most about teaching in Chile is the students. Everyday I look forward to seeing them and getting a chance to not only teach them but learn from them too. Being close in age as them has been an asset because you can relate to them easily and often have common interests which are fun to incorporate in class. My coworkers are very friendly and have been generous with sharing ideas for activities in the classroom. I truly love my job.

I can't recommend this program enough! You'll make amazing friends, grow professionally and have the most memorable experiences.

This program is a great option for anyone who wants to travel and immerse themselves in another culture without leaving home for too long. This program is unique since you live with a host family, who provides you with housing, most of your food, and a truly immersive experience. Everyone’s experience will be different since there are so many towns, schools, and host families that you could be placed with, but overall the program is great and it gave me a sense of security to know that I had the support of CIEE andy host family for the duration of the trip. Spain has so many amazing cities to travel to and it is pretty easy to get around with public transportation if you are in a bigger city, like Valladolid, where I was placed. With 3 day weekends I was able to take lots of trips and learn so much about Spain.

Thus far, I cannot speak highly enough about my experience in Chile. With the help of Katy, Camila and the CIEE team, I feel confident in making Santiago my new home for the next 10 months. Katy and Camila alike were incredibly helpful throughout my very messy visa experience and supported me every step of the way until it was finally approved (the day prior to my departure). Overall, I feel as though CIEE set me up for success in my present career opportunity teaching English at DUOC. DUOC is a wonderful institution filled with a myriad of diverse students, welcoming staff members, and rigorous academic material. In the states, I am a teacher so I feel as though this experience will be very rewarding for me in having experience with teaching ENL students. Additionally, this experience provides you with innumerable contacts, resources, and colleagues that help you every step of the way. I am very grateful for the experience and ecstatic to see the opportunities that lie ahead.

Santiago is a great city to live and work in. I was given a lot of help from Katy and the rest of Ciee settling in and showing me around during the first few weeks. I knew someone in Santiago so I had moved into my room soon after I moved in. The classes consisted of about twenty students and the vast majority of them were willing to learn and were excited about being taught by a native English teacher. You teach approximately twenty hours a week and make enough to live comfortably on, but I would suggest bringing a few thousand dollars to sustain yourself before your first paycheck. There are a lot of places to travel in Chile too. Vina del Mar is not far away. It is an easy hour and half bus ride and has a fun beach. There are also a lot of great street food if you're into empanadas.

First and foremost, I loved my school and my co-workers. It is great knowing that my school supports me in everything and will always have my back whenever I need them. Granada is a beautiful city and could not have wanted a better experience teaching English than in Granada. Spain is unique and beautiful in its own unique way. I am three cities away from visiting all of Andalucía. With CIEE, I got to travel around Spain and Europe. My next trip is definitely to Morocco!!! The staff at CIEE couldn't be more helpful and are always there to answer questions. I honestly never felt alone being abroad since CIEE will always be there for you. Teaching English has always been and passion and I am blessed that I got the opportunity. to both teach and travel, which is also a passionate of mine. This year has been one of the bets years in my life and I owe it all to CIEE.

This has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I have to admit, I was quite nervous about going through with this. I graduated from college in 2014, worked for a while while trying to figure everything out- like what I really wanted to do. I was nervous that I was “too old” to teach abroad, because it seemed like most participants were doing this right after graduating. Long story short, I’m so happy with my decision. No regrets at all! Whether you’re trying to be an educator, want to see if you’ll enjoy it, or have no plans at all to teach in the future- this program is still for you. It’s a whole experience that will help you grow as a person. Personally, I have learned that I can go abroad, live independently, learn new skills, and meet new people all on my own. There is nothing better for self-confidence than that. My school is great. I work in a town just outside of Granada where the teachers, students and staff are all so kind and welcoming. I won’t lie, there are some challenging days. I work at an elementary school and the kids can be loud, disruptive, etc. Honestly though, it’s a good challenge, and I always feel like I’ve made at least some small positive difference. CIEE has been right there whenever I’ve needed them, and any step along the way. Even though I did move here alone, I know that I can always reach out to the staff here in Spain if I ever needed them. They’ve been very responsive and helpful- especially Michaela. I remember her checking in on me once or twice and I really appreciated that because I know there are lot’s of participants. I could go on and on, but the short of it is that I am having a great time here and would definitely recommend anyone to give it a shot.

CIEE has made my experience teaching in Spain a smooth, fun, well-organized process. They offer help through a messy and complex visa application, making it straight forward and clear. When it came time to renew my placement, they helped consistently through that process as well. Both before arriving and once in Spain, they provide supportive and consistent communication and have made me feel ready to take on new transitions and challenges with confidence. I love knowing that I have resources and support while being able to live my life in Spain independently and make the experience my own. Michaela is the primary contact in Andalucía and she is absolutely incredible at giving individual help, answering every kind of question, and being responsive to everyone. I can tell she loves her job and it really shows in the way she supports new teachers. A fabulous program all around.

Pros: Excellent support and orientation from staff during the whole process: application, pre-arrival and academic year. Great opportunity to start in the world of teaching. The job itself is very rewarding since you're helping your students to improve their English proficiency. It is ideal for people who like backpacking since you only work four days a week. You can also do private lessons for more money and teaching experience. Madrid is full of fun and opportunities, you can always find something to do in the city. You can also go almost anywhere in Spain from Madrid. Madrid is well connected to other countries too.

Cons: In case you're renewing your placement, you don't get paid during the summer vacations, so you better save some money.

I found this program in April of 2018 while I was at my desk at work, hating my job, and dreaming of teaching in Spain. I knew I wanted a change, but I was so worried about leaving my security for the unknown. I worked in finance and though it paid very well, I was unhappy. I couldn’t find many reviews about the 3 month teach in Spain program through CIEE, so I was nervous to go for it. Now that I’m 2 months into the program, I can say whole heartedly that it’s the best decision I’ve made. I felt supported before departure, my questions were answered very quickly, meeting at the airport was easy, and orientation with others in the same boat as me made me feel a lot better. The first week or two were overwhelming because it’s definitely an adjustment. I know a lot of Spanish, but no one speaks much English (even the English teachers), and I didn’t expect that. My host mom doesn’t speak English, and the host dad only speaks a bit, but I couldn’t have asked for a better family. They have a young boy and girl too, and I love them to death. I’m already getting emotional about leaving them!! They will forever be my family, and I feel so grateful that I was placed here. My school is amazing too! The teachers are so helpful, and the kids are very eager to learn. I could go on and on about this program because it’s been the biggest blessing. My only regret is not doing a longer program!