CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

I moved to South Korea in August 2016. I picked CIEE because it had a TEFL certification program. I took it as I worked two part time jobs back in the states and waited for my placement. While I left my first location in Bucheon after a year, I have not left South Korea. South Korea is a wonderful city. After a year outside of Seoul, I moved to Seoul and created a good social circle. None of this would have happened if I did not got to South Korea in 2016 through CIEE. I have grown a lot as a person since then and constantly see myself improving.

I love living in South Korea and plan on living here for as long as I can, with hopes of getting the F Visa down the line. If I did not take that first step back in 2016 with CIEE, none of this would have happened.

Teaching at a private kindergarten/elementary hagwon has its benefits and drawbacks, but regardless, the kids are adorable! There isn't as much freedom with curriculum and classes can be very short, but this means the planning responsibilities are pretty minimal a lot of the time. At the particular hagwon where I'm working, there is a rotation of extracurricular activities that add quite a bit to responsibilities (holiday parties, musicals, etc.) so it evens out. My background is in secondary education, so it's been a fascinating experience to work with younger kids...even if it has made me realize how much more suited the middle/high school environment is for me! But this experience gave me some clarity about graduate school to focus on the needs of ESL students upon my return to the traditional classroom. Though there are certainly highs and lows, I can assure you that you won't regret this experience in South Korea!

Outside of the classroom, the food and natural beauty (combined with the affordability) of Korea is enough to sell it to an adventurous type. Transportation around the country is wonderfully cheap and you'll be able to explore a lot of the country in your time here. I'd highly recommend coming to Korea.

CIEE is a great organization! They helped me enroll in a TEFL course, found schools for me to interview with, and made the long visa process much easier. They also held an orientation once I arrived in Korea that introduced me to other foreign teachers. The in-country orientation provided an excellent platform to learn more about the culture and hear about other teachers' experiences. I was able to ask questions and receive feedback and advice about my hagwon experience, as well as learn about the epik program and its pros and cons. Having an in-country support system significantly enriched my teaching experience.

CIEE is a fantastic organization that helped me prepare for teaching abroad and provided me with a great community here in Korea.

I live in a small town near the Southern peninsula of Korea. Overall, the community is kind and welcoming. There have been countless times I have been lost or taken the wrong bus and people have helped me. It can also be very boring at times. Most of the young people when they graduate leave to Seoul or a university or both. So the community is full of old people and really young people mostly. English is not commonly spoken by the locals, in the cities you would encounter it more. However, EPIK, offers more money to those placed in the rural areas, so there is some compensation for being out in the middle of nowhere.

Overall, this is an experience worth having. The application process was tedious and at times overwhelming, but I do appreciate CIEE helping me get this position.

There are so many different ways to get to South Korea and teach English! I am mostly happy that I went with CIEE because they took a lot of the stress and planning out of my hands. I applied to teach English abroad when I was an insanely busy university student--overloaded class schedule, work, varsity athlete, etc. I felt that I didn't a lot of time to devote to finding my own recruiter or figuring out my TEFL certification, and CIEE made those steps a lot easier. The support from the program and network that it offers within Korea has been really amazing, too! However, the program does come with a considerable price tag. Of course, there are pros and cons of every service. I think if you are someone who likes structure, amazing in-program support, and an immediate community to be able to reach out to, then the price is justifiable.

The work at The Language Company has been exactly what I came for and the travel in Chile has astounded me. I came here as a seasoned language educator with the goal of having a stimulation and shift in my profession, to improve my Spanish, and travel through Chile. Within one year, I've had a great start and love it enough to hope to stay another two years! The value of the work itself and the organization and support of TLC has been very motivating; I really look forward to going to my classes every day. The work load is a good pace, but not overwhelming once you get a hang of everything. Most people don't work a full day on Fridays, which allows for weekend travels. Once I started travelling, I only realized how incredibly beautiful and pristine the nature is in this country. One year simply isn't enough to see it all. Also, if you're coming to learn Spanish, TLC does offer Spanish group classes, which really helps. Having come here with CIEE gave me the initial support I needed and a community to be a part of right off the bat. It's totally worth coming with CIEE than own your own mainly for the contacts, the peace of mind upon arrival and just having the visa status in order to hit the ground running with no legal problems.

I would definitely recommend finding a teaching position in South Korea or just anywhere with CIEE. They are honestly so helpful throughout the ENTIRE process of searching and making sure you have all documentation. Essentially they simplify everything so you don't have to be stressed out. I love my school placement and the coordinators try to make sure that your school and area is a good fit for you. This program is a great chance to get out of your comfort zone and experience a very different culture than what most participants generally come from! Also, there is no need to worry about prior teaching experience because CIEE also provides you with great training beforehand through their online TEFL course. Going straight after college I think is definitely a great adventure into the adult world in a very unique way.

After studying abroad for one semester in 2015, I came back to Korea with CIEE to teach at a private school. The support I have received and continue to receive from the staff is nothing short of remarkable. The local representative is available 24/7 for any questions, comments or concerns I may have. My school placement is fantastic and offers excellent benefits. Without CIEE, I wouldn't have known where to start or with whom to get TEFL certified. I am very impressed with this program and would enthusiastically recommend it to others.
Because of this placement, I have developed a strong network consisting of other CIEE participants. I am confident I will continue to rely on their connections in order to advance in the English teaching community. I am excited to see where else CIEE can take me around the world.

I have had a great experience with the program. To get it out the way, the price of the program is expensive. That would be the thing that I would change about it.Other than that, I had a great time! The online courses were good as a foundation to the world of TEFL. The in-country Coordinator for our group, Camila, is awesome! Very helpful. She is extremely helpful and always available by email and whatsapp. My mentor and the English program at my site, San Andres, are great! They helped me acclimate to the environment well. If you want an experience abroad that allows you to be independent, puts some money in your pocket to travel with and gives you a balance of structure and freedom to move around, then I say go for it. This is my last month here and reflecting back on my time, I am glad I came! #noregrets

Phenomenal opportunity for people to explore a new country, learn a new language, and make a real impact all while receiving 24/7 support from a dedicated local and global team. Spanish bureaucracy can be quite time consuming and frankly very confusing, but CIEE walks you through the entire process and takes care of nearly all the logistical questions for you. Part of the two-week program, I also got to live with a Spanish host family and take Spanish lessons for two full weeks. Another wonderful benefit of the program that I didn't anticipate: amazing community of other CIEE participants with whom I've become very close friends and can always rely on during my year here in Spain. We can share ideas, ask each other questions, and even live and travel together. Overall, a fantastic program that I would recommend to anyone looking for a enjoyable global experience!