CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

CIEE/OEG is an amazing program that has opened my eyes to a bigger world. Prior to this program I had never left the USA and I had never been in front of a class. I was getting waaay outside my comfort zone, but CIEE, OEG, and my Thai school coordinators have been so incredibly supportive. From the CIEE application and placement process through CIEE/OEG orientation in Bangkok I was guided by an efficient and capable staff. All my questions answered, all of my worries addressed, and a wealth of knowledge shared. Even after moving to my placement school, I am connected to an extensive network of fellow teachers and alumni that I can reach out to for advice/encouragement. Nongphai School has welcomed me with open arms and the faculty, staff, and students have made me feel at home. CIEE and OEG works very closely with their partner schools to prepare for all types of expats, from experienced teachers and travelers to novices like me!

I have been in Korea for just over 2 months now and I love it. I am glad I chose CIEE. This program has helped me a lot. Before coming here they helped me with all the questions I had and if I would be able to even come. Even after coming here they are always here for me when I have trouble with work. At first my job was not going so good but now it is. I am glad that we have support here and we are not alone. I enjoy the location that I am at. I am in a small city and I can walk everywhere. It is not huge like Seoul. I feel like I am helping a lot here cause there are not many people that speak English fluently here.

Through this program I have made awesome friends. Even though we do not live by each other we are always supporting each other. We even planned trips to travel around the country together. It is nice to have other English speaking friends in a foreign place. I will cherish the friendships I made through this program.

This has been a very good experience for me so far. I was very happy when I found out CIEE had teaching abroad programs available and that included a credible TEFL certificate. I like how CIEE has both the public school option, where they are partnered with EPIK, and a private school option. So if one doesn't work out you can have another alternative. I'm glad I chose the public school option and that it worked out!

The staff helped me a lot throughout the lengthy process. They were very quick to send emails as well as updates and answer any questions that I had. I also liked how they interviewed me beforehand so I could prepare more for the actual interview and get more practice. The staff in Korea is also great and willing to help with any issues you come across. I like how they have an on-site orientation so you can meet other teachers and ask questions regarding about teaching. It is a good way to make friends and to get tips!

I'm really grateful to CIEE for I love my job and I'm having a great time! For anyone considering teaching abroad in Korea, there are so many benefits and the kids are absolutely precious! The pay is good, housing is rent free, and you have lots of aid from coworkers as well a other English teachers. I would recommend anyone to check out this program!

I had been to South Korea before, but for staying a year and actually working a real job, I'm glad that I chose CIEE. The program is pretty pricey, but that includes a rather extensive TEFL certification, so that should be taken into account. South Korea is known for paying its English teachers very well, so even though the initial cost of CIEE's program is a lot, you can earn that money back within the first few months after you start working. In my experience, CIEE's staff is very quick to respond to questions (both when I was in the U.S. applying and now in Korea). I have a personal interest in the country, so it's been very exciting to be here as aspects of Korean culture get more popular overseas and as the North and South come to more friendly terms with one another. It's a cool front row seat to history, but with the full in-country support of CIEE to make living in a country (where you don't speak the language!) a lot less intimidating. South Korea isn't that big and has a good public transportation system, so you can travel around and get to know the country pretty well within a year and still be able to visit neighboring countries during winter or summer break.

I absolutely love Korea. I'm so glad I decided to come here with the help of CIEE. I have lived in here for about 3 months and I think I am adjusting nicely. I was able to meet a couple great friends through the orientation offered by CIEE and we have traveled around together a few times in the last couple months. The orientation helped new teachers become accustomed to the everyday life and teaching culture in Korea, which is so different than in the United States.

Before coming, CIEE offered a lot of support. I was so anxious going through the visa process, but CIEE was there every step of the way with their expertise. It made me feel so at ease. I talked with a coworker that did not come with a recruiter and she said she felt like she was drowning throughout the whole process. They help you find a placement and work with you to try and place you in an area you want to be in. Though I am not in love with my home city since it is very small, I am only 30 minutes away from Busan and one hour away from Changwon, another larger city in my province. I'm glad CIEE was there for me and offered their help! CIEE ensures you receive a fair salary and working conditions. The staff is there for you and can help you if any problems arise with your school or life in Korea. I feel comfortable living here and that I have support because of CIEE.

When you take a deep breath and you are looking at colorful gems and you are naked and sweating. You know you are at a 찜질방. I spent most of the weekends of my first year in Korea in these saunas because I didn't have much money and I loved traveling. I could sleep in the floor for $10 - $15 dollars in just about every city. Now I'm in my second year, I paid off my student loans, and I really enjoy South Korea. I've adjusted to the culture and I think it's made me a far more worldly person. In my experience it was hard to understand true Korean culture until I started speaking a decent amount of Korean which has just happened recently. There is still excitement and mystery for me and for the right personality teaching in SK could be there best thing you have done with your life. I know it's the best decision I've made for my life.

Teaching abroad through CIEE is one of the best decisions I have ever made. As a fresh college graduate, the decision was a no-brainer: living abroad with a comfy salary, rent-free housing, insurance, and the promise of adventure? Perfect formula for something exciting.

The pre-departure support that the program offers was invaluable to me in navigating interviews, contracts, and visa paperwork. It takes away the anxiety of hoping that the hiring school is offering livable wages and competitive benefits - it's harder to advocate for those things yourself when you don't speak the local language well! I applied to private language schools (hagwons, in Korean) only, rather than to the Korean EPIK public school program. These two tracks are very different, so make sure you do your research before choosing how to apply!

Once you arrive in-country, the level of support that is needed from the program varies. I personally was placed in a hagwon that is incredibly communicative and welcoming. My supervisors and co-workers all speak English, and there is a large community of expats in the greater area, so I did not need extra help from CIEE in adjusting to my new home. But if your placement is different (i.e., if you're the only foreigner at your school, which happens sometimes!), CIEE is there to help mitigate any disputes and assist with your adjustment to life abroad. It's a great comfort to know that if problems arise, there is a team prepared to help at any time.

Program benefits also vary from placement to placement. My studio apartment is safe, modern, and comfortable, but be warned: many Korean landlords/building managers don't require prior tenants to clean the place before they leave, so your apartment might need a deep-clean when you arrive. The apartment is about fifteen minutes' walk away from my school, which is typical compared to other expats in my area. Your utilities payments, insurance payments, and pension plan payments all depend on your contract with your school, so be prepared to contribute to these. Working hours also vary greatly; my hours are 1pm to 9pm, but I have also worked morning shifts, and I have worked across multiple branches of my employer's company. Be flexible!

My home away from home, Daegu, is a beautiful mountainous city in the southern part of the country. Perhaps I'm biased, but if you're thinking about coming to Korea, there really is no better place to be than Daegu! Just be prepared for some really heavy satoori (local dialect, different from the Korean they speak in Seoul!) and some whispers and stares from the locals - it's kind of a conservative city!

I did my TEFL with CIEE through their Teach in South Korea programme, so it was a perfect programme for me at the time. I valued the pre-departure course and in-country orientation as it really prepared me for professional and personal life here.

The application process is straightforward and easy to follow and CIEE placement coordinators constantly help you to get documents ready on time. The course just makes the moving and preparation process easier and gives you less things to worry about.

Also, the fact you can do a verified TEFL with the course makes the choice to move easier. As a person with little teaching experience and no teaching qualification, CIEE have everything to prepare you professionally to teach abroad.

Overall, I am happy I chose this programme in the end.

I'm about three months into my program in Sokcho and I am greatly enjoying my experience. The city is wonderful, the people are generally nice, I've met great friend among fellow EPIK teachers and my school and the staff and students are incredibly sweet and generous.

My experience with CIEE thus far has been worth it, I think. They were a huge assist during my EPIK application process and when comparing the process to other EPIK teachers who complained about their difficulties applying on their own, I feel grateful for having had so much help along the way.

The included TEFL course was handy as well, as well as the CIEE-specific orientation. I'm going to put my iNext insurance to use as well on a trip to Thailand this winter. :) All in all, teaching in Korea is a great experience for those of you looking for new adventures and new cultures.

In general, this is a program that I would highly recommend. I originally knew about CIEE because I used another program of theirs to study abroad in South Korea in 2016. It was this experience that made me realise that I really enjoyed being in Korea and I became very interested in spending more time in the country. It was this that lead me to applying to this program to help with the application process.

I had a very positive experience with my adviser. When you are applying for something like working abroad, there are a lot of required documents and a lot of deadlines. And usually it is very important that you meet these deadlines at the correct time. I always felt comfortable calling my adviser when I had questions and she was always very good about replying quickly.

A few others have mentioned the differences between public and private schools in Korea, and this is definitely a valid point. I am currently employed through EPIK and so therefore I work at a public school in Daejeon, which is about two hours south of Seoul. Oftentimes your experience here is determined entirely by your school. With private schools, there are a lot less laws that they have to follow and sometimes this can get people into less than ideal situations. However, I know many people who are in private schools and absolutely love it. But your situation working in a public school versus a private school will definitely look different. I think there could have been more of an overview of these differences on CIEE's part.

Overall, I think Korea is a great place to work and live. I think they have a positive view of foreigners, and never have a felt unwelcome in this country because I am not Korean. This is a really beautiful country and a great place to travel to!