CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

I love living in South Korea. I am at a private school, and there are many challenges, but the benefits far out way the difficulties! I work from 2pm to 10pm, which sounds weird at first, but I really like my schedule, and that I have time to go to places like the bank while it is still open. South Korea is so fun, safe, and beautiful. I love exploring and living here. The program directors are very helpful and respond quickly to emails. I am living in Changwon, which is a smaller city about an hour outside of Busan. It is a beautiful place to live with a large foreigner community. My commute to work every da is a twenty minute walk. I have included some pictures of it, because Fall here is just so gorgeous! I absolutely recommend this experience!

Overall, the CIEE Teach Abroad in the Czech Republic program has been fantastic! Prior to coming to the Czech Republic, each participant had a brief Skype meeting with our Czech coordinator so that she could try to match us with a school that fit our needs and expectations. This was something I had not expected, but am grateful for as I am now at a school that I love. Admittedly, the pre-departure process was a bit overwhelming- especially with the limited amount of time to apply for a visa. However, CIEE was helpful throughout the whole process and this was less of the program’s fault and more of the simple reality that comes from dealing with different Embassies.

Once I arrived in the Czech Republic, CIEE was (and has continued to be) helpful every step of the way. We had a week orientation in which CIEE gave us Czech 101 crash courses in culture and language. Staff also helped us set up bank accounts, phones, Embassy appointments, and transportation passes. For me, like many participants, finding a place to live was up to us. However, our Czech coordinator went out of her way to make sure we each found suitable arrangements. She continues to be available to help us with any issues regarding rent, mail, utilities, and language translations.

The number of participants in the program is small. As a past participant in another CIEE teach abroad program, I can say that this small number is unique and has advantages- we are all friendly with one another and it’s easy to reach out to both CIEE staff and one another for issues that range from trivial to more serious. For me personally, the CIEE staff has been quick to answer any question I’ve had. This small number has also meant that CIEE has been able to plan group events for us- such as a wine tasting, zoo trip, and a Thanksgiving dinner.

The CIEE Teach is Czech Republic program has been wonderful. In the beginning, the amount of work needed to be done seems daunting because it is. Not difficult work, but many photocopies, translations, notarizations, and contracts need to be handled. CIEE makes this process as easy as can be by guiding you through step by step. Support during the process was very prompt.

Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, orientation and preparations for the school year were very well thought out. Activities and education during orientation were worthwhile and helpful. The staff did a great job preparing us for what to expect in the classroom as well as culturally. There are many differences between the Czech Republic and the US. Some in education and many in culture. They gave us a fair heads-up.

Post-orientation and when the school year begins flows pretty smoothly. The CIEE staff really helped to make sure we got to our school, had proper accommodations, and were prepared for long-term transportation. Even after work and life had begun in our respective towns/schools CIEE was very willing to help with the smallest of issues.

This is my second time working with CIEE. I can't say enough good things about the program from both the US side and the placement side. CIEE puts together some great programs that allow us to do what we want to do - Travel and Learn.

My time with CIEE has been quite a journey, but in a way that I know will change my life! I feel that in their third year, CIEE has worked very hard to get out all the kinks with the visa application process. Understandably, getting a work visa (especially on time) is difficult enough. However, I felt that no question was stupid enough when it came to my pre-departure preparation and I thankfully got my visa approved before I even traveled to the Czech Republic, which apparently was a first for the program.

When I arrived in Prague my luggage was lost and our program supervisor was diligent from the start with support. I cannot say enough how wonderful she is. Sometimes I feel that she is working TOO hard because she is always there to translate something in Czech or help us get our utilities sorted, even to answer travel/transportation questions.

Due to some unfortunate family circumstances back home, I will say that I was hit hard with culture shock the first two months. But I think it was 100% a mental block that I knew I would eventually get over, and just had to force myself to try at the language and everyday life a little bit harder than I was. You need to have an open mind to be a part of the program. After a couple months, my mindset and overall comfort has changed completely.

I was placed in a school that is seriously perfect for my interests as a teacher. There were definitely some communication issues at the start and it took quite some time to get settled into a routine and to understand the expectations that were had of us but I know that the rest of this year will be wonderful and can only get better.

My piece of advice is that you have to be proactive and be willing to have an open mind. A lot of the participants came to Prague without a place to live (our school either did not provide accommodations or it was our choice to find our own) and the apartment hunting process here is really stressful especially on top of being in a completely foreign country. The staff helped us as much as they could, but it was pretty tough. You have to understand that ultimately, things will work out in the end, because they have to!

I would definitely recommend this program. I studied abroad with CIEE in Prague a few years ago so I already trusted the organization before I applied to teach abroad. I am even more happy with this program (especially the support we receive from the staff) than I was as a study abroad participant. Orientation was surprisingly fun and definitely helpful. Our coordinator here in Prague is the absolute best. The program is still small enough that there is a community amongst the participants and opportunities for us to gather throughout our time here. That's a major bonus, which I gather is unique to the Czech Republic program. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. My daily life is really independent but I know that CIEE is always there. I live outside of Prague, and while my town leaves something to be desired, I love my school to pieces and have enjoyed the teaching experience immensely. This is only the third year of the program and it's clear they've made exponential leaps since launching. I have no doubt that the program will continue to improve as the years go on. As with anything in life, it's not perfect. Flexibility is definitely a requirement!

I came to the Czech Republic with CIEE last summer, and have had a wonderful experience so far! The orientation process in Prague was thoughtfully scheduled, and all of us as teachers had plenty of time to adjust to the new country, start to learn some language basics, become familiar with the culture, share some fun experiences, and get to know each other. The support staff at the CIEE office in Prague have been amazing and efficient throughout my time here! The one small issue I experienced at my school was resolved quickly and smoothly with one simple phone call to their office. Some participants find housing, while others are provided housing by their schools. CIEE has relationships with many schools in the area, and their staff seem to do a great job with matching teachers with their best fit. I would encourage anyone thinking about teaching abroad to go through CIEE, and seriously consider the Czech Republic program!

So far my experience has been great. The CIEE staff has been unbelievably helpful since the day I left the USA. They were there whenever I had questions. If I needed help to get somewhere they would go with me and translate and overall the Prague CIEE Staff have been all I could ask for, if not more. They assisted me in things that I would not have even thought of if I were to attempt to move here on my own.
As for my schooling and housing, I would say that I lucked out. I was provided housing by my school and that also made my transition easier. I didn't have to worry about finding a place to live and I am located very close to my school so commuting is easy. My mentors who are Czech English teachers are fantastic and they have also treated me like family since day one.
I do really like the Czech Republic and all that it has to offer in terms of history and being in a foreign country. The dollar goes far and language is extremely hard to learn but the public transportation is very user friendly and it is a great place to live.

Taking the TEFL course through CIEE was a great overall experience. I worked a full-time 40+ hr a week job while taking the course and did not feel at all that the time commitment was out of hand, so long as you plan ahead and make sure to give yourself the necessary time to be successful, you will be!

The content of the course was very informative as well, while the TEFL course has its limits on how well it can prepare you for in-class instruction, it provides an incredible foundation on which you can build a successful teaching career not only in your host country but beyond as you/we progress in our journeys to becoming teachers.

I loved teaching English in Spain through CIEE. Their help in the visa process was excellent and they made it much easier to get set up over there. Spain is an incredible place to live and travel, and you also have Europe at your fingertips to explore. I met one of my best friends through CIEE's group Facebook pages, which made it not only easier to go over there knowing someone ahead of time but also made my time there more enjoyable having such a good friend to go through the experience with.

CIEE is very well organized, and the resources they provide are very useful. This was my first time teaching, and I felt that the orientation prepared me well for the classroom despite my experience. CIEE's orientation was also a great place to meet fellow teachers and make friends.

The year's worth of travel insurance was also a great value and provided some great piece of mind (mostly for my mother).

My experience in Thailand was life changing and perspective changing- if I could do it again, I would do it all the same through CIEE.