CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

I had such an amazing experience teaching in Thailand. The chance to travel, get to know a whole new part of the world, and a new culture, while also getting to know my crazy, awesome students was really life changing. And CIEE made it so much easier by doing a lot of the hard parts for me: job placement, housing, visa. Having them to handle the intimidating parts, and knowing someone was there if I had any problems, removed a lot of the stress for me and let me focus on falling in love with Thailand and controlling a wild class of 12 year olds!

This experience has already become everything I could have dreamed of and more. I did a lot of research before coming to Thailand and was looking forward to it, but it has already surpassed all expectation for experience and adventure. I am a certified ESE, Elementary, ESOL teacher in the United States and graduated with my undergrad this past year. I have always dreamt of having the opportunity to live and teach abroad and this program was the answer to all I could have wanted. The program provides the best support from even before the day you arrive, and the staff treats you like one big family. The location of my placement has been perfect as well, since I am in the mountain area of the northeast region and an avid lover of the outdoors. Every day here I am reminded of another reason why I am glad I made this decision and traveled over 9,000 miles to do something I thought I could originally only dream of. Thankful for this experience and the continued adventures to come! Thank you. :-)

I moved to Thailand to learn more about perspectives and cultures in order to increase social consciousness and global awareness. Although that was my original goal upon moving from the United States, my experience became so much more. From understanding new cultures, to constantly exploring new destinations that create laughter and adventure; living in Thailand has been an experience of a lifetime. I never understood my personal happiness could sustain itself as much as it has. In America, I pursued, and directed, non-profits for the better part of a decade. Although I loved helping people, I consistently felt like I was fighting against a system that was built to fail. I was constantly drained, and I never wanted to go beyond my comfort zone since life felt so incredibly tiresome on a daily basis. However, since I moved to Thailand to teach English to Primary students, I learned that life is more than fulfilling - it can be exemplary. Instead of constantly being the captain of a sinking ship, I have been able to help each student on a daily basis in different ways. Sure, teaching English to students who do not naturally understand your language can be hard, and like most experiences in life there are good days and bad days. But it also invigorating, and every day is a new day with new offerings if you are just willing to accept them. Plus, being able to travel to islands, beaches, jungles, elephant sanctuaries, ancient ruins, waterfalls, and so many more places is a huge incentive. As long as you are willing to embrace the culture and learn new ways of living, you cannot say "No" to an opportunity like this.

I've had a wonderful experience teaching in China through CIEE. CIEE has been incredibly supportive and have helped me with anything that I need. Overall, I think this program has been one of the best ways to experience a foreign country while also getting to do something impactful and rewarding. If anyone is considering participating in CIEE teach abroad, I would highly recommend it. Through teaching abroad, I have been able to experience a new country, continue learning Chinese, and make many great friends!

It is an amazing experience with the ability to come and travel around Asia. I am still teaching and love every minute of it. I would do this again if I could and would recommend this trip to anyone.

This trip has changed how I look at the world and has taught me how to travel a lot better/cheaper. I would recommend this experience because being able to see how other countries live you are able to better your life.

When I got the travel bug, I wanted to just pick up and go. But I had zero idea where to start, and was overwhelmed by all the options...it's a big world out there, after all! I didn't know the first thing about visas, or even where I wanted to travel. I knew I wanted to see tons of new places, but I also didn't want to just bop around aimlessly. I wanted some type of home-base...and I wanted to be able to say, "I LIVED in _____," not just, "I've been there."

CIEE held my hand through my entire journey of deciding where to go--they answered all of my bizarre hypothetical concerns with such tranquility and professionalism, that it made me feel like I could go anywhere and be happy. But they also helped me clarify what I wanted for myself.

Once I made the decision to teach for one semester in Thailand, CIEE guided me throughout the visa process...the resources they provided me were incredibly detailed without being overwhelming, and I've NEVER experienced such incredible customer service...they were always a phone call or quick email away, and always had an answer for me. They kept me sane throughout the whole process.

When I touched down in Thailand, orientation was the perfect way to meet the new people who later would become my close friends and travel buddies, explore Bangkok, and ready myself for the unpredictability of the classroom.

I was placed in a VERY small village three hours north of Chiang Mai. It has been the most incredible experience. I live with three other teachers--two Americans and one Canadian--on the school campus. We are the only foreigners in the village, so the entire population knows who we are and are quick to offer warm smiles and say, "Hello, Teacher!" whenever we're out and about.

We've been blown away by the hospitality and generosity our director, co-teachers, and fellow villagers have shown us. The first weekend we arrived, our director personally drove us (on a Saturday!) to the nearest supermarkets and superstores so we could get things for our house. Our co-teachers are fountains of knowledge about life in Thailand....they often offer to personally drive us to the bus station when we want to travel on the weekends, and are always giving us fresh fruit from their gardens!

Teaching abroad, I've discovered, is the PERFECT way to live in a country and travel. During the week, we kick back and relax in the village. I've been cranking through books, laughing the night away with the other English teachers, and watching so many sunsets over the mountains from our school soccer fields. And then on the weekends, we meet up with the other teachers we met at orientation throughout Thailand. It's great, because we're all getting to see each other's placements, and subsequently seeing all this wonderful country has to offer. It's the perfect hybrid of having a home-base, but also living the backpacker lifestyle.

I think the most heart-warming connection we've made is with a woman in our village, Mei. We eat at her restaurant every day...sometimes for lunch AND dinner (yep, her home cooking is that good). As we've gotten to know her (shoutout to Google Translate!), she's become like a mother to us. One night after eating dinner there (as usual), she took us along with her on her monthly grocery shopping trip. She bought us soft drinks, donuts - literally took us on an outing! She pointed out all the spices and sauces she uses to make her dishes, and now, when we come for dinner, she shows us how to make the dishes we order.

It's this type of unprovoked, over-the-top, unnecessary kindness we've received from Thai people that continually blows me away. I am so grateful to have landed here. My eyes have been opened to the fact that working a corporate 9-5 job is not the only option. I've discovered so many avenues for future travel, compensation, and education, and I intend to explore them all.

Most of all, this experience has made me want to pay it forward...to show anyone who walks into my life the same unprovoked, over-the-top kindness that the people in our village have shown us. I think our purpose on earth as human beings is to make our fellow man feel at home, and I've met so many people here who seem to know instinctively how to do just that.

I'm so grateful for this experience, and grateful to CIEE for leading me here!

My volunteer experience in Spain was nothing short of amazing! The students and school that I assisted welcomed me and helped generate a new passion for helping the youth. Each day was different, and there were challenges, but I definitely received a greater appreciation for teachers while adapting to a new culture. My host family is what really made my experience what it was. Their hospitality and generosity has continued even now that I am back in the U.S. They were so loving and courteous throughout the duration of my stay that I did not want to leave. It is the people that make the experience, and I am so happy that I was fortunate to be placed in a home and town that was as inviting as Peñafiel.

As someone who recently finished college having the course offered online is great. The 150 hour certification is a good amount of work but it is on an easy to use platform, and the tutor is easily accessible when help is needed. The weekly discussions provide assistance when needed and allow for group discussion that flows more naturally than a discussion board. I have little to no teaching experience, especially when it comes to teaching someone a foreign language and I found that this course not only helps with lesson and content but also how to teach to different students. Whether that is students of different ages or different learning style preferences. The course prepares you to be flexible and have the ability to make adjustments as needed.

I am so very thankful to have taken this course because it really helped me grow as an educator and as a person. When I took the course I was going to school and had a full time and the amount of work we had to do each week was very manageable. If I was ever stumped or needed guidance I could always reach out to a classmate in our group discussion or contact my professor, who always got back to me on time even though she was in China and we were in completely different time zones. It gave me more intel as to how to lesson plan, manage my time in the classroom, the different ways I could modify my lectures to cater to students needs, and how to work with my co-teacher to help my students understand the material. I think anyone who takes the course will really learn a lot and become a better person for it. Theres a lot of little things that you don't think about when you consider teaching abroad and this course helps bring them to light and prepare you for your journey ahead. After the program I left for my 1st job abroad, had the best time of my life met great people, had the most amazing school and students (whom I adore) and felt very prepared to do my job right and really be an effective teacher. Yes travel is a big part of this journey but what it really comes down to is the impact you make in these children's lives and I feel that this course really helped prepare me for this. I would definitely recommend this TEFL certificate through CIEE and may you also have an amazing teaching experience as I did. The certificate is the 1st step needed and you won't regret it, these kids will change your life! :)

This course is a great example of getting what you pay for. It teaches the same kinds of theory, tools and best practices as those required by my state teacher license exam. The online platform and thoughtful pacing made it easy to balance this thorough course with my day job. The weekly live sessions with the instructor are also very helpful for getting feedback from a seasoned professional in this subject area. Always do your research but make sure this one is under consideration!