CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

No one can truely prepare you for the cultural differences you will endure by living in a third world country after growing up in America, I think ciee did a good job at trying their best. In hindsight I would still have done it through them because they provided comfort and someone to ask questions to when I first moved here. I also think I got really lucky with my school. I love the students and my coordinators are really helpful.

This course was a very through and professional course. My tutor was excrement. I am an avid reader, and schooling has always come easy to me. I really didn’t think that the work would take as long as it did. It wasn’t extremely hard, but it was more involved than I originally assumed. I do believe tha is because it was so thorough. It introduced a variety of both teaching and grammar topics. It showed me where I need improvement, also.

I found this course very informative, from learning about teaching methodologies to ways to set up a classroom. I liked the extra links provided on a unit topic at the end of each unit. The lessons that were presented and activity ideas were helpful, with video examples of teachers in action with their lessons. I also appreciated the feedback from my tutor in the video chat and for each assignment. I had never done a class with video-conferencing, and it was a good experience.

Having just completed my coursework for my CIEE 150 hour certification, I am really excited for the future. This course has really opened up options in my world and mind. Originally my thought was to gain certification so that at a later date I’d be able to travel abroad with my family and work in the EFL field. Now, I’ve found that there’s quite a lot of opportunity right here in my own backyard.
The course is very comprehensive. It’s a challenging pace if you’re working or otherwise busy but it’s doable. My tutor Annette was very engaging and my fellow students kept me on my toes. There’s quite a bit of interaction in forums and peer review. This was my first online class and I have to say it felt very interactive and lively. I would recommend it to any person seriously considering the field of TEFL.

I've taught EFL for over three decades. I only took this class because it was offered at a very low price. It will not increase my salary or help me get any positions. I truly did not learn very much other than I abhor learning online. The content is good for the younger generation who needs something like this, I suppose. The purpose of this course for me was just to see what online learning was like for someone in their mid 40s. I do teach online. Hence, I wanted to experience it for myself.

I've had an amazing experience teaching in Madrid. But I wish I'd applied directly through the Ministry instead of through CIEE. CIEE is really expensive and didn't offer me the help I needed. If you already speak some Spanish (I could get what I needed but was an intermediate speaker when I arrived) and if you have experience and are comfortable traveling, then it's so worth it to apply directly through the Ministry. You get much better healthcare (if you go through CIEE, you must pay up front and out of pocket, only to be reimbursed several weeks later-- which many people can't afford and functionally means you have no insurance). For me, CIEE was a waste of money, but if you don't speak Spanish and/or need lots of hand-holding because you don't have much experience abroad, then I suppose it's worth the money! Here's a searchable facebook group with all the info you could need: https://www.facebook.com/groups/madridauxiliares/

I really enjoyed the opportunity to take the TEFL certification online. This was my first time having formal English learning experience since it's my second language. I learned to speak by reading, listening to TV and movies and being submerged when I got here 25 years ago. My native language is Portuguese and I'm from Brazil. The course was very intense for me but gave me a chance to learn so much. I had a great teacher (Karen Corne) and a great group of ladies that were encouraging and supportive. By the end of the 10 weeks, we had a chance to get to know each other well by interacting with our weekly tutorial and discussion boards.

CIEE was the perfect program to help me prepare to teach in Spain. I appreciated they're help I obtaining my visa, answering questions, and preparing me for life in Spain.

The communication was excellent! Every one of my questions via email was answered within 48 hours. Having step by step help obtaining my visa was especially helpful. Many people who went to the consulate the same day as I did were missing an item or two from the list, but with the list provided by CIEE I had all of the necessary documents. Orientation was not only a good way to prepare to live in Spain, but also meet people in the program. I still spend time with several of the auxiliars that I met through CIEE.

One of the best parts ofb teaching in Spain is how easy it is to travel around Europe! I have loved seeing so many different cultures and so many different places. Make the most of it!

Some advice would be to watch the webinars they've put online. This will help you make a good decision about what type of program is best for you. Also, I would reach out to your school at the beginning of September via email or phone and take some time to stop by if you can before you begin. It gives you a chance to meet some of the teachers and shows that you are someone who is dedicated to this position. Best of luck!

I wanted to get a different cultural experience and I got one. Thankfully I have great roommates and fellow teachers in the program, but be warned that you will most likely be in a place with very little foreigners so the group of teachers you have will be it. In Mohammedia there are some foreign restaurants, but they can be quite pricey. There are some excellent chicken places and a great seafood market. Utilities are affordable with your salary and aside from some mold issues, our apartment they provided has been quite nice. I love the teaching freedom that we are given at the center and I really like my students. Teaching 3-hour classes can seem daunting, but once you get used to it, the time flies by.

The online course is very interactive and informative. The teacher is always willing to work with students requiring extra assistance on certain assignments. In addition, the rest of the support team are very helpful in setting up practicums and other needs that TEFL course participants may have. Although I was unable to attend the weekly tutorials because of other obligations, they are recorded and available to watch online for a couple of weeks after the live sessions, so everyone gets an opportunity to view them.