CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

Overall, I've had a superb experience with CIEE. After comparing multiple programs, I decided on CIEE and have never regretted it. From your TEFL certification to job placement, they've got you covered. In addition to the TEFL course (that includes an abundant amount of resources), they also provide a pre-departure mini-course to prepare you for the big move (focusing on work place and societal cultural differences).

For me, the personal support has been the best part of the program. They have gone above and beyond to provide guidance and support for me throughout my experience. When I was stressing over getting all of my documents in time, I remember just bombarding Luke and Brad with emails. Without fail, they'd respond within 24 hours and solve any issues I was having. During the interview process, I once called Brad on a weekend asking for advice. He was very patient and helped me through it even though I had abruptly called him without prior warning. (Seriously, Luke and Brad are the MVPs.)

Ultimately, CIEE will provide you with everything you need to start your journey. However, there are also many components that are up to you to figure out - such as what offers to accept and what you make of your time. As people have mentioned, do not settle on a job. If a position does not seem like a right fit, you don't have to say yes to the dress. CIEE will help you find another interview. I wish I was more sure of this before coming (but that's a different story). I definitely recommend CIEE to anyone that is looking for a program to set you up with the basics for your first year teaching abroad.

Almost everything about CIEE is amazing, I had and almost entirely positive experience. The customer support is phenomenal, and these days you'd be hard pressed to find people who are as responsive and helpful with your concerns. I even got personal emails from higher-ups helping me with my situation. I'm pretty skeptical since most of my customer service experience has been bad, but this certainly changed my perspective entirely. Getting my certificate at the end of the course has taken a bit longer than I would have liked, but I will update this review if it comes soon. This class is easy, too. I was already taking almost a full courseload when I had this TEFL, and I still had plenty of time to study and keep an A grade. They say you need 3 hour a day, Mon-Fri to be successful, but that's a bit of an exaggeration. I needed only about 1.5 hours or less for each module, and I don't think I spent more than 6-7 hours a week on this course. Every experience is different, however, so that's just my two cents. It's also important to keep in mind that this is VERY cheap for a TEFL. Most TEFL courses will run you about $1,200 on the low end, especially for online courses.

I HIGHLY recommend CIEE's TEFL course. I can't imagine having done it anywhere else. I learned a ton, and I felt like I was treated very well, all things considered.

To be fair, Madrid in and of itself is enough to ensure that almost any long-term stay will be rewarding. That being said, CIEE took care of so much of the nitty gritty stuff that can normally impede people from taking the plunge into this kind of an international adventure. By the time I arrived they had already helped me with understanding the visa process inside and out, as well as provide cultural and teaching guides. The staff -- especially during the critical first weeks of acclimation -- go above and beyond to make sure that everyone feels comfortable with adjusting to a new country, and they make the otherwise dreadful task of completing your immigration paperwork easy and seamless. They also had a lot of activities throughout the year that connect you with other teachers and staff. In short -- I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone. If you have lots of travel experience: you'll appreciate that they take care of the annoying tasks that come with moving so you can begin to immerse yourself in the country's culture and history. If you're a novice traveler: you'll get the kind of guidance and support than not only answers questions, but is intended to empower you to focus on your primary objective of relishing in a beautiful exchange of cultures! Sorry if this seems overly romantic. I just had a damn good time...

I graduated this past May with an Elementary Education degree. I LOVE to travel and had heard about people’s experiences teaching abroad. With so many TEFL certifications/programs out there, I felt a bit lost until I found CIEE. CIEE has helped me secure a job in Hanoi, Vietnam and their online TEFL course worked great with my schedule. I was able to work part time and complete this course. Although it can be demanding at times, it’s well worth it! Even though I studied Education in college, this course has taught me a TON when it comes to developing lessons for ESL students. This course provides tons of resources that has definitely prepared me to teach English confidently.

The Teach English Abroad Program in Spain was great if you want to teach and want to experience something new in a foreign country. I would reccomend this program to anybody who wants to start a career in teaching English abroad or expand an existing career of teaching English abroad. You will make a lot of new friends and have fun when you hangout with them. This is a great opportunity to not only see Spain but also to see a lot of it´s neighboring countries. If you have never taught or studied abroad, I reccomend that you try this program out. You might be nervous at first but once you have settled in, you will be just fine. Even at the end of the program if you really didn´t like it, you don´t have to do it again.

I had a great time in Portugal with CIEE. The CIEE staff in Maine and Lisbon were great with their pre-trip coordination and assistance. My coworkers and supervisors at school were very helpful and regularly gave me chances to contribute to the school lessons. Although the program is not paid, CIEE sets you up with a homestay and the school gives you three hours of weekly Portuguese lessons. So, there is still plenty to take from the experience aside from money.

I've loved moving to Spain. It's a challenge and a gift, and you have to be ready for some surprises. For example, my placement changed unexpectedly before I moved, and I was SO nervous to live inside the city of Madrid! But now I'm settled in a flat in the oldest part of the city, and can walk to art museums, cathedrals, Christmas markets, and the ballet. If you want to shake up your life and learn a new language, this is both a fun and practical way to do it!

Basic info: Auxiliares assist an english teacher in a bilingual school for 16 working hours a week. That includes tutoring groups of kids, conducting their weekly oral exams, or preparing information about America to spark their interest. I work from 9-2 MTW, with a 30 minute break, and 9-12 on Thursday. The cost of living is lower than in many US cities, so you can cover expenses (rent, food, doctor, going out to eat, metro pass, bills), plus some travel with the monthly stipend of E1000.

Thoughts on CIEE: On the front end, it is more expensive to apply via CIEE, but the insights and assistance are worth the cost. Months before the move, Maxine, and later Samantha, were there to field my (numerous) questions about everything from applying for a visa, to school placements, to the delays caused by the 2017 hurricanes. They also have an in-country course that provides details on housing, managing finances, the metro system, banking, getting a permanent residency, health care, cultural differences and on and on. An in-country staff is also available by email or office hours to help with difficult questions or in case of emergency. Big thanks to CIEE for all their help!!

This course was phenomenal in preparing me for my TEFL career. It covered all aspects of modern EFL teaching along with the hows and the whys. The assignments helped me build from no-experience to planning my own lessons targeted at specific learners, and the platform allowed for great interaction with my peers. After completion I feel prepared for all sorts of challenges in the classroom. I would definitely recommend this course, especially if you have little to no teaching background before hand.

This was an excellent course that provided me with a solid foundation as a future EFL teacher. Having little to no prior experience with teaching and education, I really feel like I learned everything I needed to know in order to start teaching English. The course is well-structured and easy to follow, and prepares you well to complete the weekly assignment. The information is presented in a very accessible way and staff/the tutor are always there to help you with anything, be it a technological problem or questions about the material/an assignment. The 'Practicum' aspect of this course is especially valuable as it allows you to observe how the concepts you have learned play out in real life, and also gives you a chance to put into practice what you have learned about teaching. I can say that this course is certainly worth the cost, and will provide you with a fun and enriching learning experience!

I would want future participants to know that this is one of the scariest, hardest things you'll ever do--and you have to do it. You'll regret it forever if you don't, but even worse--you'll be missing out on the chance to become a different version of yourself. I am different because of Thailand: I am more well-aware of my privilege, I am less worried about trivial things, I am more aware of the importance of being friendly towards foreigners here in America, I am more appreciative of things, I am more confident and able to take on new challenges alone. Most importantly, I am proud to be who I am, and I have a newfound level of respect for myself; you won't find this confidence, this self-worth, if you don't test it. Also, I want MORE out of my life than I did before; meeting travellers, learning about their life experiences and their various ways of arriving at their careers, made me less likely to settle in my own life. For instance, I learned about a writer who has been freelance writing for 10-years while he travels the world, and that is my new goal: I've learned through this experience that the 9-to-5 desk job is not the only option.