CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

CIEE was so helpful during my time teaching in Thailand! I made my decision to leave last minute and they were very accommodating in helping me get my visa in order. I think the most important thing the program gives you is a network of other teachers, which is super helpful when moving to a different country. I met a lot of my friends abroad at orientation with CIEE, which made moving to a different country a lot easier. The program was even helpful after I finished my contract with them in Thailand, helping me with additional paperwork that had nothing to do with them. Overall worth every penny.

Where do I even begin?! I was unhappy with my current teaching position in the states, felt like I was getting older and hadn't experienced all that I deserved to, and had an interest in meeting new people from all walks of life. I made the sudden choice to submit my application, put down my deposit and begin a new chapter in my life. The fears, insecurities, and worries flew right out the window the second I met Elizabeth and Pa at our layover in Tokyo. I had never traveled outside of the country for more than one week, once. I was putting my faith in the CIEE organization, Thailand, and within myself. I immediately knew that Thailand would be a life changing experience for me once I started my first day of orientation. It's like freshman orientation all over again - find friends, make friends, be outgoing, explore the area, and figure out where you belong. The activities and lessons during orientation were extremely helpful. Once I got settled into my town, apartment and school, I knew I was going to fall in love even more. I taught during the week; gaining relationships with the students and staff, learning about the Thai culture and Thai school system, learning about myself and my teaching abilities in another country with a language barrier, and met other foreign teachers from all over the world that cultivated into life-long friendships. On the weekends, I'd meet up with my travel best friends, and we'd travel to a new location - exploring different towns, beaches, mountains, and cultures. We slept in tents, tiny rooms, air bnbs, hostels, and on buses. It was all worth it. Every long car ride, sketchy bus ride, or sleeping arrangement was worth it once you got to your final destination.

My favorite memory is every single person I met, and every single adventure I went on. I can't choose one. These 6 months in Thailand were the best 6 months of my entire life, without a doubt.

My only advice to you is to take very opportunity you can to experience the country you are in, speak to as many people as possible, learn about everyone and everything, and eat lots and lots of food! Live this life with your heart first, and experience all that is available to you.

I taught in Thailand for a year and it was the best! When I first got there I thought I knew what to expect. And, despite being wrong, I found my small northern village to be filled with kindness, understanding (lots of communication hiccups at the local market at first), and support from the school and community. Everyone whipped out their best body language and English to help the new teacher. Even though the foreign teachers (and local population) consisted of me and another English teacher I had a blast being immersed in a completely different culture, tackling language barriers, and working with some of the most caring students (yes, even the difficult students were kind at heart). I think the best lessons and mindset you can have (which was stressed at the OEG orientation) was that your students come first (your not JUST here to go to islands for cheap...but don't get me wrong travel is super cheap here), appreciate and get to understand their culture (this isn't America, but it is something great in a different way), and stick through those first couple months. Even though I had traveled or studied abroad the first part was challenging, but as every month passed I would looked back and laugh at the culture shock I had experienced at different times. It is called the land of smiles for a reason.

FYI Future Teachers: Baby powder does wonders for keeping bugs out of your room. Also, pick up a local kitten and your lizard/insect problems will disappear over night! Plus, it is super cheap to take your pets to the vet in Thailand. The food (especially up north) is the best in the world. I hope you like spicy, and believe it or not Pad Thai is that most boring thing on the menu. Go to Phu Chi Fah in the winter months (ask OEG staff for specifics). Oh, and when your mom packs half your bag with soap, tooth brushes, and other US products there is no need. Even my rural village had a Tesco Lotus with a ton of familiar products, similar or cheaper prices, and a Dairy Queen/KFC. But consider bringing your own toothpaste if you like a particular kind...two-three big tubes should be fine. And, most important, WEAR YOUR HELMETS when traveling by motorbike. And tell your students to wear theirs, too. With the humidity and heat your hair is never going to look so good that you can fool your self into not wearing one.

Despite any challenges that arose the staff at CIEE (stateside) and OEG (thai-side) were prompt about getting answers and results. They were all very friendly and professional. I recommend this program to anyone that is not ready to do it on their own.

Teaching in Thailand had to be the smartest decision I ever made. Before coming to Thailand, I had no idea what to expect. I have travelled in my past, but to move to a country on the other side of the world was a huge change for me. I have always lived in a city, and when I got my initial placement in a rural village, I was extremely nervous. However, being placed in a rural village ended up being the best part about my time in Thailand.

I remember when I looked up my town it didn't even show up on Google. I was a bit apprehensive thinking I would be out in the middle of nowhere but that wasn't the case at all. I was surrounded by such beautiful scenery and was an easy motorbike ride to the city. The amount of help and support I had from my host school was incredible. People bent over backwards to help me in any way that they could. I never met such a kind and loving culture especially when it came to the people in my village. When it came time for me to fly back to the states, my eyes filled with tears saying goodbye to my local friends, like the lady who sold me fruit, the family who fixed my motorbike, and the family who made me dinner once a week. Being in my little village ended up being my favorite part of living in Thailand.

Travel was always a big priority of mine and I was able to have an incredible balance between having a true authentic Thai experience during the week and being a tourist on the weekends. I think being in a rural town really opens your eyes to a "true" Thai experience whether it was helping plant rice in the fields, riding your motorbike at sunset and stumbling across a hill tribe village, or even just singing karaoke with your neighbors while you try exotic foods. I never once felt alone because I was always surrounded by such a strong support system. My co-workers treated me like a family member and you were really able to immerse yourself with the locals in town. I personally think that being placed in a rural community in Thailand was such a blessing.

I moved to Thailand alone hoping for an adventure of a lifetime and it sure paid off. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Because Thailand was such a positive experience for me, I am planning to continue to teach abroad for a few more years. I hope the next place I teach will provide me with an amazing experience like my time in rural Thailand.

This program has wonderful job placement and the Chiang Mai office in particular has stellar staff. The orientation was helpful and it was a great way to meet all the other teachers that are placed around the country for support and travel companions. I was placed in a smaller city and while at first I was hesitant, in the end it turned into the best experience possible. My placement was excellent. I did feel that the cost was a bit high for the services offered.

After initially deciding to teach for a single semester in Thailand, I extended my contract and ended up staying at my school for 2 years due to the positive work environment, relationships, and satisfaction that came from teaching.

I stayed in touch with many fellow teachers in my program and everyone that I talked to had a very positive experience with CIEE and their schools. Even though I've been back in America for a few years now, I still feel like Thailand is a 'second home' of sorts and I plan to travel there and visit for the red to of my life!

While most of my friends spent their last couple of months at school stressing over jobs, interviews and salaries, I kept myself busy deciding on my choice of placement in Thailand. I decided to teach in Thailand during my last year of university, and I haven’t looked back since.

Before I began searching for teaching opportunities, I reached out to a couple of friends who had previously taught in the Land of Smiles. Although none of them had chosen CIEE as their provider, almost all recommended the “Teach English Abroad in Thailand with CIEE” program for its reputation, value and placements. CIEE's sign-up process was simple, easy to navigate and full of details. From applying for a Thai Non-B Immigrant Visa to accepting my school placement, CIEE ensured that the stressful part of applying was anything but stressful.

I'm currently teaching in Phetchabun, a town just 4-5 hours north of Bangkok. What Phetchabun lacks in skyscrapers and "concrete jungles," it makes up for in beautiful landscapes, adventurous hikes and authentic Thai experiences. My placement with CIEE is exactly what I wanted and as I continue to teach for a second semester, I couldn't be happier.

The school day in Thailand starts off with assembly at 8 a.m. sharp. There, students sing the National Anthem, listen to announcements and recite prayers. During one particular morning, I noticed students pulling out money from their pockets. After a couple of minutes of confusion -- and many minutes of asking around -- I learned that the students were collecting money for an out-of-district student whose home had burned down. While students in the States will gladly raise money for their own sports teams, it's hard to imagine American students raising money for someone who doesn't attend their own school.

If you're looking to teach in Thailand, but are unsure about the process, I highly recommend looking into CIEE's vast network of current and former participants. CIEE's application platform is easy to understand and simple to use.

The CIEE TEFL course has been a great experience and I'm really satisfied about my time and money invested in it. I took the course because a friend of mine was going to take it and I thought it was a good opportunity to do it as well. I'm glad I made that decision!
This is an intense course and it requires time and commitment from the students, mostly in the first part of it; at the same time it is a really well structured course and designed for the students to organize according to their own schedules.
Definitely it's a door for great experiences and it's really helpful if you want to start a teaching career.

The CIEE TEFL course has proven to be an invaluable experience. At first, I was hesitant because it was my first on-line class, but my tutor did a great job facilitating classroom discussion and was always there to assist my classmates and I through live tutorials and active weekly discussion boards.
The course can be intense and does require a commitment. However, do not let that steer you away! I really enjoyed being able to plan my own schedule and work at my own pace. The flexibility of the course allowed me to complete it alongside a full-time job and I was able to plan around scheduled meetings and vacations. As expected, I walked away from the course with the knowledge to organize and design lesson plans and to communicate with my students. Weekly discussions with my tutor and “pro” tips from previous alums allowed me to walk away with a toolbox filled with all sorts of sample activities and lessons. However, the CIEE TEFL program was so much more than that! It really helped me to develop my cultural awareness and intercultural communication skills.
The TEFL certification is a great thing to have in your back pocket if you are planning on spending time abroad, but it can also give you the tools you need to teach English right from your hometown, whether it be in an on-line classroom, or at a local EFL center. The course material even helped me organize more efficient training tools for my current job! With your CIEE TEFL certification, the possibilities are endless!

I found CIEE after a disappointing incident.
My goal was to return to South Korea as a guest English teacher.
My purpose was to re-enter the workforce over the age of 50.

It was not an easy goal to attain and I needed an advocate and I found that in Luke Beland. He knows how to penetrate bureaucracy, i.e leave no stone unturned.

He was honest about the endless hurdles. His presence during the 13 months was systematic.

I understood the last hurdle. I could jump it but Korea could decide differently.

Korea was concerned about my health and stamina. I, now, find this to be an accurate concern. This experience could be likened to the World Senior Games.

I could not have done this without CIEE and specifically, Luke Beland.