CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Reviews

Doing the 20 hrs hands on teaching was one of the most touching experiences I ever had. I was lucky enough to do my 20 hr teaching during my summer internship at work. My company was so thoughtful in providing an English class to its workers that didn't speak English at all They were all adults and I felt intimidated at first, but in the end it was so inspiring to see them try so hard to learn.

The curriculum was very organized and easy to understand. I thought they did a good job of keeping the program interactive even though it was done through an online platform. After completing the course, CIEE has been very consistent in sending opportunities to teach and use my certificate and has offered continuous support.

I am so grateful for ciee 150 hr tefl course. It prepared me for one of the most amazing experiences in my life. Teaching EFL in China has helped me grow professionally and personally. My daily environment living and working in Asia is a constant challenge that a look forward to everyday. When I enter the classroom my students make it all worth it! Without CIEEs TEFL course I would not have the foundation to be an affective teacher. I came to China well prepared and ready to teach English!

The TEFL-course is well designed and uses a platform that is very user friendly. It also connects you with other people wanting to teach abroad, and in that way is a useful networking resource and support forum. I highly recommend this comprehensive course if online certification is what you are looking for.

CIEE provided me with an engaging course that kept me on my toes! Our tutor Niamh was absolutely terrific. She was supportive throughout the course and gave feedback immediately. Between juggling other courses she has teaching nailed down. It was a great intro to what you'll be doing out in the field.

Having spent the last four years in pursuit of a degree in Spanish and Latin American studies, I was ready to start travelling the world and visiting the places I had been studying about. The problem is, everyone wants to travel the world or live abroad, but very few have the finances to pick up and leave whenever they want. I started out by searching for jobs in various countries in South America. Finally, I came across CiEE. I began investigating the teaching programs at technical colleges throughout Chile. It was just what I was looking for! As an instructor, I would have a stipend that would allow me to stay for an extended period (10 months) while still able to travel around a bit with money I had saved up. Their 150 hour course seemed daunting at first, but the staff wasted no time in reaching out to me and making sure I had access to all of the resources necessary to successfully complete the course. After finishing the online portion, I found an opportunity to observe ESL classes at my university as part of the 20 hour capstone practicum. I was able to pass "with distinction" and I'm now just weeks away from travelling to Chile where I'm sure I'll have the time of my life!

The CIEE 150-Hour Certification Course is worth the effort and time that it takes to complete. If you are looking for a good course, or a good company that you can trust to get you where you want to be, this is exactly the course for you.
I took the course after I returned from abroad in order to have a physical certificate, and while there was a break down in communication during a change in staff and I was never sent my certificate, I would still recommend the course and the company. I have used the company three times now, and I've yet to be wholly disappointed with anything.

South Korea is great place to live and teach and I would recommend it strongly to anyone looking for a cultural enrichment experience. Regrettably however, I cannot recommend employing the services of CIEE. I am currently in South Korea, in the second half of my contracted year. Once I decided to teach abroad, I enlisted CIEE, an organization that represented that they would streamline your process, guide and support you through negotiating your contract with a school, find housing, etc. Not only did they fall quite short of these marks, they were in turns incompetent, impolite or dismissive about it. Let me tell you my story.
Before leaving the States for Korea, CIEE secured housing and set terms for a 1-year teaching contract. I was told by CIEE that they negotiated a reasonable salary for me, which to my dismay, turned out to be an utter canard. After living here for 7 months, I now know that, with my qualifications, finding a similar position at a substantially higher remuneration is actually quite easy.
The CIEE in-country coordinator, indicated that my Korean apartment would be in a newer building, which turned out to be a woefully inaccurate characterization. The building is dirty and poorly kempt. There was an undisclosed monthly 'officetel' fee in excess of $100 that charges for amenities such as parking, cleaning and security; all services that do not exist. Further, the building is
Commercially-zoned with businesses above and below my apartment. I lived above a restaurant and just below a very loud nightclub that routinely blasted through my walls. The apartment is so marginally insulated that I could feel the wind gusting through my windows, which on cold days have a frozen covering. I don’t mean a little frost but rather, a thick layer of ice. Between the surprise ‘officetel’ charge and the unanticipated and exorbitant heating bills, it was difficult for me to make ends meet. Again, CIEE was unresponsive to my problem.
Upon arrival in South Korea we CIEE recruits attend an orientation where I happily forged several wonderful friendships with other new teachers. We were introduced to our in-country CIEE coordinator who, we were told, was there to assist with various issues that might arise. This coordinator offered a phone plan, leading us to believe it the best option out there. Not long after, we each realized that this plan was of strikingly poor value. I repeatedly asked for the name of the phone company and a detailed invoice, which was never provided. We discovered that he was pocketing $20.00 a month for the 'service' he provided. He continues to take advantage of foreigners in this way, and it is a dubious abuse of trust.
And now, my biggest disappointment with CIEE: A mere two weeks before the end of the school year and three weeks before the beginning of the next one (in Korea, the school year finishes at the end of February and the next year begins the following week in March), we were quite suddenly informed that our school was closing. We were out of jobs and the school had no intention of honoring its contracted obligations to provide a one-month salary in severance and pay our airfare home.
To date, CIEE has been disappointingly unresponsive when petitioned for information or assistance. Stateside CIEE promises to help but their Korean representative does nothing. My coordinator failed to produce any viable new leads or, frankly to show much interest in doing so. Consequently, on my own I have searched for a new job and apartment. With my qualifications, every job I interviewed for, without exception, offered me my sought-after position at a much higher salary than my CIEE-procured school. For this I found my own recruiter at no expense to me (the schools paid his fee). This recruiter went on interviews with me and delineated my needs and wishes at each interview. As my new job was over an hour away, I had to move at my own expense. Not only am I earning more, my new apartment is much nicer and there are no hidden costs.
Since arriving in Korea, I have unsuccessfully appealed to CIEE for help with various adjustment bumps, particularly since I learned I was to shortly be stranded without a position. As I’ve been overwhelmed with finding a new job and apartment on my own, I enlisted the help of my family in the States to try and communicate with CIEE main office on my behalf. My mom called CIEE who denied any and all responsibility for their actions. For example: 1. They didn’t KNOW they had had negotiated a contract with a financially unsound school so it was not their fault. (Huh, you don’t properly vet your schools? And since when is “not knowing” a viable excuse?) 2. It was the school that proposed a below-standard salary, not CIEE. (Aren’t they there to negotiate a good salary for a stateside applicant who paid them in good faith?) 3. It was also not their fault if the school fails to pay severance or airfare. 4. When my mom mentioned that I got a better job and apartment on my own, their response was how could they help when I hadn’t contacted them. Regrettably, that is not the case. 5. As to the local coordinator profiting by procuring for his clients overpriced mobile phone plans…. Well, CIEE was finally stumped on that one.
I am sorry to say that not only have I lost money to this organization, it has cost me in many ways. I’d always thought that non-profit organization meant you were the good guys. I know it’s hard to believe, but you’ll do better on your own.

I like the program it is a good program. The orientation was enjoyable and helpful, i love my placement. My boss is amazing. Everything is going well in my day to day life. difficulties are being overcome.

I was hesitant to pay money to be placed abroad, but I'm so glad I went through CIEE! The in-country orientation and support they provide are worth every penny. I've been lucky with a fabulous school placement, but other friends not so much. When they had problems with their school, they called CIEE and a local staff member was at their school to resolve the issue within the hour. Being abroad alone is scary enough as it is - there's no reason to do it without the support CIEE provides. Additionally, CIEE provides a network of foreign teachers to share your experiences with, learn from and travel with during your stay.

Ali was especially helpful from helping me choose China in the beginning until I received my visa and completed my orientation in Chongqing. It's great to be able to speak with someone who's been in your shoes before.

Just having CIEE assist you through the work visa process is enough to make the investment worthwhile.