Teach English in Spain with CIEE

Overall I had an excellent experience with CIEE, and would recommend this program to anyone. They did a fantastic job helping support us through the logistical pieces of the visa process, as well as giving great information about what to expect in the role of language assistant and how to excel in this role through the very useful online pre-departure course. Even when there were challenging elements of the paperwork to get to Spain, CIEE was always there to support and did what they could to facilitate the process. The in country training was excellent as well and really helped me feel very well prepared for the first day in the classroom!

I had a great experience with CIEE's Teach in Spain program. Personally, I think it is worth the start up costs as the assistance and guidance CIEE provides before departure as well as upon arrival and the whole time you are abroad is so helpful. The visa application process can be a nightmare and a lot of red tape, but CIEE breaks it down for you. I trust their staff a lot and have had very positive experiences with them. One staff member even helped my friend out a lot when she had to pull out of the program last minute. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to go out of their comfort zone and do something unique! It has been a great first year post-college for me.

I’m really glad I chose to teach abroad with CIEE. Not only is the staff super friendly, they’re also here to help every step of the way. I never had an issue or doubt when it came to being part of CIEE. They give no false expectations/promises of what they offer. On top of that, before even getting to Madrid I felt comfortable in knowing that I had already connected with people in the program. There are a ton of resources given to us which are at our disposal throughout the entirety of the program. The option to prioritize age or location for your school is pretty awesome, too. I highly recommend it, especially if this is your first time going abroad.

Everyone should have a chance to travel the world & CIEE makes that easily possible. They help walk you through all of the necessary requirements & documentations! Just read their advice and follow the steps! It’s work, obviously, but they provide you with all of the information. They offer a great online course & have an in-person orientation with small group activities once you arrive. They’re really helpful & make sure to assist you as best they can.
Teaching has become a new passion of mine & my students are the weirdest but best kids!! They are so fun to be around & I love sharing our cultures!
CIEE connects you with some pretty crazy & amazing new friends from all over the world! I recommend this program to all of my friends & literally everyone!

CIEE is a great program. They made the visa process very easy. They connect with the AuxMadrid program in Spain which is excellent. I couldn't be more satisfied. You are a Language and Cultural Assistant in the community of Madrid. You will be placed at a school of your choosing for this program, either an elementary school or secondary school. I choose secondary and I am very happy because I teach middle schoolers and high schoolers. You always have a co-teacher, because you are only the assistant. You do not need to be in charge of grading or classroom management, what could be better than that!

It is FREE to teach in spain when applying through the government. The only difference you will find when applying through CIEE is their advertised "comprehensive support" including health insurance and orientation programs. The health insurance only covers emergencies, so you have to pay entirely out of pocket to see any doctor in any other circumstance. It also does not cover ANY public medical facilities, so you have to see expensive private doctors who you must pay out of pocket and then simply hope the insurance company (itself owned by CIEE -- i.e. a racket) pays you back at some point. The "support" is almost exclusively email-based and all the information they provide is readily available online. The orientation information is also readily available for free. Basically, you're paying almost 3000 USD for a week in a hotel and an email address to which you can direct questions. Not worth it. None of the answers provide any information that you can't just google. The only redeeming quality, as far as I'm aware, is that the Spanish government will place you in any Spanish city while CIEE guarantees a place in the Community of Madrid (but not the center of Madrid). Unless you have never traveled overseas and will be completely overwhelmed by any bureaucratic or administrative processes, don't waste your money.

So I paid the fee, I don't wanna repeat how much cause it just reminds me of what I lost. I came late because of Covid restrictions, and they literally didn't give me a single dollar for food, or hotel accommodation as promised. They didn't even recommend me a place to stay.

On top of that, I had to go to the emergency room for tonsilitis and their insurance policy has ignored me for 5 months about my reimbursement. I had an emergency and called the 24/7 emergency hotline (i mean i do pay for it) the representative picked up as if I was a burden. I wasn't even calling at a weird time it was 10am!

I got ripped off. They made me read my documents myself, do everything myself, and when
I emailed them for help, they just said "read the document".

This isn't my first studyabroad program. I've gone abroad with API, Barcelona SAE, and they were absolutely accomodating. They were helpful. Picked up the phone when I had emergencies even at 2am without complaint. One girl from Barcelona SAE helped me by just being my mentor and talking to me when I felt homesick.

I'm giving them a 5 because the people in the program are pretty nice. I'd apply through the ministry, Fullbright, or any other study abroad program.

I'll say one nice thing, but if you have never traveled abroad and want someone to hold your hand, I guess CIEE would be your last choice. There are other great third parties that will actually use your money to help you.

The process of moving to Spain is confusing. Moving during a pandemic is even more complicated, with constantly changing legal restrictions. CIEE made an overwhelming process manageable by providing step-by-step guides for everything: applying for a VISA, registering as a Spanish resident, getting a residency card, etc. Additionally, they sent out periodic email updates to participants letting us know about travel restrictions and curfew changes throughout the year. CIEE does carry a hefty price tag, which is why some auxiliars opt to apply directly through the Spanish government. However, when I talked to participants who applied through the govt, I was often shocked by how little information they were provided with. They had to figure out on their own how to get a TIE card, how to renew for the next year, etc. For me, CIEE was worth it.