Teach English in Spain with CIEE

My transition to Madrid was nothing but easy and carefree due to the helpful and constant support I felt from the CIEE staff. Their pre-departure guides were available for step by step instruction which made the process stress free. Once arriving to Madrid, the orientation taught me what I needed to know about living in this new city, my job, and allowed me to meet new friends! I always felt I could ask for help if needed! Overall, teaching English to students has been such a fun and rewarding experience that I would recommend for anyone wanting to grow and discover new places!

As a professional educator I was apprehensive about teaching abroad because I assumed everyone participating in the program would be fresh out of college. Although many are, there are still plenty of other link-minded adults moving abroad. This was a perfect way to refresh my passion for teaching and gain new skills and experiences to bring back to my classroom. CIEE made the transition so easy providing all the necessary information to make the move as simple as possible! Working only 16 hours a week and having three day weekends to travel has made it the most enjoyable year of my working adult life so far.

CIEE has provided me with the best possible teaching experience that I could possibly ask for! My school is wonderful and I know that if I need anything CIEE will be there to help me in a second! Throughout the whole process of applying to landing in Madrid I have been completely at ease and this is only because of CIEE. Moving to another country is a difficult choice and there is no one else I would trust to help me with this adventure than the incredible crew at CIEE! Thank you for changing my life!

I came I to this program knowing some college friends would be around therefore I was furthermore excited for this opportunity. This program provides so many experiences inside and outside the classroom. I worked with Infantil and it's so rewarding. At first the kids would just stare at me in confusion, but after a couple weeks I am proud to say that they are learning the songs and repeating them. Songs such as the itsy bitsy spider, the wheels on the bus, head shoulders knees and toes etc. I would work with the age group again!

It was a very helpful experience and the support was what I needed moving to a new country. CIEE was helpful in the starting process and leading me in the right direction. As the school year is moving forward, CIEE is still there to help and offer support, but they do so from the side. They really make it an experience for you and to only offer their support when you need it. It is very reassuring knowing that CIEE is there to help when it is needed. It has been a great experience overall and I am learning a lot as I move forward each day.

I arrived in Madrid exactly two months ago and have loved every minute of my experience through CIEE. I feel incredibly grateful towards CIEE and all of the support the program has offered; I definitely wouldn't have wanted to begin my career teaching abroad any other way.

CIEE has been helpful from the beginning. The support team is incredibly friendly, and they responded to all of my emails very quickly with genuinely helpful responses. Having to apply for my visa felt extremely daunting and confusing, and CIEE's guidance throughout that process was invaluable.

Their various checklists, being added into a CIEE Facebook group, and the consistent email updates helped me feel assured in my decision to teach abroad and allowed me to communicate with fellow auxiliars before I even got to Madrid.

Once you arrive in Spain, there is a several day orientation, and I could not be more thankful for those few days. I learned so much about Spain, life as an auxiliar in Spain, and so much more. I also met my roommate and a great group of friends during these days. During the orientation, I attended a flamenco show—it was super fun—with my orientation leader and group, and she showed us around the city a little bit. I thought it was cool that CIEE made an effort to introduce us to some of the culture of Spain from the very beginning.

CIEE has also sent an email each month with information about upcoming festivals and events; it's been a very nice way to find out more about what's going on around the city.

I would definitely recommend teaching abroad through CIEE. Without this program, I wouldn't have met the friends that I have now or have felt as comfortable stepping into my role as an auxiliar. Meeting and hearing from auxiliars that didn't go through CIEE has only reinforced how glad I am that I signed up for the program.

Every person I have met that works for CIEE has been very friendly and ready to answer any questions or address any concerns. I am really grateful that I discovered CIEE and am excited to see what is to come in my remaining time as an auxiliar!

This program is awesome! I had never been abroad before, but I felt very prepared by CIEE for my adventure abroad. They guide you through everything from getting your visa to what to bring with you! They also offer a TEFL certification course online, which I highly recommend if you’re looking to get certified.
They are also extremely helpful once you are here in Spain. They have an orientation that helps you get settled and set up your life in Madrid, including looking for housing, getting a phone plan, and getting all your documentation ready for your time here. They even make the appointment to get your ID card, which saves a lot of time and effort. They also tell you all about how to get around and the different options you have for public transportation.
The compensation for teaching is enough to get you through if you budget carefully, and you still have plenty of time to travel and see other parts of Spain and/or Europe. Plus, there’s a ton to do in Madrid itself! I am having a wonderful experience, and CIEE staff here in Madrid is always available to help with any questions or concerns I have.

I am definitely glad that I signed up to participate in Teach in Spain this year. The CIEE staff was extremely helpful in preparing us to come to Spain, taking us step-by-step through the visa application process, etc. It is good to know that they are available to answer my questions and help as needed. One of the difficult things about this program is that there is no housing assistance. The hardest part about moving to Spain was finding housing, but it's not impossible. Fortunately, I was placed at a school that I really like and I am enjoying my experience as a language assistant so far. My compensation is sufficient to cover the general costs of living in Madrid. The only thing I would change about my experience so far is the orientation. I had already found housing when orientation began and so I did not stay in the hotel that was provided by CIEE and I wish I could have gotten compensated. The price of the program is a bit steep considering, but I don't regret my decision.

CIEE was very helpful and responsive during the past year as my husband and I applied for the program, obtained Visas, and made the transition to Spain. I would highly recommend going with this program because of their help with all of the documentation to go abroad. I don’t think I could have done this without them. They made the process seamless and I was always able to talk to someone in the US for help. The orientation in Madrid was good, but I would have really appreciated more direction with housing. It was a very big task that was challenging and expensive for people who had to stay in an Airbnb/hotel between orientation and moving into an apartment. I know that they can’t help that much with this, but just having more housing workshops would have been helpful! Overall, this is a great program and I would choose it again.

Teaching in Spain comes with it's difficulties. It is worth the peace of mind that is brought by using this resource. You have a staff that is accommodating to any and all questions, concerns, or doubts you may have before or during your time in Spain. They provide step-by-step guides for basically any important meeting with in terms of residency, documentation, anything, in order to make sure you can fly through the process. The on-site group is an amazing group of individuals who are more than just a helping hand. Finding a job can be difficult but CIEE guarantees you a position at a school within your preferred city. There are usually many people who do this program, so you get the chance to meet the other auxiliaries at an orientation which is a great chance to meet people.

Many pros and cons to teaching in Spain, but Ciee did make some things easier. They set up visa appointments, helped set up bank appointments, provided travel insurance and the have hotlines. The orientation allowed me to meet many other teaching assistants and did provide some useful information. I do wish they cut some of it down though. There was little to no help with housing. It is important to keep in mind that ciee is not in control of everything, so they cannot ensure that everything goes smoothly. I do feel pretty on my own sometimes. Yet they did secure me a job, which was harder to do on my own. Most people are up in the air of where they will be placed. As for living in Madrid, it is s great city with lots to do. Ciee also provides a social network which is a comfort.

I have loved my time teaching abroad in Madrid. The school is so great and all my fellow teachers are so supportive and genuinely thrilled to have auxiliares helping with the English portion of the studies. I have felt so welcomed and accepted at work, and the city is incredible as well. If you want to have a year (or more!) of adventure abroad while also making *some* money (but it will most likely be spent on travel and tapas—you won’t complain though) then I’d definitely consider a year abroad with CIEE. They help with all the planning and logistics, which made moving across the world much easier than I could have imagined. Also if you feel you need a bit of a confidence boost when it comes to teaching qualifications, they offer a great TEFL program that prepares you for working abroad and teaching English.

I was very happy that I chose to do this program. I absolutely loved my school and loved my bilingual coordinator. I wouldn’t trade my time in Priego for anything. At times it was definitely very difficult and lonely, but getting into a routine and learning the language more and more made it much easier. Also, it was super important to branch out and make new friends (local and american). I do think that CIEE should do a better job with language assistance as the cost of the program is quite large and there is an option to do the same program through the government for free. I’m not sure which program I would do if I were to do it again because the other Americans did have such a positive experience doing their program through the government.

Are you ADVENTUROUS—-AND PATIENT
Those will be tested in your classrooms. Are you able to read cues from students—so you can pivot from
materials/methods that are foundering? If you’re also HUMBLE—you’ll debrief with the Prof and separate ‘wheat from chaff’ for the next session.
The students will challenge you.
They will madden, yet embrace you for honest effort. Beware, however, of older students who will seek your favor—this is just another test you must overcome.
Madrid has a dizzying social scene—for all tastes. Unlike the US, public transport works well—reliable and generally punctual. Get a Bono card—you’ll save enough to surpass the hassle.
CIEE preps you to succeed. Those who are truly serious about the teaching profession will grow the most—and perhaps renew or repeat elsewhere.

I have traveled overseas many, many times, but my three months living and teaching in Spain through CIEE was by far the richest, most memorable experience I have ever had in a foreign country. The family I resided with (mother, father, two sons) was so very welcoming. And they included me in all their activities. I actually felt like a family member. I believe there is no better way to learn a language and a culture. Then there was the high school where I taught English. To a person, every staff member, teacher and student was cooperative, understanding and courteous. No one ever made fun of my faulty Spanish. And lastly, all CIEE staff were unbelievably kind and supportive, from the time I applied to my arrival in Spain to my three month stay. There was always someone on call should I encounter a problem of any kind--which I never did! I would return to Spain via CIEE in a heartbeat (and I will!) Gracias a todos!