Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

Name: Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid
Brand: CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL
SKU: 29255
Rating: 4.65 (189 reviews)

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4.65 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Madrid

Length

52+ weeks

Classroom Audience

Early Childhood Pre-School Elementary Middle School High School

Payment plans

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Program Details

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree (in any field)
Native-level English fluency
U.S. Citizenship

Job Type

Government

Classroom Audience

Early Childhood Pre-School Elementary Middle School High School

Weekly Classroom Hours

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Salary / Benefits

Monthly Stipend: 1000 Euros;
Temporary accommodations during orientation
Local health insurance coverage with $0 deductible
Ongoing support from CIEE staff in Madrid, including 24/7 availability for emergencies

Starting Price

2350

Price Details

Guaranteed placement as a Language and Culture Assistant in the region of Madrid
Pre-departure Preparation– including extensive visa guidance and resources for apartment hunting
Insurance with 24-hour emergency assistance
24/7 support from CIEE staff in Madrid
Airport pickup and transportation to your orientation hotel on arrival day
Four-day orientation in Madrid (with hotel) on topics including housing, banking, residency, health & safety, and more
Cultural activities during orientation with your new best friends

What's Included

Some Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Travel Insurance

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare Meals

What's Not Included (Extra)

Visa fee not included

Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024

Last Reviewed: Dec 12, 2024

Wish List

178 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

CIEE's Teach in Spain program offers guaranteed placement as a Language and Culture Assistant in the region of Madrid, and support through every step of your journey.

Before departure, CIEE will provide you with expert visa guidance, an online pre-departure course, regular communication, and help you find your community of like-minded teachers that will be heading to Madrid with you. After arrival, CIEE provides airport pick-up on arrival day, a comprehensive orientation, 4 nights of accommodation at orientation hotel, cultural activities, and 24/7 support from CIEE staff in Madrid so you'll be set up for success!

As a language assistant in Madrid, you'll spend 4 days a week in the classroom supporting local teachers and helping students practice conversational English. Your schedule will have a max of 16 in-classroom hours. With three-day weekends you'll have plenty of free time to travel or study Spanish.

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Video and Photos

CIEE Teach in Spain teachers at metro station in Madrid

CIEE Teach in Spain teachers at cafe in Madrid

CIEE Teach in Spain teachers at plaza in Madrid

CIEE Teach in Spain teacher a Retiro park in Madrid

CIEE Teacher in Spain teachers exploring Madrid

CIEE Teach in Spain teachers and friends on outing together

Bring joy and learning to classrooms of children in Madrid

CIEE Teach in Spain teachers at historical site in Madrid

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Program Highlights

Guaranteed placement as a Language and Culture Assistant in the region of Madrid
Airport pickup and 4 nights at orientation hotel in Madrid upon arrival
Network with other CIEE teachers before departure and at CIEE orientation in Madrid
Orientation in Madrid with cultural activities and workshops on housing, transportation, residency, and more
Optional: 2-4 weeks of Spanish language immersion course and homestay before starting teaching position

Program Reviews

4.65 Rating

based on 189 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach Gap Year TEFL

5 rating 72.49%
4 rating 22.75%
3 rating 3.17%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 1.59%

Benefits 4.2
Support 4.55
Fun 4.65
Facilities 4.3
Safety 4.75

Housing 5
Support 4
Fun 5
Value 5
Safety 5

Instruction 4.35
Support 5
Value 4
Academic Rigor 3
Job Assistance 3

Good for Solo Travelers, Adventure travelers, Building your resume

Showing 1 - 8 of 189 reviews

I think that orientation could have included a few things that weren't in the power points online, as I felt I already knew what was covered during orientation week because of them. But, I loved the orientation groups and leaders and thought the experience was absolutely worth it, and I loved all the help going through the visa application process. But I loved that CIEE put together a group of like minded people together, it made finding roomates and making friends so much easier and I haven't once felt alone since being here.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

It's better to take your time finding housing then rush it, you definitely want to get a move on but be okay with living out of an airbnb for 2 weeks before finding something. And learn enough spanish to atleast get by!!

Pros

Application process for Visa guide/stress relief
immediate way to meet like minded people
helpful in tie process

Cons

orientation felt a bit repetetive
after orientation, ciee is pretty disconnected
price is definitely high

It has been such a pleasure working here in Madrid with my school. They have been nothing but amazing to me and cooperative, and I have been slowly immersing myself in the culture of Madrid. In the beginning, I was a bit nervous about how I would acclimate to the lifestyle here; however, this is not my first time in Europe for a long period of time. The first weeks coming into this program I was a bit nervous, but with the guidance of CIEE I was fitted with all the right tools to flourish in this beautiful city.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

Cheaper housing and going out to meet more locals.

Pros

Culture
Food
Work-Life balance

Cons

Not knowing the language
Missing my family
Sleep schedule

I wanted to use this program as a gap year between undergrad and medical school, and I am really glad that I did. This program has let me live in and explore Spain as well as the rest of Europe while I am here. While I don't want to be a teacher, I have really enjoyed the job so far. Being a teacher is a great way to make an impact on so many people's education, and this experience has taught me a lot about myself and what it means to be a teacher. Additionally, this entire experience has taught me so much, and I am excited since I am only half way through!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

Since I am living in Spain for 10 months, I had to get a foreign citizen idenification card. That process was stressful because I had to go to the police station twice, and since I didn't know a lot of Spanish at the time, I was very thankful when that was over.

Pros

Travel Ease
Culturally Immersion
Food and Fun

Cons

Expensive Rent
Culture Shock

Overall, I'm very happy with the support I received from the CIEE staff during my move to Madrid. I encountered many challenges while completing the move, ranging from housing to socializing, and the staff were always there to lend me a hand and make me feel supported. I truly cannot thank them enough for all the support they gave me before, during, and after in-person orientation to ensure my transition to Madrid went as smoothly as possible. I highly recommend the program because of them and the support they give!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My advice to future travelers would be to view every challenge you face as an opportunity to prove your belief(s) in your abilities wrong. There were many times during the program where I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my ability to complete tasks (i.e. funding housing) in an environment outside of my home in the U.S. However, with all of the support I received from the staff and other participants, I dug deep and found the confidence within me to complete tasks that I thought I could never accomplish in a foreign country.

Pros

Effective, available, and supportive staff members.
Sufficient amount of reliable information to refer to throughout the program via Canvas.
Extremely supportive environment during in-person orientation!

Cons

Slow email response time from staff members (at times).
Not enough information provided about life in the classroom itself.

The CIEE program was such a comfort and support for me when making this life changing transition. It is still a comfort to me now, knowing they are there to support me with anything I need even though I am fully adjusted and settled in! They were very helpful with the Visa and TIE process. I would not have been able to do it without their guidance! Also being provided with both medical and travel insurance by the program was game changer. The insurance provider has English speakers to support you as well which gave me peace mind!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Make the most of every opportunity! Tutor, go on field trips, meet new people, travel, try Spanish foods, and learn Bachata! I am already three months in and it has gone by so fast!

Pros

Visa and TIE support
Orientation week in Madrid
Insurances provided

Cons

Program fee but it covers so much!

While you will pay a lot to do a CIEE program, you will receive the benefit of being helped with every step of the visa process and will have many resources to find support and advice for other things regarding your time abroad, both before, during, and after your move. Keep in mind the stipend you receive is extremely low and you should be sure to have a lot of savings before moving, and consider that you are not legally permitted to work another job besides doing tutoring. It is not emphasized when applying but I recommend a basic if not intermediate level of Spanish before going to Spain, as you will have an easier time teaching and interacting with staff, as well as finding housing and going about daily life.

This program provides a great opportunity to live in a new city. Madrid is very easy to navigate with the public transport systems. Housing is challenging to find, but there are many great neighborhoods to choose from. It is easy to travel from Madrid to other Europe cities via cheap flights and trains. Teaching has allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture and customs. When talking with my fellow teachers, I can practice speaking Spanish and work on expanding my vocabulary. I would recommend this experience to adventurous recent graduates interested in learning a new language, living in a new city, and meeting new people.

CIEE is the best program I have been involved with ! I wanted to move out of the country and I saw this was the #1 way people do it. I have never taught before but I knew I wanted to work with Children and live across the world somewhere. CIEE was very helpful especially the first week. I still reach out to my orientation leader with questions and I’ve been here for 3 months already! They provide support and step by step instructions for all your important documents making the move less stressful!

What was your funniest moment?

My funniest moment was the first day my roommate and I moved into our apartment. We couldn’t figure out how to unlock the door with all the deadbolts so we gave up and came back the next day to try again 🤣 in total it took us about 45 minutes to figure it out and it’s a joke between us now!

Pros

Learning some Spanish
Getting to travel to other countries
Working with children

Cons

Occasionally I get homesick
I’m a picky eater so it’s hard to find food I REALLY like
Building your community is scary when you don’t really know the language

Questions & Answers

Is it for native speakers only?

This program requires fluent English proficiency and citizenship from the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, or New Zealand.

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on January 6, 2022

Is it possible to live off 1000 euros a month? How much is average rent?

It’s definitely possible to live off 1000€/month! It’s actually way easier than I thought it would be. I live outside the city center and only pay 360€ a month including utilities and WiFi, but even if you’re in the city center, I think you can find a place for a reasonable price. Groceries and restaurants are way cheaper here than in the states, so cost of living in general is lower, I’d say...

By Derinn Wallace on March 24, 2020

See all 2 answers

What are the differences between TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA?

CELTA—administered by Cambridge Univ and respected worldwide. Must face students in classrooms and be evaluated by peers. The others? Can obtain online without ever meeting a student. Who would you hire?

By Brian Morris on March 18, 2020

See all 2 answers

Where are most opportunities available?

Hi, Clark! We have programs in many countries, take a look at our website to compare programs: https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/work/teach-english-abroad/pr…. You can reach out to our country coordinators using the 'contact us' tab at the top. Please feel free to reach out to us at teach@ciee.org. Looking forward to working with you! Teach Team

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on February 5, 2020

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Rachel Dietz

Program

Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

Rachel is a Minnesota native who is passionate about multiculturalism and international education. As a CIEE Teach Abroad participant, Rachel was able to live in Madrid, Spain and loved teaching English to students of all kinds. During her time abroad she really enjoyed things like trying all different types of Spanish cuisine, traveling to various cities within Spain and all over Europe, and increasing her vocabulary in Spanish.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

I chose the CIEE Teach Abroad program in Madrid because I really wanted guaranteed placement in that region of Spain as well as support with the moving process (like the visa assistance). Additionally, I was traveling alone so I wanted to be connected with other people who were going to teach abroad making the in-country orientation another important factor so I could meet new people right away.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

CIEE assisted me with the visa application process and helped guide me to get all my paperwork in order before leaving the US. After arrival in Spain, I attended orientation with CIEE Staff where they covered information like what to expect for the teaching position, how to get your residency and metro cards, insurance and safety information, as well as planned cultural activities. Throughout my 2 years teaching in Madrid I was also invited to various events with CIEE staff. I didn't have to organize much on my own- CIEE was great about keeping me informed each step of the way on the tasks I needed to complete to successfully teach abroad in Spain. The most work I did was to find housing once I arrived in Madrid, but CIEE did offer advice to help me navigate that process as well.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One thing I would tell people that are going to teach abroad in Madrid with CIEE is to do your research and plan your trip with adequate time. The earlier you apply to the CIEE program the better, as it allows for more time to save money, apply for your visa without stress, and to be able to source information about Madrid that will make your time in Spain easier. The research process should be thorough- what are the different neighborhoods and what do they offer? Where is your school placement and how would you get there on public transportation? What are the biggest national holidays and what are the local customs? What are cultural differences between US and Spanish schools? These are just some examples, but they are things that are important to know beforehand so that you can show up to your first day at work cool, calm, and collected.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

When I was teaching in Madrid I worked Monday-Thursday and I had 16 classes (all 1 hour each). I was usually at school from 9am-3pm and when I wasn't in class I was either prepping class materials in the staff lounge or in the cafeteria having a coffee and tostada with the other language assistants and the teachers that I had befriended at the school. After school I usually gave private tutoring lessons to make some extra cash and then weekends were for going out with friends, traveling throughout Spain and Europe, and time to relax.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear when going abroad was about being able to make friends. Having been abroad before, I knew that having a good support system of friends is important to avoid being homesick and to really make the most of your time living overseas. To overcome this fear, I decided to go through a program like CIEE because I knew that they would connect me with others who were going to teach in Spain. And from there I tried to take advantage of every opportunity I had to meet new people: I went to a meet-up in my hometown in the US with people from CIEE who I met on the CIEE Facebook group, I made plans to go out for drinks with people at orientation in Madrid, made sure to friend/follow people on social media to stay up to date, made an effort to get to know the other language assistants and teachers at my school placement, and attended all the events that I was invited to throughout the year by CIEE and other organizations.

What is the most important skill to work on if you want to be successful when teaching English abroad?

The most important skill is to be proactive. The process of moving abroad requires you to pay very close attention to various tasks and not doing so can delay or even terminate your plans to move abroad to teach English. Once you arrive, it's really important to be proactive about integrating into the culture and into your job, because you are a visitor, not the protagonist. This means you need to be the one to initiate learning the language, the cultural norms, the social interactions to help build trust, etc.- all of these things can help you to give a good first impressions and set the tone for a positive experience.

Jay Tipton

2019 Alum

Tracy Kuhle

2019 Alum

Valerie Sokolova

2018 Alum

Sebastian Wood

2018 Alum

David Mack

2016 Alum

Sarah Anderegg

2016 Alum

Mark Reese

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Lauren Massey

Program

Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

Job Title

Senior Coordinator, Teach Abroad in Spain

Lauren grew up in the Pacific Northwest and became interested in travelling while studying abroad in college. She taught English in South Korea for two years and later spent a year and a half in Thailand and Nepal during a career break. While not hiking, skiing, or camping near her home base now in Maine, she loves helping others navigate the process of moving abroad.

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories was heading to Japan for a long weekend when I was teaching in South Korea. We flew to Tokyo and spent the weekend planning our sunrise summit of Mt. Fuji at sunrise. It took multiple trains, buses, and taxis to get there, but it was a really unique experience to be able to summit this mountain in Japan with friends who were from Canada, Italy, and South Africa.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I think I've learned a lot about the process of moving abroad. Although I've done it twice since college, everyone has their own individual experience. Some people go right after college while others go during a career break. Some people have traveled extensively beforehand while others have just gotten their first passport. Everyone is from a different area of the world with different experiences leading up to this moment. No one has the exact same route or plan even if they're all going to teach in Spain. It's really fun to hear about everyone's individual passions and reason about why they want to go on this adventure and I've been learning so many unique stories along the way.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

That they're going to continue on and go to another CIEE Teach program in another country. Teaching abroad is addicting, so this actually happens quite often! I also know of a lot of stories and people who have met their partner abroad and are getting married. You never know what life will bring if you move across the world. It opens up endless possibilities.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would want to teach in China. I never had the chance to go there while living in Asia and think it would be fascinating to live there for a year or two. I really want to eat all the food, be there during Chinese New Year, hike parts of the Great Wall, learn a bit of the language, and see what it's like to really live there.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I love the support that CIEE offers to those looking to teach abroad. We connect with our teachers up to a year or even more before they depart. This gives us the ability to connect with people and offer individual guidance. Our team is really passionate about making this process smooth and we've all been through it, so we know what it's like. I'm always proud of my team! We get along and work well together while helping each other when needed.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

We all communicate really well and are all able to adapt and be flexible when things get busy. We don't only communicate well internally, but do our best to reach out to all our teachers very regularly and track down that they are going to successfully get abroad on time with the correct documents and preparation beforehand. We don't passively wait for challenges to come to us, but we anticipate new changes and plan out how to resolve them early on.

Miranda Rodway

Senior Coordinator, Teach in Spain Programs

Laura Canadillas

Teach in Spain Senior Program Coordinator

Location

Location:

Madrid

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 34 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 43 F

Jul-Sep

90 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

68 F / 37 F

Airports:

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas

( MAD )

A world-class European capital city steeped in art, architecture, and history, Madrid is an affordable destination for students and tourists alike. Enjoy parks, museums, and bustling nightlife in this iconic Spanish city.

About CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL will support you through every step of your English teaching adventure, empowering you to explore new cultures, meet amazing people, and make a lasting impact on the lives of your students! CIEE TEFL's online courses will teach you everything you need to know to be a successful English teacher, from how to plan and deliver...