Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

CIEE is a great option for those who have never taught/studied abroad before, those that don't speak Spanish, or those who do not have the time to invest in preparing everything on their own. The Auxiliar program is large enough and established enough that if you wanted to and you felt comfortable enough, you could navigate it on your own, but for those that are nervous, busy, or only speak English, the CIEE support and orientation is great! They give you guidance on finding housing, obtaining a visa, what to expect from your schools, among lots of other great information. (The program fee is quite expensive though, $1000 for what essentially amounts to just information and a few nights in a hotel for orientation, especially since you can't renew with CIEE for your subsequent years without paying another $500).

I had an amazing time in Madrid. My schools and fellow teachers were amazing, the vibes of the city are so fun, and I got to know incredible people from all over the world. I went in expecting to only stay for 6 months and I almost stayed another year because I was having such a good time.

For the Spring Semester of 2019, I taught English in Spain through CIEE and the first thing I want to say is that my experience was excellent! I enjoyed every minute of my first semester and actually reapplied to teach one more year. I was placed in Huelva, which is located in the south of Spain - Andalucia. I will be teaching one more year at the same school in Huelva. The support from CIEE from the very first step until the very last step was top notch! The team in Portland, especially Hilary, was also fast and informative. I wrote many blog posts for CIEE so I worked with her quite often and she was always pleasant and kind. For anyone interested in teaching abroad, I would highly recommend considering CIEE. It is a door-opening experience that anyone would enjoy!

My time in Madrid might be the most important period spent in my entire life. Professionally, culturally, and personally, I felt like I was challenged. Feeling myself mature everyday was so exciting. The instant gratification of progress and amazement, whether that feeling came from work, people I met in the city, co-workers, or the culture, was something that makes me want to continue throwing myself into similar situations in the future. I highly recommend working abroad to anybody with even the slightest curiosity of what's, "out there."

However...

Compensation from the program itself is only 1.5x to 2x the cost of rent in the city. Have a second source of income ready to go or at least $750/month saved up before you move to Madrid. This will allow you to eat out every now and then, travel, and find a nice place in the city center.

Spain is a relaxed, slow paced country and allows you to really get the chance to explore. Depending on the area you are placed, there is usually some English speakers, so if you are new to the language there is some relief in knowing you can communicate the basics. I recommend meeting locals and having language exchanges to really immerse yourself into the culture. Spain is a very cultural based country and has many amazing traditions, which I recommend taking part in. The program has Facebook groups so that you can meet others doing CIEE in your area/close by and has alumni providing info for the newcomers. Everything is fairly cheap, so it's easy to live on a low budget. And of course, you can't go wrong with the delicious wine and tapas!

I had such an incredible experience teaching English in a high school in Madrid. Through CIEE, I was able to make friends right when I arrived through orientation. If I hadn't have had orientation I don't think it would have been as easy to meet fellow Americans -- definitely a perk of using them over going through the government program. They also helped a lot with the visa process, setting up a bank account, setting up cell phone service which was all super helpful. The information about public transportation card and residence card was also a huge perk you don't get going through the government program.

I was placed in a high school and had a 1 hour commute which was pretty typical for teaching in Madrid. A perfect time to listen to podcasts or practice your Spanish! I was lucky that my school was very lenient with travel plans and allowed me to take a couple days when family was visiting etc. Some of my friends weren't as lucky. I 100% recommend using CIEE!

First and foremost, I loved my school and my co-workers. It is great knowing that my school supports me in everything and will always have my back whenever I need them. Granada is a beautiful city and could not have wanted a better experience teaching English than in Granada. Spain is unique and beautiful in its own unique way. I am three cities away from visiting all of Andalucía. With CIEE, I got to travel around Spain and Europe. My next trip is definitely to Morocco!!! The staff at CIEE couldn't be more helpful and are always there to answer questions. I honestly never felt alone being abroad since CIEE will always be there for you. Teaching English has always been and passion and I am blessed that I got the opportunity. to both teach and travel, which is also a passionate of mine. This year has been one of the bets years in my life and I owe it all to CIEE.

This has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I have to admit, I was quite nervous about going through with this. I graduated from college in 2014, worked for a while while trying to figure everything out- like what I really wanted to do. I was nervous that I was “too old” to teach abroad, because it seemed like most participants were doing this right after graduating. Long story short, I’m so happy with my decision. No regrets at all! Whether you’re trying to be an educator, want to see if you’ll enjoy it, or have no plans at all to teach in the future- this program is still for you. It’s a whole experience that will help you grow as a person. Personally, I have learned that I can go abroad, live independently, learn new skills, and meet new people all on my own. There is nothing better for self-confidence than that. My school is great. I work in a town just outside of Granada where the teachers, students and staff are all so kind and welcoming. I won’t lie, there are some challenging days. I work at an elementary school and the kids can be loud, disruptive, etc. Honestly though, it’s a good challenge, and I always feel like I’ve made at least some small positive difference. CIEE has been right there whenever I’ve needed them, and any step along the way. Even though I did move here alone, I know that I can always reach out to the staff here in Spain if I ever needed them. They’ve been very responsive and helpful- especially Michaela. I remember her checking in on me once or twice and I really appreciated that because I know there are lot’s of participants. I could go on and on, but the short of it is that I am having a great time here and would definitely recommend anyone to give it a shot.

CIEE has made my experience teaching in Spain a smooth, fun, well-organized process. They offer help through a messy and complex visa application, making it straight forward and clear. When it came time to renew my placement, they helped consistently through that process as well. Both before arriving and once in Spain, they provide supportive and consistent communication and have made me feel ready to take on new transitions and challenges with confidence. I love knowing that I have resources and support while being able to live my life in Spain independently and make the experience my own. Michaela is the primary contact in Andalucía and she is absolutely incredible at giving individual help, answering every kind of question, and being responsive to everyone. I can tell she loves her job and it really shows in the way she supports new teachers. A fabulous program all around.