Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

I cannot recommend CIEE enough for anyone who has never lived abroad before. I had visited other countries, but this time I moved out of my parents' house and straight into my first apartment in Spain. The insurance has been a financial lifesaver because I have had to go to the hospital twice now (minor issues, but hey, life happens) and the 24 hour support has been great when I just needed professional advise. The fee is a little pricey, but worth every penny for me.
The in-country orientation was very much needed for me and very well managed and executed. I learned so much and met so many people that were going through the exact same adventure. My orientation was in Seville and my placement city was Almeria, in the east of Andalucia. I absolutely love every city that I have been to in Andalucia and I would choose it again and again over Madrid (which is absolutely beautiful too.) Coming to Spain through CIEE has been one of the best decisions of my life. If you really want to come but are still unsure, please do it. You'll thank me later.

While making the decision on whether or not to move Madrid, I was overwhelmed with an array of different emotions. Most stemmed from not knowing what things would be like when I arrived, or how exactly to even get there.
But from the moment I committed to teach abroad in Spain, the CIEE program has helped me every step of the way - with ample resources, how-to videos, guides, alumni advice, and e-mail and phone help.
Applying and obtaining a visa was immensely simplified with their guides; as was finding housing and dealing with legal obligations upon arrival.
But the most indispensable aspect of CIEE was the community it has given me. Of almost the hundeds of other Americans I have met here in Madrid, most of them have been CIEE participants as well. It makes it so easy to connect to others 'in my boat'. Every week I meet new auxiliares, and my group of friends is ever expanding. Moving to a city with over 3 million people is daunting in itself, but being able to see many familiar faces - from orientation or Facebook or mutual friends - makes it actually feel like home.
It is also great to have a network of people to reach out to for help. Within a massive Facebook group of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year auxiliares, it is impossible to not find a question to any issue you are facing here.
CIEE truly made this transition as easy as possible for me. It has allowed me to expand my horizons and grow in ways I surely would never have attempted to do on my own.

CIEE provides great support for getting your adventure up and moving. Up and moving to a new place, however romantic the idea, is extremely scary. CIEE gives you advice pre departure (they're really good at responding to e-mails/answering questions) as well as a support system once you're abroad. It's comforting to know there's people looking after you. In my opinion, the peace of mind is worth the program fees. Now, stop reading reviews and get to traveling!!

I will say, the hardest part of the program is finding your own place to live. CIEE doesn't hold your hand and help you find a place, but they do provide you with the low down on what apps/sites to check and how to use them, which is all you really need to know. My advice for this is, when you come out, book yourself a place for AT LEAST 2-3 weeks (I recommend your whole first month). Try and time it to where your reservation would end on either the 15th or the end of the month, as that is when you'll likely be entering your permanent place. But don't do what I did; I booked my first Air BNB for less than two weeks and had to rush into a spot. I ended up paying way more than I should have and had a crazy landlord who lived in my living room (crazy Spanish landlord stories are common). So give yourself time to be selective so you don't have to jump on the first place that gives you an appointment.

When I figured out I wanted to move to Spain, I was so worried and unsure how to go about it (legally getting there, finding a decent job, etc.) CIEE helped me through ALL of this. Getting my Visa couldn’t have been easier and placing me in the school that I work in now couldn’t be a more perfect fit for me! I moved with my best friend and they even placed us in the same school so that we could live together and not have to commute far. They help you with things as small as cultural questions to standing by you when things really get tough. I got pickpocketed and sure enough, the insurance that CIEE provides was able to reimburse me. The process of obtaining a residency card is difficult enough but CIEE guides you through it step-by-step so none of it is intimidating. They really take away all of the fears of moving to a different country so you’re able to enjoy and live it!

Teaching abroad is an incredible experience that you don't want to miss out on. You will learn so much about yourself as well as meet lots of incredible people. CIEE has helped me so much throughout the process of getting here. The pre-departure help with getting the visa, packing, the webinars, and even the pre-departure course about the culture were very beneficial and made the transition much less stressful. The support remains constant upon arrival. CIEE will help you do the things you need to do here in Spain, like getting your residency card, and will always respond if you're having troubles abroad. If you want to live in the city center, the pay is a little bit low, but it's very possible to find private lessons or even teach English online to Chinese kids. I personally don't think it's necessary to do a second year in the same place with CIEE, but if you're coming for the first time, it's worth it to let someone else stress for you!!

My experience in Granada has been incredible so far! I enjoy working at my school as an auxiliar and getting to know my students and colleagues. I have formed friendships with my colleagues outside of work, and it has been wonderful. It helps that I have teaching experience and am a licensed teacher, but if you are passionate about helping kids learn, are open-minded and patient with yourself, you will definitely enjoy the experience.

I wake up every day feeling so blessed to be living in the beautiful city of Granada. I finished my masters thesis just last week and have much more time now to fully enjoy the experience, immerse myself in language learning and pick up dance classes. Spain, and particularly, Andalucia, is full of warm, friendly people and a rich, fabulous culture. I cannot imagine living anywhere else at this point in time and cannot thank CIEE enough for placing me here!

If you are considering taking the plunge but are unsure, go for it! You will not regret it and will grow from each and every experience and challenge you meet along the way. I have never been so happy or grateful to be in a foreign country and truly feel blessed each day!

Phenomenal opportunity for people to explore a new country, learn a new language, and make a real impact all while receiving 24/7 support from a dedicated local and global team. Spanish bureaucracy can be quite time consuming and frankly very confusing, but CIEE walks you through the entire process and takes care of nearly all the logistical questions for you. Part of the two-week program, I also got to live with a Spanish host family and take Spanish lessons for two full weeks. Another wonderful benefit of the program that I didn't anticipate: amazing community of other CIEE participants with whom I've become very close friends and can always rely on during my year here in Spain. We can share ideas, ask each other questions, and even live and travel together. Overall, a fantastic program that I would recommend to anyone looking for a enjoyable global experience!

I loved teaching English in Spain through CIEE. Their help in the visa process was excellent and they made it much easier to get set up over there. Spain is an incredible place to live and travel, and you also have Europe at your fingertips to explore. I met one of my best friends through CIEE's group Facebook pages, which made it not only easier to go over there knowing someone ahead of time but also made my time there more enjoyable having such a good friend to go through the experience with.