CIEE-TEFL Course

CIEE-TEFL was recommended to me by the teacher of ESL I was assisting as a volunteer. I was attracted to it because it is relatively inexpensive and it’s fast, just 10½ weeks. As it is online, I could do the work on my schedule and around other commitments. This doesn’t mean the course is easy, though. There are five weekly lessons, each of which requires careful attention (I made outlines as I went along). Each week also includes a graded assignment, a “Let’s Discuss” session, and a tutorial. This was my first online experience.
CIEE does a great job presenting the material and drawing the students together to create a true classroom atmosphere. Classes are small. The tutor (teacher) was experienced, helpful, encouraging, and supportive. Between the discussion sessions, the online tutorial conferences, and the peer reviews we did of each other’s work, I felt as if I knew my classmates personally. I know I will be keeping in touch with some of them.
The course is thorough. It covers language-teaching theory and history, English vocabulary and grammar, classroom mechanics, online research, and so much more. Most of my classmates had never taught before, but nothing could prepare them better for their first teaching jobs than the CIEE-TEFL course.