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: 4.63 (167 reviews)

Read 167 reviews

4.63 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
Citizenship in the U.S., Canada, or Ireland

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: Feb 02, 2024

Last Reviewed: Apr 11, 2024

Wish List

169 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 16 hours per week in the classroom supporting local teachers and helping students practice conversational English. 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

4.63 Rating

based on 167 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach Gap Year TEFL

5 rating 72.46%
4 rating 22.16%
3 rating 3.59%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 1.8%

Benefits 4.25
Support 4.5
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 65 - 72 of 167 reviews

CIEE is an incredible program that provided great resources and guidance. I would recommend this program to anyone. Not only did they provide resources for the whole pre departure process, but they also have an in-country orientation which allows you to meet people and start getting to know the area you will be living. Prior to my decision to do the CIEE program I did a lot of research about study abroad programs and I could not find a bunch of information. So now I am providing that information that I could not find. I 100% recommend CIEE to anyone.

Pros

Guidance from CIEE
Travel opportunities
Cultural immersion

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

That's wonderful to hear that you have had such a positive experience and found the resources CIEE provided helpful. We agree that its super valuable to be able to meet other teachers during the orientation week in Madrid.

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on November 8, 2022

I am going to teach in Spain for a second time and I have also been in their volunteer program. CIEE's support is outstanding. From the beginning of filling out your application, to orientation, and until the last day in Spain, their support has been great. I have been told that there are other companies that provide assistance to teach abroad but they have a very poor support systems. CIEE is worth every penny. Spain itself is amazing, the people are wonderful and very welcoming. The teachers are great, so willing to help you on every level and the children are well behaved (mostly of course), very curious to learn more about you. Be open to a new culture and you will be rewarded more than you can imagine.

Pros

The people.
The teachers
The staff at CIEE

Cons

Not enough time in Spain :)
None
None

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

We're so excited to help you teach in Spain for a second time! Thank you for your kind words. We love facilitating life-changing experiences and supporting people through each step of the process of teaching in Spain.

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on November 8, 2022

CIEE is a relatively expensive program and I wish I realized earlier that the 3-day hotel stay was an option, as it is roughly $1000 cheaper than the 7-day hotel stay that I did. Nonetheless, orientation was well-executed and prepared me to teach at a secondary school in Madrid. Working hours are great, roughly 16 hours a week with added hours for course planning, but never more than 20 hours a week including this. Everyone works 4 days a week, so you will either get Friday or Monday off. I have Mondays off and I love it!

Pros

4 day workweek, only 16-20 hours a week
Do not need to speak any Spanish to be on the program

Cons

Stipend of 1000 euros a month
Spain is not the most racially accepting

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Hi Aria, we're so glad to hear that you are happy in Spain, and that our orientation and support helped you feel prepared and ready for the role. Enjoy the rest of your year in Madrid!

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on October 28, 2022

I have had the best experience so far!! CIEE was so helpful in helping with my visa & application process, and the in-country orientation was so helpful, and a great way to meet people! Living in Madrid has been incredible from the food, to the people, to how convenient it is to travel all over Europe! I love my students, and my coworkers have been so supportive and are so fun to work with!! I have loved this opportunity to work, travel, and love in a brand new country for the first time. Cannot recommend enough :)

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Hannah, thanks for taking the time to leave a review. Your enthusiasm is contagious, we're glad we could help facilitate this experience for you!

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on October 28, 2022

Overall I had an excellent experience with CIEE, and would recommend this program to anyone. They did a fantastic job helping support us through the logistical pieces of the visa process, as well as giving great information about what to expect in the role of language assistant and how to excel in this role through the very useful online pre-departure course. Even when there were challenging elements of the paperwork to get to Spain, CIEE was always there to support and did what they could to facilitate the process. The in country training was excellent as well and really helped me feel very well prepared for the first day in the classroom!

Pros

Visa support
Pre-departure and in-country support
Guarantee of getting a school placement

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thanks so much for sharing your insights and recommendation, Richard! We're so glad you had such a positive experience teaching in Spain.

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on June 10, 2022

I had a great experience with CIEE's Teach in Spain program. Personally, I think it is worth the start up costs as the assistance and guidance CIEE provides before departure as well as upon arrival and the whole time you are abroad is so helpful. The visa application process can be a nightmare and a lot of red tape, but CIEE breaks it down for you. I trust their staff a lot and have had very positive experiences with them. One staff member even helped my friend out a lot when she had to pull out of the program last minute. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to go out of their comfort zone and do something unique! It has been a great first year post-college for me.

Pros

Great location
Helpful staff
Learned a lot

Cons

Can be expensive
Not as much in-person support in Spain

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

We're so glad to hear you've had such a positive experience teaching in Spain and have felt supported by CIEE. Thank you for sharing!

By CIEE Teach Abroad and CIEE TEFL on May 31, 2022

I’m really glad I chose to teach abroad with CIEE. Not only is the staff super friendly, they’re also here to help every step of the way. I never had an issue or doubt when it came to being part of CIEE. They give no false expectations/promises of what they offer. On top of that, before even getting to Madrid I felt comfortable in knowing that I had already connected with people in the program. There are a ton of resources given to us which are at our disposal throughout the entirety of the program. The option to prioritize age or location for your school is pretty awesome, too. I highly recommend it, especially if this is your first time going abroad.

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

This is not relevant to the program itself but if I were to do the visa process (done before departure) all over again I would absolutely start it earlier for peace of mind purposes. I received my visa 3 days before my flight to Madrid which probably could have been avoided had I made the appointment earlier. I say “probably” in the previous statement because if I learned anything so far it’s that nothing is promised and something can go awry really at any moment and that is part of the process of moving to another country. On the one hand, it’s easy to procrastinate and miss opportunities or not be prepared for them. On the other hand, sometimes we focus so much on being prepared that we miss life happening in the process and realize that it wasn’t actually very helpful in the end anyway. There has to be some kind of balance, in my opinion, and although there’s no specific answer to that, traveling is a great way to learn more about yourself and figure these things out.

Everyone should have a chance to travel the world & CIEE makes that easily possible. They help walk you through all of the necessary requirements & documentations! Just read their advice and follow the steps! It’s work, obviously, but they provide you with all of the information. They offer a great online course & have an in-person orientation with small group activities once you arrive. They’re really helpful & make sure to assist you as best they can.
Teaching has become a new passion of mine & my students are the weirdest but best kids!! They are so fun to be around & I love sharing our cultures!
CIEE connects you with some pretty crazy & amazing new friends from all over the world! I recommend this program to all of my friends & literally everyone!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

DO IT!!! What are you waiting for?? This is your sign to go for it! This experience is life changing and you won’t regret it.

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...