Teach English in Spain with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement in Madrid

CIEE has provided me with the best possible teaching experience that I could possibly ask for! My school is wonderful and I know that if I need anything CIEE will be there to help me in a second! Throughout the whole process of applying to landing in Madrid I have been completely at ease and this is only because of CIEE. Moving to another country is a difficult choice and there is no one else I would trust to help me with this adventure than the incredible crew at CIEE! Thank you for changing my life!

I came I to this program knowing some college friends would be around therefore I was furthermore excited for this opportunity. This program provides so many experiences inside and outside the classroom. I worked with Infantil and it's so rewarding. At first the kids would just stare at me in confusion, but after a couple weeks I am proud to say that they are learning the songs and repeating them. Songs such as the itsy bitsy spider, the wheels on the bus, head shoulders knees and toes etc. I would work with the age group again!

It was a very helpful experience and the support was what I needed moving to a new country. CIEE was helpful in the starting process and leading me in the right direction. As the school year is moving forward, CIEE is still there to help and offer support, but they do so from the side. They really make it an experience for you and to only offer their support when you need it. It is very reassuring knowing that CIEE is there to help when it is needed. It has been a great experience overall and I am learning a lot as I move forward each day.

I arrived in Madrid exactly two months ago and have loved every minute of my experience through CIEE. I feel incredibly grateful towards CIEE and all of the support the program has offered; I definitely wouldn't have wanted to begin my career teaching abroad any other way.

CIEE has been helpful from the beginning. The support team is incredibly friendly, and they responded to all of my emails very quickly with genuinely helpful responses. Having to apply for my visa felt extremely daunting and confusing, and CIEE's guidance throughout that process was invaluable.

Their various checklists, being added into a CIEE Facebook group, and the consistent email updates helped me feel assured in my decision to teach abroad and allowed me to communicate with fellow auxiliars before I even got to Madrid.

Once you arrive in Spain, there is a several day orientation, and I could not be more thankful for those few days. I learned so much about Spain, life as an auxiliar in Spain, and so much more. I also met my roommate and a great group of friends during these days. During the orientation, I attended a flamenco show—it was super fun—with my orientation leader and group, and she showed us around the city a little bit. I thought it was cool that CIEE made an effort to introduce us to some of the culture of Spain from the very beginning.

CIEE has also sent an email each month with information about upcoming festivals and events; it's been a very nice way to find out more about what's going on around the city.

I would definitely recommend teaching abroad through CIEE. Without this program, I wouldn't have met the friends that I have now or have felt as comfortable stepping into my role as an auxiliar. Meeting and hearing from auxiliars that didn't go through CIEE has only reinforced how glad I am that I signed up for the program.

Every person I have met that works for CIEE has been very friendly and ready to answer any questions or address any concerns. I am really grateful that I discovered CIEE and am excited to see what is to come in my remaining time as an auxiliar!

Thus far this program has been an excellent experience that has helped me learn to work in an international environment, build my resume, and improve my Spanish, all while getting to live abroad in Madrid. Although not without its own challenges, I would still highly recommend this program.

The pay certainly leaves a lot to be desired. The bulk of my monthly stipend of 900€/month goes towards food and rent. Seemingly, rent prices have been on the rise in recent years and the pay has not increased to match it. I have relied heavily on my own savings for most of my entertainment and travels. Although I would imagine it would be possible to live off the stipend alone, I could not imagine it would be that easy or nearly as fun. While I am on this topic, Learnlight's (the company you work for in Madrid) way of managing and tracking the hours for your monthly work requirement is extremely complicated and confusing. They rely on a rolling balance system that deducts hours worked from a "positive" month (over 50 hours) to make up for hours in a "negative" (under 50 hours) month and then pays you every two or three months at 18€/hour for that balance. It sounds confusing because it is; and if you don't keep a close eye on it you might miss out on some of your compensation.

My experience working with Learnlight has had its ups and downs. I have experienced some disorganization on the part of Learnlight (breakdowns in communication, being provided with the wrong locations of clients, etc...) Although these issues are not too frequent, it can still be a nuisance. That being said, the classroom management software and material provided on their platform is an excellent tool that makes lesson planning easy and efficient once you understand how to use it. Students' feelings about the platform material is mixed but certainly a good starting point.

I feel the two week intensive training provided by Learnlight at the start of the program was sufficient to prepare me for classes. However, it certainly took me a few weeks to really get into the swing of things and build my confidence when teaching classes. Unfortunately, the training did not allow for much time to get settled and find an apartment (which is not as easy of a task as it may sound). I do wish Learnlight provided more support in this process or provided a slightly longer accommodation to provide more time for this process.

What I would recommend to anyone who is interested in this program?
1) Make your visa appointment early (like do it right now!) It's free to make and cancel the appointment and it will save you a lot of anxiety in the future.
2) This is really a personal choice depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to have but set aside some savings and be ready to part with it. Personally, I would recommend upwards of $3,500.
3) Practice your Spanish. It's not an official requirement but I would argue you need some Spanish to get you into many of the companies.
4) Do the grammar course before you go and study it. The more English grammar you know the easier the training is when you arrive and the more confidence you will have in lessons.

Overall this has been a wonderful experience. I heave already gained a lot from this program and I am excited for more to come. Presented again with the choice to go, I would take it 10/10 times-just don't expect to make a fortune!

This program is awesome! I had never been abroad before, but I felt very prepared by CIEE for my adventure abroad. They guide you through everything from getting your visa to what to bring with you! They also offer a TEFL certification course online, which I highly recommend if you’re looking to get certified.
They are also extremely helpful once you are here in Spain. They have an orientation that helps you get settled and set up your life in Madrid, including looking for housing, getting a phone plan, and getting all your documentation ready for your time here. They even make the appointment to get your ID card, which saves a lot of time and effort. They also tell you all about how to get around and the different options you have for public transportation.
The compensation for teaching is enough to get you through if you budget carefully, and you still have plenty of time to travel and see other parts of Spain and/or Europe. Plus, there’s a ton to do in Madrid itself! I am having a wonderful experience, and CIEE staff here in Madrid is always available to help with any questions or concerns I have.

I am definitely glad that I signed up to participate in Teach in Spain this year. The CIEE staff was extremely helpful in preparing us to come to Spain, taking us step-by-step through the visa application process, etc. It is good to know that they are available to answer my questions and help as needed. One of the difficult things about this program is that there is no housing assistance. The hardest part about moving to Spain was finding housing, but it's not impossible. Fortunately, I was placed at a school that I really like and I am enjoying my experience as a language assistant so far. My compensation is sufficient to cover the general costs of living in Madrid. The only thing I would change about my experience so far is the orientation. I had already found housing when orientation began and so I did not stay in the hotel that was provided by CIEE and I wish I could have gotten compensated. The price of the program is a bit steep considering, but I don't regret my decision.

Thus far the Teach in Spain Professional Program has been a good experience. Learning to interact with professionals in a different culture has been an invaluable and resume boosting experience, not to mention getting to live in another culture.
The pay (900 €/month) is certainly low considering the cost of living. Although I imagine it would be possible to live on without your own savings or supplementary income, I could not imagine that it would be enjoyable. Rent and groceries consume the bulk of my stipend every month. If you want to be able to enjoy the city to its fullest and travel you need to have savings set aside for your time here.

Working with Learnlight has been okay. They can sometimes be a little disorganized (wrong addresses for clients, missing pay adjustments, breakdowns in communication etc...) but the teaching material and class management software provided on their platform makes teaching and time management much easier. Work place policies (such as requiring a sick note from a doctor to have your classes covered) can be a nuisance. I will say what you pay for the program in total is fair considering your first month of housing is included and the amount of support you recieve in navigating the Spanish legal/immigration system.

So if you are interested in this program this is what I would recommend: 1) Make your visa appointment before you are accepted to the program (like do it right now). Cancelling is free and it will save you a lot of panicking in the future. 2) Set aside upwards of $3,000 in savings depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to have. You could never save too much. 3) Do the damn grammar course and study the summary units. People have managed without it but knowing your grammar will make your first two weeks a lot easier. 4) It's not an official requirement but you need to speak some Spanish. I have had to talk my way past security (expect TSA like screenings on your fist day in any company) on numerous occasions to get to some lessons-this would have been impossible without knowing Spanish. So practice up!

Overall, practicing Spanish, developing intercultural skills, and living in Madrid is why I chose this program and this program delivered it. Yea there are some headaches at times but in the end it's worth it. I have made some great friends, gained valuable experience, and have had a hell of a time. Just don't expect to make a fortune! Presented again with the choice to go, I would do it without a second thought.