Teach Abroad & TEFL

CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Why choose CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL?

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Website
www.ciee.org
Founded
1947

Reviews

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Cristina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Attend orientation and get involved with the community!

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What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be open-minded and willing to try new things. If you can't speak the language of the country you're going to, at least learn essentials beforehand. For example, learn how to say "hello", "thank you", "where is the bathroom?", "how much is this?", etc. Learning at least the basics will help you and the locals will appreciate the fact that you're at least trying. Also, remember that you are a worker representing your country/cultural background and the program, so be aware of your actions and decisions. Depending on your placement, there may be people you meet that may know little to nothing about your cultural background and/or country, so although we know everyone is different, you are the first impression they are receiving about said location/cultural background.
Pros
  • The school I got placed at has awesome colleagues and they make sure I am okay. They also include me in extracurricular activities, like checking if I will go to badminton club after class or invite me to go hiking with other teachers on the weekend.
  • The school I got placed at is not a "helicopter" school and doesn't micromanage me. They treat me like an adult and trust in me that I will get my job done.
  • The Chinese teachers try to help me by offering tips/suggestions, even let me see the English books they use when I ask for help.
Cons
  • The orientation was quite stressful, but I understand that since it was the first orientation since the start of the pandemic, we were kind of like the "guinea pigs" to see what works and what doesn't.
  • I basically had one day to prepare a lesson for the first week, so I wish I had more time in the beginning to prepare, literally and mentally.
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Kari
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in China

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What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
In general, it was quite nerve-racking adapting to Chinese work culture. Your schedule will change, and then it will change again. As the foreign teacher, you will always be the last to hear anything. If you're type A like me, it can be stressful to have constant schedule and class changes at a moments notice. As cliché as it may sound, it's all about learning to be more flexible.
Pros
  • Generous wage and amenities
  • Mid-day naptime
  • Meaningful cultural exchange
Cons
  • Difficult work-life balance
  • Late hours (depending on the age group you are teaching)
  • Constricting resources in the classroom, making it difficult to engage students
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Michele
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great value for your money!

The CIEE TEFL course is comprehensive - you will learn a lot in just a matter of 11 weeks. The assignments were relevant and challenging, but manageable at the same time (I completed the course while working a full-time job). The instructor was knowledgeable, engaging, and gave great feedback and encouragement. I loved being able to complete the course on my own time, while also being able to interact with the other students on discussion boards and in live tutorials. I was very happy with this course!

Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you for your positive feedback, Michele! :) We're thrilled you found the CIEE TEFL course valuable and that you enjoyed the learning experience. We appreciate your kind words about the instructor and the course design. We wish you the best in your future teaching endeavors!

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Chloe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible Experience - Definitely Recommend

I taught in Madrid through CIEE from 2022-2023. I had an incredible experience teaching at an elementary school. While I experienced many challenges along the way, I am very grateful for the growth that this program instilled in me. The team at CIEE was incredibly helpful throughout the visa and orientation process, and the on-site team was wonderful to work with. The team answered all of my questions promptly and accurately, and really made me feel supported while I was there. The visa process can be rigorous and daunting, but the CIEE team had lots of guidance and was incredibly helpful.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I think I would have a better plan for housing. I went into the experience hoping to find housing once I was there, which I did, but I think if I were to do it again, I would find a group of roommates on the Facebook group beforehand. It was hard to find a place, and it would've been nice to have a group of friends to work with, or have something lined up.
Pros
  • Low Cost of Living
  • Easy Access to Europe
  • Amazing Cultural Immersion
Cons
  • Housing Challenges
  • Leaving Family
  • Language Barriers
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Gabby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CIEE Teach in Thailand Experience

I lived in Kalasin, a small town near Khon Kaen in Thailand's Northeastern region, Esan. My one-bedroom apartment was just a 7-minute walk from school, or a quick 2-minute motorbike ride for me! Before I rented a motorbike, my teachers would give me rides—here's a little secret: very few people in Thailand actually enjoy walking! A day in my life wasn't complete without my routine walks through Dinosaur Park or my regular visits to Shabu with the other teachers from school. If I wasn't spending my weekend in Kalasin, I'd ride up to Khon Kaen to explore the city or catch a flight for the weekend, meeting up with fellow CIEE teachers!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
The general advice for moving abroad is to learn flexibility for a reason and sure, things happen. While unexpected challenges—like finding yourself stranded in an unfamiliar city—can be frustrating in the moment, these experiences often turn into some of the best memories when you look back. It's just a reminder to not take things too seriously.
Pros
  • The connections I made during orientation and with my fellow teachers have endured for years, and I still stay in touch with some of them every day.
  • Weekend trips are more affordable in Thailand than anywhere else I've been! Whether I was heading up to Chiang Mai or catching a quick flight to Koh Samui, I was able to do it all on a budget.
  • A few other teachers and I got together in April at the end of the year and got scuba certified in Koh Tao!
Cons
  • I love love love Thai food but if you are a picky eater, some dishes in Thailand are going to be eye opening for you.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Will Gerson

Will is an English teacher living in Santiago, Chile. Before Chile, he worked as an English teacher in Madrid, Spain, for two years.
Will hiking

Why did you choose this program?

After two years living in Madrid, Spain, I wanted to continue living abroad and teaching English in a Spanish-speaking country, but I was ready for a change of scenery: new city, new country, new people, and a new culture. I set my sights on South America, and the CIEE TEFL program with job placement in Chile immediately jumped out at me. Santiago seemed like a great city to live in––safe, clean, modern, and close to nature––and Chile offered incredible travel opportunities that were much different from what I had had in Europe.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

CIEE's job placement was better than I could have hoped for––they landed me a job interview with a reputable English academy in Santiago before I even began the TEFL course in order to help me get a head start on the visa process. This was something that I really appreciated, as the visa wait can be quite lengthy. After getting hired, I was in the hands of my employer rather than CIEE, but my employer was very helpful with handling the visa paperwork as well as with providing guidance on where/how to find housing upon arriving in Chile.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would recommend giving yourself plenty of time to get to know the city before signing on to year-long rental contract. Santiago is a very big and very spread-out city, and each part has its own unique character. Therefore, I would go ahead and get an Airbnb for your first month so that you have time to explore and get your bearings before starting the housing search. That way, you can relax a bit and not feel pressured to rush into a place. Finding housing is probably the most difficult part of the process, so once you have it done it's smooth sailing!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

One thing that is great about the set up here is that you can basically build your own schedule in terms of the classes that you take on. Since you are working with adults, the majority of the classes will be in the morning or in the evening. I am not a morning person, so I chose to have most of my classes in the afternoon and evening. Nearly all of the classes are online, so I work from the comfort of my apartment with a beautiful view of the Andes out my window. This set up is also great for traveling––you can do the classes from anywhere, and you generally have the middle of the day free to go out and explore. In addition, I like to keep my weekends free for travel, so I only work Monday through Thursday.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I wouldn't say that I necessarily had the biggest fear, given that I already had a couple years of experience living abroad in Spain. Having never been to South America before, I guess I was a bit unsure of what it would be like, especially since people in Spain had told me that it would be so different than what I was used to. However, I find it to be a lot more similar to the US than Spain is, both in terms of the city and also the people. Overall, it has been a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in another culture.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Alissa Malbrough

Job Title
Senior Coordinator
A high school trip to Italy first sparked Alissa’s interest in living abroad. Since then, she has studied in Argentina and taught in Ecuador, Spain, and South Korea. As a previous CIEE participant, she is excited to help others explore teaching abroad.
Alissa Malbrough

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is from studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I spent a week backpacking through Patagonia with friends. I went ice trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, explored Los Glaciares National Park, and hiked for the first time in El Chaltén. This trip really cemented my love for travel and adventure.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

In the time that I have worked here, I’ve become more knowledgeable on how to provide solutions and offer support for teachers. It’s important to take the time to listen and respond to requests in a timely manner. I really enjoy being able to share my own experiences teaching abroad and hope it encourages other teachers as well.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I enjoy hearing stories about CIEE Alum who choose to continue teaching abroad; whether renewing their contract or teaching abroad with us in another country. Having taught abroad in Spain and South Korea, I understand the excitement of wanting more time abroad. I also enjoy hearing about teachers who have met their partners while teaching abroad!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

If I could go on any program, I would choose CIEE's Teach in Thailand program. I have always wanted to travel to Thailand and learn more about Thai culture. I like that the program has a one-semester option and includes housing. Also, I’d love the chance to take Thai language lessons and meet other teachers at orientation.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

One aspect that makes our team unique is first-hand experience teaching abroad. I think it’s important to offer teachers an authentic perspective on what it’s truly like to live and work abroad. For me, I participated in our CIEE Spain Volunteer program a few years ago. My experience in this program led me to continue teaching abroad for the next few years.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factors of success for a company are directly attributed to its values, leadership, and culture. Encouraging collaboration and responding with integrity creates a healthy work environment. I am glad to be a part of the CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL team and to work with individuals who truly enjoy what they do.