TEFL

Cultural Embrace found me a placement in a good, up and coming city in China, beginning in July 2008. I was given thorough, thoughtful and PERSONALIZED support before and during what became a two year stay (I had originally only intended to spend up to a year abroad).

For what I spent on the program fee and flight (the schools reimburse your return flight for one semester, or roundtrip for a full year), I made up for in less than two months. I was able to make real money tutoring on the side (more an hour than for the same service in New York City) and came home from China with significant savings.

CE also consistently asked for my feedback about improving the program throughout the experience. The small company was certainly dedicated to providing me with a good service, but I could also tell they were excited about any new realization, overcome challenge, or delicious experience I had been through, with me. In short, this company has soul.

I registered with Geovisions in March of 2010 for their english tutor program. You live with the family and get room and board in exchange for tutoring 3 hours a day. I paid $1200 Canadian. It was a total ripe off. I met many other english tutors that were doing the same thing as me but paid as little $300 in fees. All english tutor program go though the same organization in Spain, CIE. So it doesnt matter which company you pick. Geovisions is an overpriced rip off. Dont be fooled like me. English tutors can make 15-25 euros a hour in Spain. So the program just doesnt add up, as you dont get food on the weekends from your host family.

I took this course a year ago and really enjoyed it. It was challenging but fun, and did a great job at preparing me to teach English after completing the course. I have been teaching at a large language school in Prague since graduating and could not have asked for better preparation. In addition, the staff worked with me during and after the course to find a job. They offer lifetime job guidance so if I ever decide to move on to a different country I will have access to their extensive language school databases and job binders so I can find a job anywhere in the world.
Overall I was extremely satisfied with the program and would recommend it to anyone looking to teach English abroad.

I have just got back from India with Frontier. From my booking stage through to my final feedback stage everything was great. The teaching that I did was out of this world and the children were so cute. I can't wait to go back, I miss them so much. Especially when they sang their final farewell song. Still brings tears to my eyes.

I taught class 3-4 times a day for sixty-minute intervals. I would wake up around 7:30, eat breakfast at a number of wonderful restaurants with some colleagues, and head back for 8 or 8:30 class. There would be lunch for 90 minutes in the middle of the day. Plenty of time to eat and sneak a nap in. Dinner was around 6:30 every day. The restaurants had huge variety and I can guarantee it will be heavenly to you if you’re a fan of Chinese food. Every class was quite crowded and had had at least 40 students in it. It sounds rough, but it was wonderful. The students were well-behaved and respectful. I always had the support of the faculty if there was any issue. I rarely gave homework – so the students loved me!
There were numerous other opportunities in Yanqing. I was approached a great deal of times about working as a private English tutor. You can make some pretty decent money doing this. Furthermore, I also eventually worked as a judge at the various English competitions throughout Yanqing. I was welcomed with open arms by the other judges. The students had never been judged by a foreigner from a West before. They were nervous – but wonderful!
My room, internet, food (all of it – and I ate a lot), traveling – were all paid for. We went on field trips every other week or so. We visited the beautiful Songshan Mountain, attended Museums, saw all the sites downtown Beijing had to offer, attended festivals (of which there were many).
Collectively, the experience was overwhelmingly rewarding. Leaving was one of the most bittersweet moments in my life. We had a huge farewell party and exchanged tears + hugs. Inquire with ELI and they can put you into contact with me if you have any specific questions about Yanqing. I could go on forever. I still talk to dozens of my students and friends there everyday. I cannot wait to go back

Where do I start?
First of all, I paid 800 dollars to do this program. The partener organization company based in Hanoi was controlling, incompetent and dishonest and GC did NOTHING to help.
The Hanoi based company stole my passport, claiming that it needed to be filed away with the local police. After a few attemptes to get it back, I had to call my embassy.
Now, problems with GC. On their website, their programme promised me a number of things that I did not get, including a higher salary and travel allowance. I emailed GC FOUR times to complain and maybe get some momey back but I got no response. All in all, until after I handed over my cheque, I got ZERO support from them! They are a BUSINESS, they only care about your money, and as far as I can tell, don't really care about the welfare of the poorest in the nation--or else they would not have put me in the richest school in Hanoi!
Bottom line: they only want your money and so randomly hook up with corrupt partner organizations. I would NOT go with them, there are many FREE volunteer chances. Stay away from GC!

TEFL Worldwide Prague is a challenging 4 weeks but once finished, you are prepared for any kind of English teaching job. In fact, you are almost over prepared. The course is difficult and time-consuming but meeting the instructors, staff and fellow students is worth it. When entering the job market, you will find that you not only are prepared for anything they ask you in an interview, but you are prepared for teaching classes to students of all kinds and all levels. The staff are very willing to help with questions about jobs, visas and anything else you can think of. Even months after the course they are still more than willing to help out with my questions.
Highly recommended!