Departure Gate Blog

When I graduated from high school, I wanted to go to Europe & travel for a year. My mother, knowing that I was opportunistic, told me that if I went...keep reading

If that chilling, exciting, over-Pinterested Mary Oliver quote, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” plagues you on a daily basis,...keep reading

Getting TEFL certified through CIEE gave me the confidence I needed to be a successful lead classroom teacher in a foreign country. CIEE’s TEFL course is extremely thorough, but manageable...keep reading

It's nearly 11.45 when I arrive at the high school. The city bus (my first experience riding one!) was an entire half-hour late, and so I had to rush, gearing...keep reading

"How do you like it here?" one of the English professors asks me as she drives me home. It's been a long hot day at the high school, and her...keep reading

Ever since I was a little girl, I've wanted to experience Spain. My dad lived here for a couple of years in his early twenties, and it had a profound...keep reading

When I first began my course at CIEE, I hadn't even heard of Murcia, nevermind the auxiliary program there. If you're not familiar, the Spanish Ministry of Education is working...keep reading

After 5 years working in corporate I could no longer ignore my love for travel and adventure. I discovered CIEE’s Teach In Thailand program through a former colleague and knew...keep reading

If you’re reading this, hopefully you’ve already decided to get TEFL certified. If not, I hope this helps you in your decision! For those of you stuck between a Destination...keep reading

We’re always learning things. At the end of almost every class I have ever taken, the teacher asks what we’ve learned. Well, I’ve learned a lot of things. I learned...keep reading