Why did you choose this program?
I was already studying the Korean language, and wanted to be immersed in the culture in order to improve. I also had an interest living in Korea like my father when he taught English in Seoul. I wanted to experience daily life there too. TEAN was the only program that my home university would allow me to travel to South Korea with, but I would prefer TEAN for any trip now!
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
TEAN helped register me for my classes and build my schedule for my host university. They also offered helped find housing, and provided transportation from the airport. TEAN hosts excursions too where they will take you to different parts of Seoul. Some activities are trying new restaurants, learning how to take the subway, or going to amusement parks and museums.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
I wish I would have not so hard on myself not being perfect in spoken language. Self studying is different than actually speaking to natives. However, I feel these situations forced me to study harder. I also would recommend not getting caught up in your studies. Studying abroad is important when it comes to your education, but also, you do not want to miss out on new opportunities by only studying during your time in a foreign country.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
On an average day, I had to keep in mind that I was a student first during the weekdays. However, I would take advantage studying in cafes with my new friends, or make time to go to a new restaurant and run errands. During the weekends, I would spend the whole day either with my friends or, discover new places for myself.
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 was getting lost or not making any friends. Whenever I made an effort to speak Korean to my new classmates is when I started to make friends. As for fear of getting lost, I always was open to making mistakes which helped me discover new places I would have never found. When I first arrived I had no navigation skills. I used my phone heavily to give me directions. After a few weeks my navigation skills improved. I would travel to the same spots so often that using my phone was not a necessity.
Write and answer your own question.
People ask me all the time “If I did not speak Korean, would I still enjoy traveling there?”. I always say yes because there are still native speakers who are bilingual and speak English. Also, if you are in a situation when you only have a translator, it is okay to resort to it for guidance.