Program Reviews

I was able to study abroad through the TEAN program in Australia even when I thought it wouldn't be possible, and I'm beyond grateful for that. It was my dream to study abroad in Australia and the whole experience was insane!! Bond University is an amazing place for meeting many different people. I made best friends for life here. The Gold Coast is a super convenient location to travel around Australia and I was able to visit Byron Bay, Sydney, Tasmania, and more. I loved the classes as well, I wish I could've taken them all. I also appreciate TEAN's flexibility throughout the application process.

Being a first-generation college student and having immigrant parents, I believed that dreams were nothing more than an exaggerated expectation of what was possible and that we should never hope to realize them. My dream was to travel and my younger self would’ve never imagined that there would be chances for me that may support me in making aspirations come true. And I'm pleased I did because choosing to study in South Korea was the best choice I've ever made. Korea University in Seoul was the best place to continue my studies at, and TEAN was really helpful with paperwork and making sure everything was prepared properly. They also gave me more opportunities to learn more about the country and introduced me to some of the greatest friends I made while traveling. I would suggest this to anyone who has a desire to learn and travel because it was unquestionably the correct program and location for me. This is ideal for you if you enjoy Korean cuisine, the language, or entertainment, or even if you are just seeking for a place that has a lot of differences from your country.

And if you are also considering Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, here are some suggestions based on my personal experience:
• Study the culture- Understanding the differences in culture is important for traveling and simply being respectful to others, so make sure you’re aware of customs and traditions of the country you are visiting.
• Korea University is a fantastic school, and as a business major, classes can be competitive (most of the business courses are graded in exams and group projects/presentations).
• Bring good walkable shoes, you will need them!
• Bring an umbrella or you might end up buying multiple.
• Public transportation is amazing and TEAN will guide you through it as well.
• Koreans are curious people so if people come up to you or start a conversation, be open minded to them. I was approached multiple times but why were wondering where I was from, curious about what borough me to Korea, and my experiences.
• Save up of course. There’s so much to buy and you will need space in your luggage for all the souvenirs so make sure you have a good financial plan for the time you will be there.

Studing abroad at Griffith University was the greatest decision of my entire life. Going through the TEAN organization was a blessing. TEAN is the way to do it, they offer immediate friends, support, and guidance. Without the TEAN program and the staff, my experience would have been lessened. I cannot express how incredible this experience was and I cannot recommend the TEAN program enough.

The Gold Coast of Australia is such a beautiful place. The community is very welcoming and the city is great for new cultural activities. It is also close to Sydney and Melbourne if you're interested in a quick weekend there!

When I first entered university I had a good idea about things I would see and do. Unfortunately, I started the year COVID hit and my college experience has been completely lackluster and miserable. I was beginning to think going to college in general is just a terrible experience. However, I took a chance in my junior year and studied abroad in Seoul. It was everything I imagined college should be like and more. I would 100% recommend taking that leap of faith to study abroad, it will definitely pay off.

I highly recommend every student pull every string possible to study abroad. My personal bias is to do so in New Zealand. I fell in love with the country of New Zealand and grew more this past semester than I have in my entire college career. Studying abroad gives one the opportunity to be exposed to many new phenomenons of life. Studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone forcing much growth in my personal confidence while providing me the opportunity to begin exploration of my role in the greater scheme of the world. While quite intimidating, this exploration was freeing and exciting allowing me to realize that one could spend lifetimes exploring. Studying through TEAN gave me the privilege to explore on my own while having the comfort of having the support of an onsite staff and a community of other students in the same position. Our onsite director was so excited to share the Kiwi culture with us, from dinners to Rugby games she was more than willing to provide suggestions for various activities. Additionally, due to the size of my field of study, I was able to make local friends that I am confident that I will stay in touch with for years to come. Every student should take the opportunity to study abroad.

And of course if for nothing else, go for the Lord of The Rings sites.

I have never been outside in the United States and have honestly lived in the state of Ohio my whole life. So, leaving the country for the first time was extremely nerve-wracking. I could only think about the initial worries of how to migrate through a foreign airport and not knowing a single person arriving.

Though, the TEAN program was very helpful. The amount of details and steps included in the directions per arrival genuinely helped me. I was efficient and arrived in the country where I will be studying for the next four months without majorly freaking out. As someone who struggled with high anxiety. Through the program I have probably met people that I will never forget. The way I want to achieve differently in school, I gained a sort of motivation I was lacking prior. I also went outside of my bubble and made the first move to create friendships. I loved how I was able to improve to be a different version of myself. With a different outlook of things and overcoming my anxieties.

Even simple accomplishments like trying new foods, walking in new areas, and studying in different environments. Being able to adapt and improve my skill-sets is the best opportunity I could have received. Thanks to the program, I received a new love for traveling and hopefully I can go back to Korea soon.

Being able to return to Japan had been a lifelong goal of mine. It had been around 7+ years since I had last gone and I wanted to truly have an amazing college experience in Japan. I was lucky enough to find TEAN with my International Dean and was able to make it work out. The people with TEAN were always there to help me if I ever needed anything, especially medically. However, it allowed me to finally become more independent and be able to practice the Japanese I was learning in my Japanese I class at JF Oberlin. The results were that I was able to make some lifelong friends, both RJ and Japanese students, and experience some amazing sporting and cultural events. I hope in the future I can study in Japan for graduate school. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in studying abroad in Japan to consider going through TEAN.

I studied abroad in Korea at Korea University last semester and honestly, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!! I met great people worldwide and honestly, I cannot think of any bad thing in Korea. It almost feels like I was on a vacation to meet new people. TEAN also offered a lot of activities for us and they were all very FUN! I thought people were being dramatic when they talked about their study abroad experiences and it used to bother me a lot. But I see myself only talking about my life in Korea NONSTOP to everyone I meet! 10000% Recommended!

Studying in Seoul through TEAN made a huge impact on my time in Korea! I was helped through the whole process, from getting my visa and setting up appointments for residency to preparing transcripts. TEAN also took care of university housing, which was a huge plus because my friends with other programs spoke about how difficult it was to get housing. There are also fun activities that TEAN organizes that take you to places in Korea you may not have thought to visit such as Nami Island and you can connect with other students and with the staff on these trips. I felt at ease knowing that the Seoul staff was there to help me with any issues that came up while I was abroad.

I truly enjoyed living in Seoul and felt very safe even when walking alone at night, just remember to be aware! The public transportation is amazing, it is very clean and reliable and is usually around $1 per subway/bus ride. Even though Anam (where Korea University is located) isn’t in the center of Seoul having access to Korea’s public transportation system made the huge city of Seoul feel accessible and the journeys never felt very long. I loved hanging out in Myeongdong with my friends going to cafes and eating street food. For me, Myeongdong is the right amount of bustling without being overwhelming like Hongdae can be sometimes.

It can be a bit difficult to adjust to living in a new country but knowing some Korean and making friends makes it a lot easier. I am very glad I decided to go to Korea after two years of learning Korea because I was able to navigate lots of events on my own and it helped boost my confidence every time I could. Being able to make deep friendships with both foreign and local students is something I will forever hold dear and would go abroad again with TEAN.

I had an amazing experience studying abroad with TEAN during Spring 2023. With all of the fun activities TEAN prepared for us like touring Nami Island, going to Busan, and a Han river cruise, I definitely don't regret picking TEAN for my study abroad experience. It was also reassuring knowing that we could contact TEAN staff in Korea basically at any time and the onsite staff is very kind! South Korea is a great destination for study abroad as it's easy to travel around the country with its convenient public transportation and school life there is very dynamic! I would definitely recommend studying abroad in South Korea with TEAN.