Program Reviews

I chose to study abroad in China with TEAN at Fudan University, known as the 3rd most prestigious school in China and the 1st in Shanghai. It's a dream school for many Chinese, so when I learned about this program, I had to apply!

The coursework was manageable; I took one business class and one Chinese language course over the summer. The program also offer numerous excursions. I'm glad I signed up for the Hangpu River cruise, visit Baidu corporation, Suzhou trip, ceramic class, dim sum class, and city tour – never feell bored; there's so much to do here.

Contrary to the misconception that China is just a third-world country, I was continually amazed by their modern technology integrated into daily life. QR codes are used for everything – checkouts, rentals, food orders, subway, public bike. The app called Alipay which you use to pay for everything. If you have your phone, you'll navigate just fine.

And let's talk about the food – I gained about 5 lbs because it's that good! I always got free delivery (Meituan app) and a diverse range of food options from Western to local, my campus canteen offered over 100 choices.

100% recommend this experience – just do it, and you'll love it!

My semester abroad with TEAN was life changing. Upon arriving, I was welcomed by TEAN staff and spent a week with other students at orientation in Queenstown, helping me to make friends and adjust to life abroad. TEAN supported me before, during, and on my way home, which made the whole process super easy and a lot less scary. A semester abroad was way out of my comfort zone, but New Zealand quickly became my second home with stunning landscapes, happy people, and a unique culture. I highly recommend this program for adventure seekers!

Studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea, was such an amazing opportunity for me. It was so meaningful to be fully immersed in a different culture and live my new everyday life there. In Seoul there were so many fun and exciting things to do. I felt that I could never get board being there.
With the support from TEAN I felt prepared and confident during my time abroad. If I could I would go back in a heartbeat! Studying abroad in South Korea has made a realize my true passion for international work and travel.

Studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea, was such an amazing opportunity for me. It was so meaningful to be fully immersed in a different culture and live my new everyday life there. In Seoul there were so many fun and exciting things to do. I felt that I could never get board being there.
With the support from TEAN I felt prepared and confident during my time abroad. If I could I would go back in a heartbeat! Studying abroad in South Korea has made a realize my true passion for international work and travel.

I had such a great time during my time in Korea! It was my first time going to a foreign country by myself but I had such a pleasant experience and it was definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. The classes and campus were very nice and the professors were very kind. I was able to cross off a lot of things I wanted to see off my list like temples and popular areas in Seoul. I also got to take dance classes at a famous dance studio and tried so much amazing food. I would really recommend the experience to anyone and would love to go back and do it again.

This goes out to anyone considering New Zealand;
Go for it! Trust me, this will be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. From the beautiful nature to the unforgettable people, New Zealand does not disappoint. Wellington is a beautiful small city filled with quirky points while still being nestled between seas and mountains. It is the perfect launching point for any adventures you are going to have, and trust me when I say there will be many. Please don't miss any opportunity to go.

I am not kidding when I say that this has been the best experience of my life, in every aspect, Sydney and TEAN made me feel like I had a new home. The freedom that you can experience in this city is unique, from wandering by yourself across countless hikes to going out with your friends to enjoy the night views of the harbor. This semester was an all-rounded experience, academically The University of Sydney was challenging, but very gratifying after completing it, while socially I had the pleasure of meeting friends who became part of my family. Adding to this, as a student-athlete I had the opportunity to play high-level competitive soccer on the University’s team.

I think about the month I spent in Malaga this summer with ISA almost every day. It was such a beautiful experience. I stayed in a residencia right in the city center and could walk to shops, amazing restaurants, parks, and beaches. I had 11 roomates from all over the world, some of whom were in the same program. Prior to the trip though, we were given pictures of a different apartment, however, and told that we would only be staying with ISA students which turned out to be untrue. This wasn’t an issue, just a discrepancy. Some of my roommates struggled to sleep because our residencia was right above a popular club but i had no issue with noise in my room. ISA staff was very helpful with the move in process and getting me connected with the landlord. We took weekend trips to Granada, Seville, and Cordoba that were included in the program cost which was really nice. However there was no information prior to the trip on these so it was it was a nice surprise when I got there. I also took a weekend trip to Morocco with friends from the program which was amazing and very convenient because there is a full international airport in the city. The academics were engaging but the not too overwhelming and the professors were understanding at UNAM. I got to meet a lot of other international students which was really fun. Our group leader Iker was awesome. He helped us settle in and organized excursions every week in the city, and was always there to answer any questions or offer support. These excursions included tours of local monuments and a flamenco dance class. Overall I think Malaga is very underrated as a study abroad city. It is big enough to be exciting but not overwhelming, it is not too touristy but a lot of people do speak english in the city center shops, and it has close proximity to other places to travel. It is such a beautiful, charming city and I would highly recommend it.

This past semester abroad was everything I hoped it would be! It is crazy how the places I used to save as future traveling inspo were now close enough to visit and explore.

Seoul was the perfect city to live in because of how much there is to do and how affordable it is to visit other areas. I took several day and weekend trips outside of Seoul, and the process was very simple. I could not recommend it enough.

The people are very kind, and I felt welcomed immediately at Korea University. A lot of my favorite memories are conversations with strangers who showed me Korean affection. My favorite is a woman I met at BBQ. I visit her almost weekly with friends because she says I look like her daughter who is studying abroad. She even asked me to call her aunt!

The TEAN staff also made it easy to make friends because there are scheduled outings and a group chat. They are all very kind and helpful, so do not be afraid to send them a message on Kakao when you are having a problem.

As a foreigner, you will be stared at and potentially harassed, but as long as you react maturely, you will be okay. Especially when you travel to cities that are more rural, the stares will increase, and random strangers will probably come up to talk to you. Just keep this in mind and always be with another person! You may also face some discrimination. I experienced it at a museum when I was forced to pay more than the entry fee because I was not Korean. In one of my classes, I also had this problem because the grader said I was destined to not succeed because I am from America. There seems to be a lot of unwritten rules and expectations in coursework that students from America are unaware of. The best solution is to ask your professor detailed questions about what they are looking for and remain kind and respectful.

It is important to stay on top of your studies and reach out for help! I do this by scheduling time to talk with my professors. The class I mentioned facing discrimination in, is where I started to do this. I meet with the professor often to go over assignments, and we have tea. It has made a negative situation very positive!

The most important thing if you visit is to get out of your comfort zone. I flew here alone, but I am leaving with friends. I had never practiced Korean with a native Korean, and now I have hundreds of times! Make the most of your time and accomplish everything you want to do.

I really enjoyed the aspect of being in a country that has a very different culture to that of the US or Europe but still have the support I felt like I needed to be comfortable in that environment. It was an incredibly immersive experience where I made incredible friends and enjoyed myself greatly. San Jose is a rough city but once you get out into the country it is absolutely beautiful and the culture is incredibly welcoming and kind.

The amount of excursions in this area is astounding. You can go ziplining in the cloud forests of Monteverde, scuba diving in Puerto Viejo or anything in between!