I went to Seoul with TEAN during Fall 2022- Spring 2023 and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The staff there helped so much will any problems or issues I had and all the excursions we went on were a blast. They were extremely helpful when we went through a tough time in the fall. The program was also affordable. I was able to make so many new friends and try a bunch of things I would usually be too scared to try/do. If given the chance I would study abroad to Seoul with TEAN again.

Seoul is very fun and it’s a great place to be however the academics and the dorm life at Korea University were very disappointing. The inability to hang out with friends in the dorms is a big disadvantage and getting support from the teachers is very difficult. The teachers also speak good English but they are still hard to understand and don’t do very much to accommodate. Class registration was very stressful and if you don’t register for classes immediately you will not get what you want. But overall it has been an amazing experience and I’ve made a lot of great friends and learned a lot.

I’ve always been interested in traveling since I was young. I wanted to go to multiple countries and learn the languages of said countries so I could get the most out of it; being a polyglot is still something I’m working towards. Initially I had no interest in visiting South Korea. It didn’t pop up on my radar until late 2021 when my friend got me into the K-pop group BTS. After I was introduced into a seemingly endless world or Korean culture, I began teaching myself Hangul to better understand my new daily music preferences. At the same time, I saw a plethora of videos of Korean historical and recreational destinations, fashion malls and cuisine hotspots where food like the viral Korean corn dogs and the ever delicious KBBQ were sold. What captured my attention was how convenient the convenience stores were and the drinks people would make there. If you know, you know. A few months later in January, I received an email from the TEAN Abroad organization about applications opening for the opportunity to study abroad in South Korea for the upcoming fall semester. I, of course, jumped at the chance and started the strenuous but worthwhile process of getting a passport, applying for a student visa, and moving to Korea where I’d be for four months when I’d never been out of the country before aside from cruises. In my time spent in Korea I was able to meet so many amazing and like-minded people who shared many interests with me, I had the best food at my disposal at every turn I made, the cultural sights I visited were otherworldly, I was able to partake in learning and speaking Korean in a native environment, and my confidence with traveling and socializing went beyond my expectations. My study abroad experience with the 2022 program was unlike anything I could’ve imagined, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the knowledge and support of TEAN. Thank y’all so much for aiding in this experience!

Living in Seoul was such a rewarding experience. I would recommend Seoul to anyone who is interested in food, history, and loves shopping or cafe hopping. TEAN only added to this wonderful experience by taking care of all the stressful yet necessary aspects of living abroad. They planned activities that satisfied all of my above recommendations. They took us on historical tours, took us to local food markets, and even helped us with visa documents. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I would recommend TEAN and Seoul to everyone.

for my first experience abroad, TEAN actually made it so easy to apply and navigate my time before and during being in Seoul. I didn’t realize how much i’d appreciate coming in knowing staff and having a group of students that came with TEAN too, meaning i already had some common ground with people coming into it to make friends. The on-site staff was so kind and helpful in adapting and giving suggestions for navigating life here in Seoul. Anam house wasn’t my favorite, but that’s a KU issue. I’d go with TEAN again if I were to do this all again!

I spent July in Seoul, South Korea and my experience was like no other I've had before. I met so many lovely locals and other foreign study-abroad students. One of the most interesting aspects of studying at an international school was meeting students from places I know little about and learning from them about their cultures.

There were times when our groups of foreign students attracted unwanted attention from locals in forms such as subtle picture-taking. While this was an issue a few times, it was understandable given the diversity differences between South Korea and our primarily American groups. Overall, everyone we met was super nice and accommodating to us.

I found that knowing a bit of Korean was helpful for getting around and having small conversational exchanges but it's not necessary. The classes are in English and there is lots of help from the program to get students set on the right path.

I loved the course I took which taught me more about Korean culture and wasn't too difficult, which I appreciated for a summer course. The TEAN program and HISS also set up activities and trips that helped to submerge us in the culture. These were wonderful and ensured that even if we struggled to plan our own excursions, there was something guaranteeing we got out.

I never experienced culture shock or became homesick but many students did experience this. I would advise doing research before arriving in Korea to better understand cultural differences. It helped prepare me for my arrival and softened the effect of cultural differences. This is also important for people who aren't sure if they'll feel comfortable in the culture. Looking into the cultural differences (ie. loud speaking) can help choose the best fit for places to spend more extensive periods of time.

I absolutely loved the experience I had through TEAN. Even far before we touched ground at the airport. The staff was very supportive and made sure to have all of our contact information updated. They also set up many fun events, such as going out to restaurants and excursions to different popular cities in tourist areas. They did not choose the cheaper options, but rather options that were most comfortable and helpful to students at all times. I definitely recommend going with TEAN more than any other program, because I am actually going to study abroad through teen again in Japan next semester, that’s how much I liked them. You will get a very fast responses from the staff and also make lifelong friends from this program.

Made so many friends that still keep in contact with me, along with long lasting cultural knowledge that was beautiful to watch and learn. I ache to go back to Korea every day, and I am so glad I chose Korea for my study abroad adventure. The food, clothing, and social areas were amazing, and I could safely walk by myself if I got home a little late! I’ve never felt safer than I did in Korea, and I felt like I truly belonged in the community I was apart of. The school spirit was awesome too, and the festival culture was so exciting to experience!!!!! 10/10 would recommend.