The Education Abroad Network (TEAN)

Program Reviews

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Cameron
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I want to go back!

I went to South Korea for Fall Semester which encompassed the Late Summer, Fall, and the Winter Seasons, and it was my favorite memory and makes me want to go back A.S.A.P!
Going to the country without prior knowledge of the language I was able to learn through the classes I had taken at Korea University and immerse myself quick enough that I did not struggle as much as one would think. I love food, and it was so easy to get a quick bite to eat or have a nice sit down meal with friends and colleagues, during my first week a meal was set-up through the program where everyone in the program was able to have a sit-down nice meal where we learned each other's names and ate great Korean Fried Chicken!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have gone for a full year if I could have! Also, I would have practiced more Korean speaking prior to going.
Pros
  • Food
  • Culture
  • People you meet
Cons
  • You want to go back as soon as you leave
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Melody
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

I am so thankful I got the opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea fall 2023. It was an experience I won't forget. I'm very thankful to have experienced it with TEAN. They gave students enough guidance, resources, and information pre-departure and during my time studying abroad. I felt ready and equipped for departure from the States. During my time, I always felt that TEAN had my back and whenever I had questions, there was always someone to go to. I think TEAN did a really good job giving international students the best experience in Seoul. All of the things I wanted to do, TEAN had already planned and thought of. The best part is that it's already paid for through the program so all the cultural excursions and activities planned throughout the semester was basically 'free'. I would definitely do it all over again!

Pros
  • pre-planned/prepaid cultural excursions + activities
  • cheap costs of living & affordable + delicious food in Seoul
  • housing/dorm is top-tier & luxurious
Cons
  • At Korea University, I found it hard for international students to engage with local Koreans & to feel a part of the school student body
  • no meal plan
  • you pay for your plane ticket
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Alexia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision of my life!

Studying abroad in New Zealand was hands down one of the best decisions of my life!

I learned so much about the world and myself while I was abroad and it has even helped me discover my future interest in travel nursing and international nursing missions. My favorite memories studying abroad were exploring the South Island with my new friends! For example, I went sea kayaking with fur seals in Abel Tasman National Park and hiked up snow-covered Mt. Olliver to watch the sun rise over the clouds!

TEAN was so helpful in walking me through everything I needed to get done before leaving to go abroad and Meaza and Anikka were both super helpful with their prompt responses to any questions I had. The weekend trips they planned helped me to explore parts of New Zealand I otherwise would not have seen on my own and encouraged me to try new local foods and experience more of everything NZ has to offer.

You won't regret your time abroad with TEAN!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Get to the west coast as much as you can! It's definitely the most beautiful part of NZ!
Pros
  • TEAN makes it easy to make friends upon arrival
  • TEAN makes it an easy transition arriving in a new country and culture
  • TEAN allows you opportunities to have exciting and authentic local experiences
Cons
  • It took a long time for them to send out flight information so prices went up
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Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Summer in Melbourne

This trip was the best experience of my entire life so far! The memories that I have gained from going to Australia are unmatched. If you are debating on if you should go, just go!! I grew so much in my confidence, made amazing friends from all over the world, learned from the best of those in my aspired career, and took part in Australian culture. I also had the opportunity to attend fun sporting events, travel to other areas of Australia, and work alongside well-known athletes! Australians are some of the nicest bunch of people; they made the experience a lot more fun!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I have done so many surprising things on this trip that I never thought I would be able to do in my life. One of the most fun things was being able to attend the World Cup. The energy from the fans was incredible! Another surprising thing was just navigating the city with my friends. There was always something fun going on in the heart of the city and there was never a dull moment.
Pros
  • Australians are some of the nicest people ever
  • Sporting events are so much fun and everyone if full of team spirit
  • The work enviroment in Australia is a-lot more relaxed and fun
Cons
  • The whether was definitely very gloomy most of the time
  • Getting around can be a bit difficult with the trains
  • Living in the heart of the city can be loud at times
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Jaya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Australia Summer Study Abroad

I had the time of my life. I feel like the two months I spent in Australia were a movie. So much happened, and I learned a lot about myself and my future profession. I made friends with people that I never would have even known had I not gone. At my gym, I learned new skills like how to coach children and how to properly execute and teach different lifts. I also got to discover some cultural differences in coaching styles in Australia vs the USA. I made friends with and met some professional athletes and even sat front row of my new favorite sports AFL and Rugby. I definitely recommend it.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go as many places as you can! Australia has a lot of really cool cities that are just a short plane ride away. I got to see Quokkas in Perth, Tasmanian Devils in Tasmania, the Sydney Opera House, and New Zealand while on my program.
Pros
  • The locals were amazing and very nice.
  • My group of interns were so full of personality, it made everyday an adventure.
  • The work experience
Cons
  • Depending on if you get a random in your dorm apartment things could get a bit wierd
  • The food was just okay. I ended up eating a lot of Chinese food
  • It was hard to find seasoning
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Libby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad in Perth

I have had the pleasure of studying and interning abroad in Perth, at the University of Western Australia with TEAN and ISA. I have had the most fantastic time exploring Australia and meeting new people. TEAN and ISA has made coming over here so easy with all of the help they provided me by helping me find my internship, student accommodation, and support 24/7 while abroad. I have met some of the most amazing people not only through my student accommodation and University but also other students that are here through TEAN and ISA. I have made lifelong friendships with those students and will cherish that forever. Some of the amazing opportunities and excursions that I have been able to do through TEAN and ISA was going to Cairns in Queensland and seeing the Great Barrier Reef, I have been able to go surfing, and also watch a professional AFL game. This is just a few of the many extra excursions and activities TEAN provides for their students abroad.

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Michelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

University of Queensland

This is an amazing university to study at, especially if you are in the sciences and love field trips and the environment. I was able to take many trips with my university to islands and fossil sites as well as gain relevant experience with research projects at the university and have opportunities in the future with this university and the professors. I was able to connect with people from all over the world and have many different adventures in and out of the country. I have gained many new experiences and have been excited to share them with my friends and family.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try everything! This is a city that has so many things to do if you look for them and this university has the best courses, especially if you want to get out and about. I would recommend living on campus in a college, I lived in International House which was an absolute blast and a great way to make new friends across the world.
Pros
  • It is a very international place and most of the time I would rarely hear english being spoken around me, especially on campus
  • Public transit is amazing and efficient
  • There are many courses in all subjects and several include fieldtrips to islands or around the area
Cons
  • Campus is out of the city, but there is a bus that takes you fairly frequently
  • If you want to explore nature you have to get outside the city and have a car most of the time
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Ziying
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A "summer" at Sydney

This program is excellent if you want to travel but are afraid of complete language or cultural differences. Sydney is a massive city with people from all over the world, allowing me to taste all their cultures while taking advantage of the great view of nature. The city is very populated and crowded but relatively safe and clean. There are multiple large shopping centers and restructures everywhere. There is no need to worry about transportation; public transportation is well-structured there, and you can use Google or Apple Maps to see which ride you need to take. The train can take you to farther cities, but you would need a car if you want to go into the mountains or the fields. Cities outside of Sydney are very small-town-like, but public transportation is still there. They give a beautiful coastal view in a quieter setting and local experiences. I also recommend traveling to New Zealand for a week while you are in Sydney. The flight is only about three to four hours. New Zealand's city is less populated, but the lake and green islands outside the city are where the true beauty lies.
There is so much I want to share about my six weeks, but none of the words would be as good as experiencing it for yourselves. Australia has both, whether you are a city or a nature person. And if you are not satisfied with it, take advantage of the fact that you have already flown halfway across the globe and travel to neighboring countries.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take a good and comfortable pair of shoes because Sydney is a very walkable city for you to explore.
If you want to do some shopping, check out Australia's Tourist Tax Refund policy and see how you can use it.
Use Google Maps rather than Apple Maps. Apple Maps does not show all the stores, while Google Maps shows it and the comments.
There are places with low light pollution, and it is great for stargazing.
Visite Newtown because it is the complete opposite of downtown Sydney while only 20 minutes away (by bus) from downtown Sydney.
If you are only going to be there for a month or so, I recommend not wasting any day indoors because you will experience something new every time you step out.
Pros
  • City life while not far from nature
  • Convenient lifestyle (walkable city and public transportation)
  • Multi-culture experience
Cons
  • Different charging plug than the United States (make sure to get an adopter or an Australian plug before you go)
  • Not many group events (This could be because my summer program is shorter. There was a group surfing event, but I wish there were one we could go into the wild with the other students)
  • It was too short
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Ava
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Wonderful Time in Thailand

Overall, this program changed my life for the better. Having been born and raised in California, I felt like I had been living in a bubble for most of my life. Everyone falls within the middle or upper-class economic status, is heavily encouraged to go to school, and has access to plenty of career opportunities. Before going to Thailand, I was aware of how lucky and privileged I am, but being able to go abroad gave me such a vital shift in perspective. Seeing how everyone's way of life was centered around family, community, and practicality made me realize how many Americans are consumed by the desire for material excess. Overall, I really feel as though my priorities were set straight by this experience, and being able to make friends with people who come from all different backgrounds totally validated by ability to adapt and expand my horizons.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would highly recommend traveling as much as you can while being abroad. The weekends are the perfect time to hop over to neighboring countries or Thai islands, and they also provide a great opportunity for you to make plans with new people. I felt like my weekend trips really pushed me to spend quality time with unfamiliar faces, and now I feel so much closer to them. The connections I made during my time in Thailand are lifelong...I'm still in contact with so many of the friends I made while abroad!
Pros
  • great opportunities for travel
  • community-oriented school and city
  • very welcoming locals
Cons
  • public transportation is often inconvenient
  • pollution
  • driving in traffic can be terrifying
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Anusha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fiji - The Scholar Games- Summer Program

AMAZING. This past summer I participated in the Fiji Scholar Games: an extraordinary opportunity to not only explore the stunning Pacific Islands, but also immerse myself in a thrilling challenge-based competition similar to Survivor!

Our team, Tivua, was crowned champion of the Scholar Games! We exhibited excellent teamwork, applied effective communication skills, and demonstrated adaptability throughout various mental and physical challenges. This unique competitive experience was enriched with the University of South Pacific’s course on Pacific Worlds. We spent much of our time diving deep into topics like Pacific cultural heritage and diversity of Pacific societies for sustainable development. Some specific issues we discussed were migration patterns, colonial and post-colonial contexts, Pacific understandings of cultural and natural heritage sources and conflict over these resources, and future challenges and opportunities in the region. This experience taught valuable life lessons while creating unforgettable memories and forming a tight-knit bond with native Fijians and other university students from across the United States. I'm immensely grateful for the support of my professors, teammates, and the vibrant Fijian community that made this experience possible.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We went stargazing and it was so beautiful and very emotional. Since Fiji is so far from light pollution, we were able to see the milky way so clearly with our naked eye. It was lifechanging.
Pros
  • Unique program- unlike any other study abroad experience out there
  • Very relaxed- since you're not rushing to visit a bunch of tourist attractions, you have time to just enjoy the natural beauty of Fiji.
  • The Fijian Sunsets are stunning.
Cons
  • Unless you pay for an island hopping trip, you stay on Mana Island basically the whole time. I enjoyed that aspect, but some people would not.