A total of 3 courses (or 9 credits all applicable to the major/minor/certificate). All courses are co-requisite and must be taken on the LG basis only. Since the courses are taught within 6 weeks, they are all highly intensive.

Technical Japanese (JAPN 3691) --- Focus on reading technical and scientific materials. Lots of new vocabulary and kanji.
Business Japanese (JAPN 3692) --- Focus on business conversations, vocabulary and expressions.
Japan Today (JAPN 3693) --- Focus on Japanese culture and presentation.

LBAT-Japan may start BEFORE the summer semester officially begins. Make sure you register for these courses before you fly to Japan.

You can also count LBAT as part of the two-semester abroad requirements for International Plan. (You will need an additional bridge program besides LBAT to fulfill the requirements for IP.) Consult OIE or your instructor for the bridge program possibilities.

Students who have completed JAPN 2002 (with at least a "B" or 80%) or equivalent and are academically in good standing at GT are eligible. (Only those students academically in good standing are allowed to participate in study abroad programs including LBAT.) If you have not finished JAPN 2002 or its equivalent with at least a B (80%), you may be required to score 80% or above in the final exam of JAPN 2002 and/or pass our interview in February. Borderline scores do not qualify if they are lower than the minimum required.

We will take those who are socially mature and responsible. You must also sign the LBAT-Japan Code of Conduct agreement form. By signing the form, you agree to follow rules set by GT, local host institutions (e.g., curfew) and program directors. During the program you will be part of the group representing GT and the US and you are expected to cooperate with the program directors and local hosts and participate fully in scheduled events without disruptive or uncooperative behaviors such as not showing up on time, not being courteous to one another, not being attentive during group activities, pursuing personal goals that disrupt group goals, etc. If you cannot agree to abide by the code of conduct, you will not be accepted into the program.

If you are still taking JAPN 2002 and would like to apply for LBAT, you need to take Chapter 2 Test of JAPN 2002. If you score 80% or above in the test, we will take this as a proof that you have a good potential to reach the required level of Japanese for LBAT, and we will accept your application on the condition that you maintain good attendance and at least a "B" in JAPN 2002 through the end of Spring semester. If your attendance/peformance deteriorates after the initial acceptance, you may be disqualified.

Yes.

1. Once your application is accepted, you need to register three courses (JAPN 3691, 3692 and 3693) and pay the tuition. You will be disqualified if you do not register and pay the tuition in time.
2. You also need to pay the program fee (separate from the tuition) before the deadlines indicated elsewhere.
3. After you apply online at the ML site, all students need to attend two-part orientation sessions provided by Office of International Education (http://www.oie.gatech.edu, 404-894-7475 or study.abroad@gatech.edu) and fill out additional forms. Visit their Web site and click on "Study Abroad" to find out the date and time for the orientation sessions.
4. If you don't have a passport, get your passport ASAP. (If you are a non-U.S. citizen, contact the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta (or one near you) with regard to visa requirements. (The name that appears on your passport must exactly match the name on your plane tickets letter by letter including your middle names if any. Please report this name to your LBAT instructor.)
5. If you are receiving financial aid, please confirm with your financial aid offices how many credits you need to register in order to qualify for your scholarships, fellowships, etc. and make sure 9 credits for LBAT is sufficient. (For example, if your fellowship requires you to register for 12 credits during summer---3 more than what LBAT provides, you MUST consult your LBAT instructor. School prohibits you from taking non-study abroad program courses during LBAT.)

Yes. We will take those who are punctual. Many LBAT program events are planned as group events that require everyone to be on time. (e.g., We will miss transportation if you don't assemble on time, etc.) Those who have a proven record of not following schedule or those who don't take deadlines seriously may be disqualified. Remember that the following attitude is especially problematic --- "Being late for things is my own problem. If I don't show up, you should go ahead without me or just leave me behind." You may be disqualified if you prove yourself to be this way even after you are initially accepted into the program.

Once approved, your application fee will be automatically posted on your school account. Program fee will also be automatically posted on your school account.

Yes. We purchase the insurance to cover the program period for everyone, but if you would like to extend your insurance coverage, you should contact T.W. Lord and Associates by yourself at 770-427-2467.

Your orientation at OIE explains the insurance coverage. After reading the document, if you think you need additional coverage, you can contact one of the insurance companies listed in the document (or your own insurance company).

If you are a US citizen, you just need a valid passport, and you can stay up to three months in Japan without a visa. If you don't have a passport, get one immediately. If you are a non-US citizen or if you have any other visa-related questions, please contact the Consulate General of Japan.

If you don't have a passport or your passport will expire soon, apply for it ASAP.

The best advice is to make your luggage as light as possible. Ask your airline about the maximum weight of luggage you can check in for free (typically 44 pounds or 20 kg for international travel) and be ready to pay any extra at the airport if your luggage is too heavy. Typically, domestic airlines in Japan has a maximum of 15 kg (about 33 pounds) per suitcase and you will be charged extra if it goes beyond 15 kg. If you are planning to buy a lot of souvenirs, it is best to do so at the end of the program rather than at the beginning.

Japan uses the following electrical standards: 100 volts, 60 Hz in western Japan (e.g., Fukuoka), and 50 Hz in eastern Japan (e.g., Tokyo). (U.S. uses 110 volts, 60 Hz.) Recent high-tech appliances such as notebook computers are designed to work under variable voltage/frequency standards, and usually they work without a transformer in Japan. Simple devices (e.g., hair dryer, shaver, etc.) may work except at slower speed or power, but if you would like to be sure, consult the user manuals of your appliances.

Most electrical wall sockets accept only two-prong plugins in Japan as shown on the right. Newer sockets are polarized (unequall blade size) and have the same dimentions of the sockets used in the US, but older sockets accept only non-polarized type (i.e., equal blade size) as shown on the lower left. If your device has a 3-prong plugin or a polarized plugin, you may need to purchase a non-polarized, 3-to-2 prong adapter at a local electric appliances store in Japan (pictured in lower right).

You need to bring cash for your meals (about $800) plus money to buy basic necessities --- toiletries, hand soap, laundry soap, wash cloth & towels, etc. At a minimum, you would need $1000. How much more money you will need depends on what you would like to spend it on, such as telephone, shopping, entertainment, personal trips you make (not included in the program), etc.

If you are planning to travel extensively for a limited period (one week, two weeks, or three weeks), it is advantageous to buy a Japan Rail Pass that gives you unlimited, discount pass for foreign visitors with a passport to ride JR trains (including bullet trains --- except Nozomi, super bullet train). Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased in Japan. You have to purchase an "Exchange Order" (Ask for one at your travel agency) BEFORE arriving in Japan. Once you get there, you can exchange it with the actual pass at a JR station.

There is also a student commuter's pass, but this applies only to full-time students attending a Japanese school in Japan. (You can purchase a regular commuter's pass if you wish, but the discount is limited to specific routes you take on a regular basis.)

Some of the things you take for granted are not always provided. For example, bring a handkerchief or a small towel and carry it around in your pocket or purse! When you visit public restaurants, they may not always provide you with napkins. (They may give you a wet towel prior to eating.) Newer public restrooms have hand-drying facilities, but old ones may be missing such facilities. It is hot and humid in summer, so it is a good idea to carry a handkerchief or a small towel.
If you are visiting someone (e.g., your host family), it is customary to bring a souvenir. A souvenir does not need to be expensive but should somehow represent where you come from---your school or affiliation, home town, city, state, country, etc. It can also work as an "icebreaker" to promote more conversation.

There isn't enough space here to describe all of the different customs in Japan, but here is a small sample:

1. Consider all purchases are final. In Japan, normally, stores don't accept returns unless the goods are damaged before the purchase. Customers rarely try to return the purchased item for a full refund just because it turns out that they don't like it after all. Some stores may allow you to exchange the item with something of an equal value or give you store credit for future purchases, but such stores are rare. Ask their policies before you buy something if you think you might be returning it later.
2. If you are planning to travel and stay at hotels or inns, remember that you will be charged by the number of people, not by the room. (If a room costs 10,000 yen per person, it costs 20,000 yen or close to it for two people to stay in that same room.)
3. Close all bathroom doors when not in use. In many homes in the US, the door to the bathroom is left open to indicate that it is not in use. This is not true in Japan. Bathroom doors are to be closed when you leave the room. So from the outside, it is difficult to see if the bathroom is occupied or not. We usually check this by knocking on the door.
4. If you are an Asian descent and look like a Japanese, many people may refuse to speak in English to you even if you speak to them in English. The reasons vary, but they may feel too ashamed to speak in broken English or they may not be able to erase the sense of disbelief that you are not a Japanese. (If you don't look Japanese, the chances are better that you would be responded to in English. If they can't speak English, they may speak Japanese or shy away from you.)
5. Mysterious smile? Since displaying emotions in public places often makes others feel uncomfortable, it is culturally discouraged and is considered a poor manner to reveal strong emotions unless they are in locations or situations where emotional outbursts are approved (e.g., sporting events, etc.). Frequently, Japanese resort to smiling to mask their true feelings such as shyness, embarrassment, distress, etc. (I've seen a woman "smiling" during a TV interview as she reports the sudden death of her husband. Japanese notice her trembling shoulders and understand what she is going through and commend her effort in trying not to show her emotions even under such a dire circumstance.) This behavior is heightened to an art form in Noh play in which actors wear a mask and suppress emotions. However, audience know emotions are "leaked" through non-verbal behaviors and appreciate how well actors communicate such emotions through various forms of leakage.