Summer Language Programs

Languages for Business and Technology (LBAT)

The School of Modern Languages offers special summer immersion programs in the countries/regions related to our areas of language study: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. These intensive programs in Languages for Business and Technology (LBAT) consist of study abroad in which classroom lessons in business, culture, and technology are combined with fieldwork, cultural events, excursions, and visits to area businesses, government agencies, and social concerns, all conducted in the target language. The professional visits provide students with firsthand experience of business life, the protocols and strategies of business and technology interactions, and a heightened awareness of the current economic and social issues facing the host country. The LBAT experience offers a unique opportunity for rapid growth in proficiency, for building a deeper appreciation for the cultures and lifestyle patterns of other peoples, and for making lifelong social and professional contacts.

Depending on the particular program, students will spend 6-8 weeks abroad and earn 9-15 semester hours at the 3000 level (with some programs including offerings at the 1000 or 2000 level); these credits often can count toward a certificate, a minor, or the joint majors offered by the School of Modern Languages. Program costs vary according to the country visited and the length of the program. The HOPE scholarship applies. See the School of Modern Languages' "LBAT Programs" web page for more information.