A Belgian engineer who speaks five languages will talk to students and faculty at a Benefits of Learning Multiple Languages seminar on South Campus April 9.
Raymond Roels, a retired Air Force avionics engineer, will discuss how being multilingual has helped him attain success in his career.
South Spanish assistant professor Julieta Cano, a friend of Roels, recommended inviting Roels to speak to students.
“His whole life has been a process of learning new languages,” she said. “He grew up in Belgium learning Flemish, German, French and English.”
After being stationed in El Paso during his Air Force active duty, Roels also became interested in learning Spanish, Cano said. He worked in technical support as maintenance chief for several years, she said.
Cano believes learning a new language can give students a financial advantage in their careers as well as add pleasure in their lives.
“Every language opens up doors,” she said. “When you learn a new language, you learn to see the world in a different way.”
Roels will speak at 12:30 p.m. in the SSTU Living Room on South Campus.
— Emina Gibic / Reporter
