PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University students will have a chance to hear, first hand, how knowledge of a foreign language changed the lives of two WSU graduates.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures will host “A Dialogue on International Careers” featuring WSU graduates Steve Kimball and Brian Means. Kimball and Means are coming to campus to discuss the adventures of discovering an international career and using foreign languages as part of one’s profession.
Kimball has served as a professional Spanish and Russian language interpreter for Boeing, which gave him a chance to work on the NASA Shuttle project, as well as in the federal court system. Means mixed his abilities in German and Chinese with business training and savvy, and he has worked in China and Germany.
“This dialogue is a way to help students understand how language can revolutionize their employment possibilities,” Eloy Gonzalez, department chair, said. “One of the most practical things you can do in your college years is combine a minor in a foreign language with study of another discipline. It opens doors in international markets and that makes you more competitive.”
Two dialogue sessions will be held in the Honors College Lounge, 4-5 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. with a reception from 5-6. Seating is limited to 30 per session, so interested students should sign up in the department’s main office and Cultures, Thompson Hall, Room 110, as soon as possible to insure a seat. For more information, contact Christopher Lupke at 335-2755 or lupke@wsu.edu.
