Howard Community College

EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF LANGUAGE Ken Rochon GOAL AT HCC: Develop multilingual and multicultural competencies Eight years ago, Ellicott City resident and local business entrepreneur Ken Rochon registered for his first class in HCC's world languages program. Little did he know that those classes would lead him to expand his business, write two books, become a world traveler, and meet his future wife. What makes someone return to school after earning a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate (at HCC), teaching middle school science, starting LONG-TERM GOAL: Travel to 100 countries QUOTE: "Communication connects you with people who will lead you to places you couldn't have otherwise gone." three successful businesses, and writing several books? Ken says he wants to travel, everywhere from Abu Dhabi to Zimbabwe, and be able to communicate with people wherever he goes. "As a child, I lived outside of Paris where my father, a U.S. Army officer, ays. was stationed, and we traveled to many countries," Ken says. "When I en registered to study a foreign language at HCC, I hadn't been out of the U.S. since I was a kid." Ken's itch to travel was certainly scratched during his first semester in e HCC's world languages program when he enrolled in three French classes as well as the college's study abroad program in France. guage It wasn't long before he started studying his second language – Spanish. s "When I enrolled in Spanish, I was the only one in the class who had never taken it before," he says. He tutored a Spanish-speaking student in ears English while she helped him practice Spanish, and two years later, he married her. m Ken has now studied 12 languages at HCC, among them Arabic, Chinese, German, Greek, Hindi, Russian, Turkish, dy and American Sign Language and participated in three study abroad trips. "I appreciate that the HCC classes focus on n culture and history, as well as languages," he says. "When I travel, I have a huge edge over the average American tourist, who is afraid to communicate or leave the traditional tourist areas." Ken says he's reaped other benefits as a result of his new language skills. "My entertainment business exploded after I studied French and Spanish," he says. "Just being able to say a few words in their language builds an instant connection with people." He's authored two books as a direct result of his es experiences at HCC, including a children's world languages reated primer titled Making Friends Around the World. He also created y two new business ventures – an international photography studio and a ns promotional company to help businesses make connections worldwide. oal This lifelong learner is well on his way to reaching his goal of joining the centurion travel club – the frequent traveler has visited 75 different countries. "If there's ever been a believer in HCC's motto, 'You can get there from here,' I'm it!" Howard Community College Spring 2012 | Pathways 7

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