Former Florida senator, governor and UF alumnus Bob Graham will speak about the importance of learning a foreign language Sept. 28.
Graham will deliver the opening address at "The World in Words: Learn a Language," an open house hosted by UF's Center for European Studies.
Gail Keeler, the center's outreach coordinator, said Graham will speak at about 10 a.m. in Dauer Hall. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During the '50s, Graham attended UF, where he met his wife and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
He graduated in 1959.
Keeler said the center pursued Graham because of his reputation for promoting the learning of languages.
She added that Graham will answer questions such as "Why learn a language?" and "Why should we be interested?"
In addition to Graham's address, the open house will also feature activities promoting the nearly 30 languages taught at UF, she said. Some examples include five-minute lessons where students can learn some basic phrases in a foreign language and computer quizzes about geography and landmarks with prizes for students.
