Tennessee Language Center - TLC

09/03/2026

Don't Miss the Deadline to Register! TLC is offering the official Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Kanji Kentei, or Kanken) in Nashville on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Think you’ve mastered kanji? Now you can prove it. The deadline to register is Sept. 6. Visit our web site to find out more: https://tlc.tennessee.edu/kanji-test

09/02/2026

Don't miss the TLC Scoop! Check out the August edition of our 'Salsa' e-newsletter.

Email from Tennessee Language Center Get the latest scoop! Tennessee Language Center | August 2026 Hello from the Tennessee Language Center's newsletter, the TLC Salsa! This is where we'll be sharing

09/01/2026

In a Tennessee emergency room or courtroom, a trained interpreter can make the difference between being understood—and being left behind.

Your gift to the Tennessee Language Center helps make professional interpreter training accessible through scholarships, preparing more interpreters to serve Tennesseans when it matters most.

💙 $15 can fund an hour of medical interpreter training.
💙 $40 can fund an hour of simultaneous interpreter training.
💙 A monthly gift can fund an entire training scholarship.

Give today and help train the interpreters Tennessee needs. And please share this campaign with someone who wants to make a difference.

👉 Donate or share: https://give.tennessee.edu/building-tennessee-s-interpreter-workforce/

One scholarship can change a career—and improve outcomes for an entire community.

08/31/2026

🌏✨ We had a great time at the Knox Asian Festival this weekend! 🎉

TLC was at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville celebrating Tennessee’s largest annual celebration of Asian arts, food and culture—and sharing all the ways you can learn with us!

From Chinese, Japanese and Korean classes to English classes, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certification, and the upcoming Kanji Kentei (Japan Kanji Aptitude Test) in October, there was lots to talk about! 📚🗣️🇯🇵

A big THANK YOU to Assistant Director of World Languages Mauricio Lopera and Assistant Director of English Programs Erin Keafer for representing TLC and connecting with festival-goers. 💙

We love getting out into the community and helping Tennesseans discover new languages, cultures and opportunities! 🙌

08/27/2026

Ever wonder how we build a course like Spanish for Firefighters? We go straight to the source! 🚒

TLC’s Maya Campbell recently joined the Gallatin Fire Department for a ride-along to get a firsthand look at the situations firefighters encounter—and the language skills they need to communicate with Spanish-speaking community members. Her busy morning included medical calls, a robbery-related assault and helping vulnerable community members stay hydrated.

And this is just the beginning! Maya plans to join more ride-alongs this fall as she develops the curriculum with real-world experience in mind.

A huge thank you to the Gallatin Fire Department for welcoming Maya and helping us make this course as practical as possible!

08/26/2026

TLC’s Director of English Programs, Jenny Rish, recently joined a workforce development panel to share TLC’s experience providing on-site English classes for employers—helping businesses strengthen communication, support their employees, and build a more capable workforce. The panel was attended by Tennessee Certified Economic Developers and hosted by our sister agency, the Center for Industrial Services.

08/25/2026

It's — a spotlight on the incredible instructors who make TLC such a special place to learn.

Meet Japanese Instructor Mit Inaba. He has a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology with expertise in African American music and moved to Tennessee to be an assistant professor of African American Studies at Austin Peay State University. He is originally from Hiroshima, Japan.

Why he teaches:
"I strongly feel that my job is not only to teach the Japanese language but also to share my culture to foster mutual understanding, deepen respect, and share knowledge of others who have different cultural backgrounds."

What students say:
"He is very easy-going and cares that his students are learning."

We’re grateful for passionate educators like Mit who help our students gain confidence, connection, and cultural understanding every day. 🌎✨

08/24/2026

Make this the fall you finally learn the language you’ve always wanted to speak—or continue your studies and build on the skills you've already gained.

TLC offers 11 world languages in a mix of online and in-person classes for beginners to advanced learners. Whether you're learning for travel, work, family, or simply the joy of connecting with another culture, there’s a class for you.

Explore our catalog, find your level and language, and enroll this fall!
https://languagecenter.matrixlms.com/visitor_class_catalog/category/70521

08/20/2026

TLC is excited to see a project we played a small but meaningful part in come to life! Congratulations to Joe Pagetta on the publication of "The Apostle of Tennessee: The Indefatigable Life & Ministry of Father Aloysius Orengo," part of Vanderbilt University Press’s "Truth, Lies, and Histories of Nashville" series.

Italian-born Father Aloysius “Luigi” Orengo arrived in Nashville in 1848 and went on to build churches in communities across Tennessee, including Franklin, Columbia, Pulaski, East Nashville, Tracy City, Gallatin, Jackson and McEwen.

As Pagetta conducted research for the book, TLC helped translate and summarize letters from Father Luigi written in a fascinating mix of Italian, Latin and French.

We’re proud to have contributed a small piece to bringing this piece of Tennessee history to a wider audience. Congratulations, Joe!

08/18/2026

It's — a spotlight on the incredible instructors who make TLC such a special place to learn.

Meet Spanish Instructor Elizabeth Anne Henderson. Originally from Georgia, she studied business at La Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid and worked as a private tutor before joining TLC.

Why she teaches:
"I found that I greatly enjoy working with students of all ages and backgrounds. I’ve seen from my teaching experience that anyone with the time and motivation can learn Spanish."

What students say:
"Elizabeth is a great teacher! During class she is very good at encouraging students to use the language as much as possible and rely on other students for help rather than simply giving answers."

We’re grateful for passionate educators like Elizabeth Anne who help our students gain confidence, connection, and cultural understanding every day. 🌎✨