Entries by Missy Pankake

First Online TESL Class Graduates

Prior to the pandemic, the Tennessee Language Center’s Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) teacher certification course offered 150 hours of instruction, far beyond the standard 100 hours, and included a 30-hour, in-person teaching practicum. Graduates who completed the program had an advantage obtaining jobs in the field because of this teaching experience. Because […]

Titan Up for TLC!

It’s Football Time in Tennessee. If you purchase your Tennessee Titan tickets using our link and the promo code “TLC”, we get $10 donated to us for each ticket and you get up to $25 off. (For specific games listed at link.) Let’s go Titans!

3 TLC Employees Recognized with Awards

Three TLC employees were recently recognized by the University of Tennessee Institute of Public Service with a Five Franklin Award, which notes those staff members who demonstrate great work and service to the institute. Irma Hernandez, Spanish Bilingual Administrative Coordinator, has been with TLC  for a short time but has made a significant impact amongst […]

Welcome Dr. Brian Barnett as New Director of World Languages

We are so excited to welcome our new Director of World Languages at TLC – Dr. Brian Barnett. He comes to TLC from the University of Minnesota, where he served as a senior lecturer in French and as the director of language instruction in French. Brian has a bachelor’s in French and Spanish from Kansas […]

Back to School Event is a Big Success

TLC was proud to participate in the Annual Back to School event at Plaza Mariachi that helps local families in the community with the essential school utensils and backpacks. We handed out pencil pouches and toys to the 1,000+ children who attended and talked to the parents about our English and World Language classes.

TLC Provides Special 2-Day Training to Bilingual Employees at Erlanger Health Systems

Sarah Ryan, Interpretation and Translation Training Specialist, presented a 2-day, virtual medical interpretation training to 13 bilingual Erlanger employees. The training specifically focused on learning and implementing specialized Spanish vocabulary for diabetes, cardiovascular health, and women’s health. This was not a certification course, but certification next steps were discussed for those attendees that were interested.

Translation Project for TN Justice Center Increases Access to Important Health Care Information

TLC recently helped the Tennessee Justice Center with a translation project. The Tennessee Justice Center is a nonprofit that helps families and individuals in marginalized communities navigate public benefits programs to get vital services such as health coverage, long-term supports and services, and food assistance. TLC translated a flyer and a postcard that summarize the […]

Students Give TLC Excellent Marks in Satisfaction Survey

TLC is pleased to report that our students from our spring term ranked our language classes 4.91/5.00 in our end of term satisfaction survey. An amazing 93% ranked us a 5.00. “I like the small size of the class; the balance of listening, speaking, and writing practice; and the teacher’s style and personality,” wrote one […]

TLC Provides Interpretation for TIMES Reporter Doing COVID-19 Article

TLC Project Manager and Interpreter Richard Ponce de Leon assisted TIME Magazine journalist Abigail Abrams interview six Spanish-speaking migrant workers in East Tennessee. Abrams was writing an article on COVID-19 vaccine rollout across the nation. The workers harvest and process tomatoes at Jones & Church Farm in Unicoi, Tennessee. Read the published article here.

Interpreter Caffrey Receives Recognition for Volunteer Work

Congratulations to Dennis Caffrey – instructor, trainer and interpreter for TLC for many years – on being recognized by Hands On Nashville with a Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award for his volunteer work with Siloam Health. As Siloam navigated serving on the frontlines of the pandemic with an incredibly diverse patient base, Dennis was the steady go-between communicator as staff cared for COVID-19 patients, […]