Work at TLC
We are always looking for vibrant, considerate professionals to support our clients’ needs. TLC helps the citizens and businesses of Tennessee reach their linguistic goals through language classes, professional development, interpretation and translation.
In addition to professional qualifications, individuals interested in working with TLC must possess a heart for public service and a willingness to learn.
Why work at TLC?
TLC offers a friendly, collaborative, multicultural work experience. We value the contributions of all team members and ensure they feel appreciated for helping us excel. Employees can expect:
- Professional development opportunities.
- Fair pay and opportunities for increases.
- A cooperative work environment.
- Family-friendly policies and flexible scheduling.
Current Openings
- Freelance Interpreters and Translators
- Part-Time Language Instructors
Additional information for each position can be found below.
Interpreters and translators are vital to the success of our agency and help us provide critical interpretation and translation services. They are often the face and voice of the Tennessee Language Center through in-person interactions or written text.
Our interpreters and translators work with us remotely on a contract (freelance) basis. They choose which assignments to accept and are paid by assignment. Flexible scheduling makes it possible to balance working as an interpreter or translator with many of life’s commitments.
We are dedicated to ensuring the success of our interpreters and translators through timely feedback, fair pay, training opportunities and friendly support staff.
- Candidates must possess relevant education, training and experience to handle a wide variety of assignments requiring specific vocabulary and skills.
- Interpreters must be timely, organized, able to navigate unfamiliar/complex situations and lifelong learners.
- Successful candidates are trained professionals who respond promptly to calls and emails, willing to learn new technology, open to constructive feedback, incorporate new skills and feedback into assignments, and excellent communicators.
- Interpreters must have reliable transportation to get to assignments on time.
- Translators must be based in the U.S.
Email a resumé, cover letter and two professional references to its.languagecenter@tennessee.edu.
The Tennessee Language Center (TLC) is accepting applications on a rolling basis for experienced part-time language instructors in Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish to:
- Teach online, synchronous group classes and/or in-person group classes. Classes at the TLC should be learner-centered, designed to provide opportunities for students to use language in real-life contexts and have activities requiring them to produce the target language.
- Provide custom language instruction to individuals and businesses.
Part-time instructors typically work between two and 20 hours per week, about 36 weeks per year, depending on staffing needs and term enrollments. The current term and future term academic calendars can be found here.
TLC offers both online over Zoom and in-person classes in Nashville, Oak Ridge, Memphis and Clarksville. Classes are adult community educations courses and are not for academic credit. Online teachers may reside anywhere in the U.S., and in-person teachers should live close to one of the cities listed above.
- This position requires U.S. work authorization. We are unable to sponsor visas.
- Bachelor’s degree in any field. U.S. equivalencies of the credential(s) must be verified, and applicants must provide a credential evaluation, e.g., from World Education Services (WES) when applying.
- Native or near-native speaker of the language(s) you wish to teach.
- English proficiency: minimum level of Advanced High (ACTFL) or C1 (CEFR).
- Minimum of one year of experience teaching the language(s) and the age group you wish to teach, or willingness to complete TLC’s teacher training prior to employment.
- Demonstrated ability to teach using clear, understandable language, student-centered strategies and flexible instruction that adapts to different learning needs and connects language learning to the target culture(s).
- Transcultural competence gained by being raised or educated in a country where the target language is spoken; by living in a heritage community in another country; or by demonstrating, through professional experience or academic preparation, a deep understanding of the products, practices and perspectives of the communities where the target language is spoken.
- Must be able to work respectfully with individuals of all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives and abilities.
- Must have some experience using classroom technologies.
- Advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in the language(s) you wish to teach at TLC in applied linguistics, language pedagogy, second language acquisition or related field. U.S. equivalencies of the credential(s) must be verified, and applicants must provide a credential evaluation, e.g., from World Education Services (WES) when applying.
- Experience using a learning management system (LMS).
- Online language teaching experience.
- Experience with curriculum development for language materials.
- Experience with proficiency testing. Candidates with OPI Tester certification are especially encouraged to apply.
Please email the following to worldlanguages@tennessee.edu:
- Detailed resumé/CV, listing education and describing work experience.
- Letter of interest addressing qualifications and experience related to required and preferred position qualifications.
- Names and contact information for three professional references.
- Answer the following questions: Are you available to teach in-person only, online only or both? Generally, what days and hours are you available to teach?