Tennessee Foreign Language Institute


The Tennessee Language Center, formerly known as the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, is an agency of the University of Tennessee's Institute for Public Service. Originally created as an agency of the State of Tennessee in 1986, TLC provides language classes, language teacher training and certification, and interpretation and translation services.
TLC was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1986 to promote the learning and teaching of foreign languages.
It is the only state-government-supported organization of its kind.
TLC, which is located in Nashville, has four major departments: English as a Second Language, World Languages, Curriculum and Training, and Interpretation and Translation Services.

Governance

The legislation that established TLC called for its governing board to consist of the state commissioners of economic and community development and tourist development or their designees; the commissioner of education; the chancellor of the state university and community college system or a designee; the President of the University of Tennessee or a designee; the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission; and three other persons appointed by the Governor.

Purpose

The official goals of the Tennessee Language Center can be found in the legislative mandate in the Tennessee Code Annotated. The legislation outlines the purposes of TLC, "which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Fees for services are a major source of funding for TLC. State appropriations, which totaled $349,100 in 2009-10, provide about 20% of its budget. Additional funds come from grants and donations.