Alumni Interviews
Why Study a World Language?
See where World Languages & Cultures has taken our alumni!
Our WLC alumni have found careers in a variety of areas. Below you can read about how studying a world language has benefitted their careers and why you too should study a language!
How Eric’s German degrees have benefitted his career:
“While I had good science writing experience at ORNL, I never would have had the opportunity to take a staff position at a German research facility without some language skills. By living in Germany for six years, I was able to refine my language skills to such a degree that my partner and I were able to keep German clients working with us even after returning to the US. I currently support more German organizations than American ones, and their trust in my understanding of German is a key component of maintaining those relationships. While I write in English, I communicate with German colleagues auf Deutsch regularly. I use German during 1-2 meetings per week and continue to do German-to-English translation work for my clients.”
Eric’s experience studying abroad and why you should learn a language:
“As an undergraduate, I signed up for Maria Stehle’s Berlin course, which culminated with a trip to Berlin. There are so many powerful, beautiful memories from that trip, and it supercharged my desire to try to live in Germany one day. When I entered the Master’s program for German in 2012, I spent the first year of my studies attending Universtität Stuttgart through a UTK partnership with that university.
Traveling and living abroad become attainable, and are truly empowering experiences. You have to look at language acquisition as a skill to acquire rather than a class to pass. Getting confident in a language requires a lot of practice and the bravery to struggle in articulating yourself for a while, but the benefits are definitely worth it.”
Alexia Little
French (2018)
Lexie works as a magazine writer and sports reporter while completing her PhD in Journalism.
How learning French benefits her work in journalism:
“The careful attention needed to learn grammatical structures and tenses in French to write and speak with clarity made me pay more attention to my written English, which bolstered my journalistic and scholarly writing. My French studies broadened my worldview and opened me to new people and experiences despite sometimes incredibly dissimilar backgrounds, facilitating my ability to interview all kinds of people and find common ground to build trust and tell accurate, compelling stories.
Many theoretical perspectives from which we draw in journalism and mass communication research came out of France or Francophone areas in Africa, Switzerland, and elsewhere. Knowledge of the historical and cultural moments helps to better understand their attempts to more fully historicize the social process and communication. My time in French at UT also helped me to develop my critical thinking skills in reading texts from many different eras and regions, a skill that carries forward in many situations.”
Alexia’s experience studying abroad and why you should learn a language:
“In 2017, I traveled to France with the UTK in Paris program. Each moment immersed us in French culture, history, and language, from simple breakfasts with our host families to excursions to Versailles and the Loire Valley. Every minute connected us to our collective global history while providing an immersive view of a culture and lifestyle different from our own.
So many great works and ideas originate around the globe, and having the ability and knowledge to engage with them lessens the gaps between people and places and deepens perspectives on many topics from language to politics to economics to art and everything in between. Language learning can be a challenge, but it opens a world of possibilities (pun intended), so lean into those studies with an open mind and commitment. Don’t view language learning as a requirement for graduation; view it as a requirement for more fully living.”
Yuki’s experiences abroad and how it shaped her:
“Studying at Waseda University (Tokyo) in 2017 was a pivotal experience for me. It was an incredible opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and fully immerse myself in both the language and culture, particularly through my stay with a host family. This study abroad experience not only enriched my personal growth but also proved instrumental in bolstering my Fulbright application. As a result, I had the privilege of becoming a public speaker in Japan and collaborating with the U.S. Embassy, and later enter Kyushu University, where I got my Master’s degree.
The experience at Waseda University fundamentally transformed me into a person I never envisioned becoming. It helped me to build connections with individuals from all corners of the globe and explore various career pathways. The exposure to different perspectives and cultures broadened my horizons and empowered me to pursue opportunities beyond what I had previously imagined possible.”
Personal and professional reasons to learn a language:
“Learning a new language expands your communication abilities, offering you more choices when interacting in diverse settings. Moreover, it provides opportunities to connect with people from various cultures around the globe, enriching your experiences. When I was in the Language and World Business program, we were required to take some business courses such as public speaking and management. Looking back now, while the language courses taught me about language and cultures, the additional courses provided me with practical skills to apply what I learned in language classes. They also gave me the courage to try new things, knowing I had a solid foundation and experiences from those classes.
Being multilingual sets you apart in the job market. International companies value candidates who possess language skills and cultural understanding, enhancing your prospects for employment. Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to choose where you want to live and work—it enables you to connect and collaborate with people you might never have imagined working with.”
How Laura uses Arabic in her career:
“In refugee resettlement, there are many clients whose primary language is Arabic. Even without fluency, being able to thank someone or greet them in their native language, especially when they are in an unfamiliar place, allows me to connect with clients in a special way. Also, if I am asking them to learn English and practice English with me, I think it’s only fair that I practice their language, too. I interact with many Arabic-speakers at work, but also Tennessee’s third most spoken language is Arabic, so it’s common that I run into Arabic-speakers outside of work as well. Knowing more about Islam helps me to be thoughtful when acquiring food, housing, and services for Muslim clients, not only those who are Arabic-speaking.”
Why Laura chose to study Arabic and her experience abroad:
“I have always been fascinated by languages, and I decided to try out an Arabic class freshman year of college. I loved learning the characters and trying out new words and phrases, and soon it became my favorite class. I stuck with Arabic at UT because of the amazing professors and the opportunities that it gave me. The small-group conversation practice and skits really help you bond with classmates!
I studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, and it shaped me immensely. It was the most fun and most difficult few months of college for me, and my Arabic improved so much after that semester. More importantly, I gained confidence in myself by navigating such unfamiliar situations and pushing myself out of my comfort zone every day by practicing my language skills and navigating a completely different work environment.”
Desiree Dube
Russian (2016)
Desiree is an Education Abroad Advisor at Kent State University in Ohio.
Desiree’s experiences abroad and how it shaped her:
“I studied abroad twice while at UTK. I participated in the Critical Language Scholarship program and spent a summer in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, living with a host family and taking intensive language courses. That experience helped me in a number of ways: expanding my worldview (it was my first time traveling internationally and alone), making leaps and bounds in my language progress (I was so much more confident speaking and more motivated to learn), and opening my eyes to all of the different career possibilities in the field. I also participated in a short-term spring break program to Prague in the Czech Republic. I saw that it was offered my senior year and was eager to continue exploring Eastern Europe. My participation in that program has also definitely helped me in my career – I primarily work with faculty who are leading short-term education abroad experiences.”
How she chose to study Russian and where it has taken her:
“I was first intrigued when I was at freshman orientation and saw the Russian literature courses in the catalog as I was choosing classes. I had always been interested in history and loved reading, so I decided to take those. Then it was time to choose a foreign language and it just made sense to take the Russian courses!
I started studying Russian with no idea where it would take me, and it put me on a career path that has ended up taking me all over the world (twice to Russia, and to South Korea). Whatever career path you are on, studying another language is going to help you. I don’t know any field that isn’t globalized to some extent. The university I work at has a Russian Language and Translation program, so I get to work with students who are interested in studying abroad for Russian (it’s the highlight of my life when one of the Russian language students reaches out!). My experience studying Russian and studying abroad on an immersive language program helps me in my role every day. I am able to communicate what it’s like to study abroad and the impact it can have on language skills and learning more generally.”
Katie Plank
Chinese (2017)
Katie works as a middle school Chinese and teacher at Seven Hills School in Richmond, VA.
Why she chose Chinese and how studying abroad helped her on her language journey:
“I went into college planning to major in international relations and was told that Arabic, Russian, or Chinese would be good choices for languages to learn. After my freshman year, I worked over the summer at UT at the English Language Institute as a language partner for Chinese exchange students; the experience was incredibly fun, and I was impressed by the students’ bilingualism. Being in a position where I saw personally how learning a second language could help build cross-cultural connections made me want to give Chinese a try, so I signed up for a Chinese I class in the fall and never looked back!
I studied abroad twice in addition to my year in Kinmen, Taiwan teaching English as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. I studied for two months in Tainan, Taiwan with the Taiwan United States Sister Relations Alliance (TUSA) summer ambassador program, and a year later I participated in the Critical Language Scholarship for two months in Dalian, China. Both experiences were incredibly meaningful, enjoyable, and empowering. My first experience helped break down my fear of speaking Chinese and using it in a real context. As soon as I arrived and had to hail a taxi, I felt an intense sense of empowerment at being able to utilize a skill I’d been practicing for two years. Both of these programs were challenging academically, but I enjoyed how the challenges in class helped me more fully engage with my environment and host culture outside of class. These experiences helped me realize that I wanted to make Chinese a long-term part of my life and career and also gave me the purest sense of confidence and empowerment that I have ever felt; being able to live in an unfamiliar environment and fully engage with it, despite occasional challenges, is an amazing experience that I feel lucky to have. It made me not only appreciate my host cultures in a more visceral way, but also engage more intentionally with my home culture and gave me confidence in my ability to face challenges and adapt to unfamiliar situations.”
Why Katie chose to study Chinese and her advice on studying a language:
“Do the minor or double major! I ended up taking a 5th year in college, partially because I was committed to completing a Chinese minor; while I understand that’s not financially feasible for everyone, diversifying your skill set is something that will always help you in the long term, whether personally or professionally. You are investing in not only your professional opportunities, but also in yourself as a culturally competent person. Everything that you learn will enrich your mind and your world view.
While language learning is a long and gradual process, if you put in effort on the front end, you will be surprised at how much basic functional ability you can unlock fairly quickly! Language learning is a wonderful thing because you can immediately see and use the things that you have learned, which is very empowering. Mistakes are inevitable, and while they can be embarrassing, people are generally very positive and supportive of people making a genuine effort to learn their language. The more active role you take inside and outside of the classroom, the more you will get out of it!”
Michelle Tipton
Russian (2018)
Michelle teaches at an Alternative Learning Environment school in the Pacific Northwest and is working on a second Masters in Creative Writing.
Why Michelle chose Russian and some memorable moments from her learning journey:
“I started learning Russian in 8th grade through a Talented & Gifted program offered at the time. For some reason, it just clicked with me. I loved the sounds of the language and as I continued learning about the culture in high school, I fell even more in love with it. My introduction to Russian literature course at UTK sealed the deal. I’m still practicing today! There are a few local people who speak the language that I try to talk to when I can, but I’ve been keeping up the studies on my own. I continued my education and received my Masters of Science in Teaching in Spring of 2023 after teaching for two years in Knox County Schools (one of the classes I taught was Russian!).
The most memorable moments for me were definitely in the Russian Theater class while we were putting on our version of Master and Margarita. Not only was it so much fun (and I made some lifelong friends with so many inside jokes), but the act of memorizing the script itself was incredible. It was very difficult (and I’m pretty sure we never got that last scene fully memorized!), but being in that group of students with Masha was such an incredible time of my life. I will never forget it!”
How she uses her Russian today and her suggestions for studying a language:
“First of all, it looks great on a resume! It’s not a common language for native English speakers, so it definitely set me apart from other applicants. It has also given me a unique perspective for the multi-language learners I have in my classrooms. Going through the struggles of learning a language myself means I can more easily understand and help scaffold those students who are learning English in my classroom. The background helped me teach Russian 1 to my first world language classroom, too! That was an amazing experience that I hope to repeat in my new school. When I taught Russian, I used it every day! There were so many things that I learned at culture nights and events that I could talk about to my students. Knowing how difficult it can be to learn the language gave me more patience and grace with my own students learning the language, too! I practice the language daily, whether with one of many apps or by reading some of the Russian books I’ve acquired. I don’t converse every day in it, but I’m at least reading or listening to a podcast in it every day!
Foreign languages are always a good choice to take! Having minored in Russian has put me ahead of other applicants for jobs since graduation. Even if the job doesn’t have a language component, a lot of supervisors and hiring committees are impressed when candidates have a foreign language as part of their degree. This is true across most job markets! Even if you don’t want to go into education, it is still a valuable asset.”