Laura Shannon

You’re currently working for Bridge Refugee Services in Knoxville, right? Can you tell us a little bit about the work you do there, and how you ended up in this position after graduation?

Bridge Refugee Services is a refugee resettlement affiliate site that provides services to refugees and folks with other protected statuses. We provide assistance with government benefits, housing, school, medical insurance, and much more. I am currently the Tennessee Office of Refugees (TOR) Program Manager meaning that I manage the state-funded programs at Bridge. These programs include: Refugee Support Services, Refugee School Impact Grant, Youth Mentoring, Refugee Cash/Medical Assistance, etc. These are the programs that we offer for more long-term case management to our arriving refugees.

In my time at Bridge, I have had several roles. I started this position as a Reception and Placement Case Manager welcoming Afghans during the crisis in 2021 following graduation. Since then, I have also been the School Liaison at Bridge helping refugee children and families adjust to the education system here. Recently, I was promoted to TOR Program Manager, and now I manage and support the direct service staff.

What made you decide to start learning Arabic? And what motivated you to keep going with it?

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 decided to stick with Arabic at UT because of the amazing professors and the opportunities that it gave me to connect with other students who were interested in the language for a variety of reasons.

What are some of the ways that studying Arabic at UT has helped you in your post-graduate 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.

To what extent do you use your knowledge of Arabic language and culture in your life and work today?

I use my Arabic language and cultural knowledge almost every day in my work. I interact with many Arabic-speakers and frequently use my conversational Arabic. Also, Tennessee’s third most spoken language is Arabic, so its more common that I run into Arabic-speakers outside of work as well. As far as the culture piece, 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.

Tell us about a particularly memorable moment or experience you had while learning Arabic.

I actually met my best friend and fiancé in my first Arabic Class at UTK. That class was extremely memorable for that reason – I think the small-group conversation practice and skits really help you bond with classmates to say the least!

Did you ever study abroad? If so, can you tell us a little bit about that experience and how it shaped you?

I studied abroad in Amman, Jordan in the Fall of 2019, and it shaped me immensely. It was the most fun and most difficult few months of college for me. I studied through the CET: Middle East Studies and Internship Program, and my Arabic improved so much after that semester. More importantly, I gained so much 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. Not to mention, I was able to see some of the most breathtaking places on Earth while in the Middle East including: the Pyramids of Giza, Petra, and the Dead Sea.  

What advice would you give to students who are thinking about majoring or minoring in a language but aren’t sure how it will fit into their future plans?

I would tell students that are interested in language study to try and fit it into their schedule. It is absolutely worth it, and language skills are becoming more and more marketable for almost every field – not just fields serving newcomers.