Formation 1986 Location Nashville, Tennessee | Type Governmental Website tfli.org | |
Purpose Teaching and learning of languages | ||
The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute (TFLI) is an agency of the State of Tennessee that provides language classes, language teacher training and certification, and interpretation and translation services.
Contents
TFLI 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.
TFLI, which is located in Nashville, has four major departments: English as a Second Language, Foreign Languages, Curriculum and Training, and Interpretation and Translation Services.
Governance
The legislation that established TFLI (Tennessee Code Annotated 49-50-1303) 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 Foreign Language Institute can be found in the legislative mandate in the Tennessee Code Annotated. The legislation outlines the purposes of TFLI, "which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Finances
Fees for services are a major source of funding for TFLI. State appropriations, which totaled $349,100 in 2009-10, provide about 20% of its budget. Additional funds come from grants and donations.