UNC Asheville Languages & Literatures Internships Give Students the Edge Employers Want

At UNC Asheville, the Department of Languages & Literatures builds language proficiency through more than coursework. Internships, community engagement, study abroad experiences, and close faculty mentorship provide opportunities to apply language skills in real-world settings while developing the adaptability and cultural awareness employers value.

At UNC Asheville, the Department of Languages & Literatures builds language proficiency through more than coursework. Internships, community engagement, study abroad experiences, and close faculty mentorship provide opportunities to apply language skills in real-world settings while developing the adaptability and cultural awareness employers value.

Speaking a second language is a powerful career asset. Bilingual professionals earn 5-20% more than monolingual colleagues and are over twice as likely to be considered for management roles. It is a skill that gives students a strong competitive edge in a crowded job market.

For alum Lena Angrist, an internship with Enlace Latino NC offered the opportunity to put those skills into practice. Enlace Latino NC is North Carolina’s first immigrant-led, nonprofit newsroom, serving Spanish-speaking communities across the state through journalism, community information, and outreach.

Working alongside Development Director Emily Bango, Angrist supported grant-writing efforts, attended meetings, assisted with community events, and helped organize materials for funders and partners.

“I’ve learned a lot about what it means to run a nonprofit,” Angrist said, “but also how to work within an organization that is immigrant-led and functions almost entirely in Spanish. That’s been really cool.”

At Enlace Latino NC, most content is produced in Spanish to ensure immigrant communities have access to relevant and reliable information. Working within that environment helped Angrist gain confidence navigating bilingual conversations, meetings, and workplace collaborations while seeing firsthand how language can expand access to information and strengthen community connections.

“I love the team meetings,” she said. “It’s really interesting to hear what everyone is working on and to learn more about the people behind the work.”

For Bango, hosting student interns creates benefits for both the organization and the students it serves. They bring fresh perspectives and curiosity while gaining exposure to the realities of nonprofit and community-focused work.

“Having young people involved who understand what we do and can help share that with others has been really valuable,” Bango said. “And for us as a small organization, having an extra set of hands and someone to collaborate with makes a big difference.”

Experiences like Angrist’s reflect the Department of Languages & Literatures’ commitment to hands-on learning. By stepping into professional spaces where another language is used every day, UNC Asheville students transform classroom knowledge into practical experience and develop the confidence and cultural fluency needed to engage with an increasingly interconnected world.