October News from The International Language Institute of Massachusetts
The International Language Institute of Massachusetts
Teaching Languages and Training Teachers Since 1984! 2024 Teacher Trainer of the Year || PIEoneers Awards
?? Kris Holloway Joins ILI’s Board of Directors:
We’re excited to welcome Kris Holloway to the ILI Board of Directors! As President and CEO of CIS Abroad, Kris brings extensive experience in global educa
tion and a commitment to fostering a connected, compassionate world. Her leadership and dedication align perfectly with ILI’s mission to provide equal access to language learning.
“Kris exemplifies ILI’s spirit and vision,” said ILI board president Sonya Rumpf . “We look forward to the contributions she will make to further our mission.” Kris has a rich background in international education and nonprofit work, including service in the Peace Corps and authorship of Monique and the Mango Rains. Read more about Kris and her impressive career.
NOTE: At their September meeting, board members elected new officers: Sonya Rumpf as president and La Wanza Lett-Brewington as clerk.
?? Featured Student Business:
Are you thinking about your fall clean-up needs or planning ahead for winter? Meet Sergio, though most people call him Ricky, an ILI student originally from Ecuador and the owner/operator of?Cleaners Multiservices, based in Easthampton. With support from the Valley Community Development ?Small Business team, Ricky and his team provide a variety of services, including cleaning, lawn care, and snow removal for both the home and commercial buildings.?They are open and accepting new clients!
Read some of the
reviews below!
“…my kudos for the great job Sergio and his dad did taking care of my yard —— trimming, weeding, digging, bushes, etc.??Their finished work is beautiful — they cleaned up very carefully —— kept in touch after we made the appointment, and I can recommend them very highly.”
"I just used Sergio Rubio to weed our?very large flower garden and transplant a few things.?He and his Dad did a really excellent job for a very reasonable fee.?Sergio is responsible, intelligent, prompt and an excellent communicator and lovely person.?I highly recommend him!"
?? ILI teachers learn too — sharing their expertise with each other!
As part of ILI’s ongoing professional development program, a number of our teachers gathered earlier this month to learn from Sabine Charton-Long, originally from Paris, who has taught French at ILI since 2014. She shared a creative and engaging strategy for vocabulary revision. Using the classic board game Guess Who?, students practice key language skills such as describing colors, facial features, clothing and accessories and forming questions in the present tense of ‘to have’ and ‘to be’. The highlight of this activity? Students draw portraits of people to describe or even use in the game, adding a fun and
interactive element to their learning. Magazine pictures also add variety to the character selection, and students enjoy naming the characters themselves. This clever adaptation shows how familiar games can become powerful tools for language acquisition when reimagined through an educational lens.
Teaching and learning go hand in hand at ILI, and in this session, teachers left the workshop with new activities for their classes!
?? Come join a family writing workshop!
ILI invites you to join a writing workshop to explore your multilingualism. We invite parents and their adult children (ages 15+) to have fun writing together about their family’s language history.?
Participants will practice reading, writing, speaking and listening in an informal and friendly atmosphere. All learners and all languages are welcome!?
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?? Free English classes are well underway!
We started the fall with 166 immigrant and refugee English language learners from 34 countries speaking 18 languages in our free English classes! This is the largest enrollment ever at the beginning of a school year and reflects the 72% increase in seats made possible through our grant from Public Adult Education of MA . It also is a testament to the generosity of local donors, businesses and foundations and an award from the City of Northampton ’s Community Block Grant Program — all of which helps cover ILI’s share of the free classes’ costs. Thank you!
We note also that since the beginning of July, 50 trained community volunteer tutors have devoted 400 hours to working with students! Learn about our volunteer program here.
Needless to say, we are all excited to be in our newly renovated classrooms, made possible in part by a City of Northampton American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant and an award from the Beveridge Family Foundation as well as in partnership with our property owner, Emerald City Radio Partners . In one of those rooms, as shown above, ILI teacher Greg Kerstetter and beginner-level students engage in a learning activity.
? Why intensive English programs work: A fast track to fluency.
At ILI, we offer an Intensive English Program (IEP) designed to immerse students in the language. With 21 hours of instruction per week, students benefit from daily exposure to English—both in and outside of the classroom. From structured lessons to engaging cultural experiences in Northampton, the program ensures students are constantly learning and practicing in real-world contexts.?
One example: Students tour Forbes Library and learn about the library’s academic, professional, and practical resources, from borrowing books to career counseling to tech support. The tour concludes with the opportunity to sign up for a free library card. Another cultural experience: Students recently went to Packards to shoot pool. This colorful neighborhood establishment, near the school, is a very friendly place!
Learn more about the benefits of cultural immersion in our blog, How Effective is an Intensive English Language Program?
?? Japanese delegation visits Easthampton's Adhesive Applications
We were thrilled to bring a group of employees from Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation to Easthampton's Adhesive Applications and learn about this family-owned company that makes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes. In addition to welcoming the group, Adhesive Applications and ILI have joined forces to provide on-site English language classes for the firm’s employees whose first languages are not English.
Check out the highlights of the visit and learn more about this inspiring collaboration in our blog article.
??? October WOTM!
?? Help Build ILI’s Capacity to Provide Language Learning Services and Facilitate Intercultural Understanding throughout Western Massachusetts.
There are SO many ways to support ILI!
Thank you to all of our Donors ????
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3 个月Congrats, Kris, Sonya, and La Wanza!