International Language Institute of Massachusetts in the USA, celebrates its 35th anniversary

Written by Rosie Baker 29 abril 2019

International Language Institute of Massachusetts in the USA, celebrates its 35th anniversary

IALC-accredited language school the International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) was founded in 1984, in Northampton, a small city located on the banks of the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts.

It all began with Alexis Johnson and Janice Rogers, two women with a love of languages who offered intensive English classes for international students in eight different languages.

ILI’s first college partnership was with Hampshire College, where they taught Spanish and French and began their TESOL programme. They also started their free English classes for immigrants and refugees and initiated on-site workplace language training at local fire and police departments, hospitals, and banks and other businesses which still runs today.

ILI's free English Programme students

Caroline Gear, Executive Director of ILI, started at the school as a teacher in 1986 and said: “Our original mission - to promote intercultural understanding through high-quality language instruction and teacher training - guides us to this day, with an evolving emphasis on increased outreach to our international partners and on helping to build diversity in local communities. Students from around the world, across the U.S., and right here in western Massachusetts successfully complete our courses”.

Still based in Northampton, a culturally rich university town with 4 colleges, a major university and within a few hours of Boston and New York, ILI has grown to a larger quarters to accommodate their growing student base. They have also increased their programmes to include pre-academic training for Fulbright scholars.

Caroline added: “Recently, we launched ILI’s language travel programme, which places local residents at selected language schools in other countries. And we’ve substantially expanded our university pathways programme, which now includes 27 regional and national colleges and universities”.

Caroline Gear, Executive Director of ILI

As a small independent language school Caroline said: “It takes constant vigil to ensure sufficient enrolment and thus guarantee the financial basis needed to provide high-quality teaching and the best possible overall experience for international students who leave what is familiar to them to arrive in a new country and culture for study”.

Celebrating her 33 years at the International Language Institute of Massachusetts,Caroline said: “There have been many highlights, above all, I point to the consistency we have maintained in achieving our mission and to our ability to build an incredibly talented staff”.

IALC would like to congratulate the International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) on this fantastic achievement and for more information click here: https://www.ialc.org/find-a-school/international-language-institute-of-massachusetts/.

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