International Language Institute of Massachusetts

The INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE INSTITUTE of Massachusetts (ILI) is a private, non-profit language school located in Northampton, Massachusetts. A short walk from Smith College and located in an area with over 14 colleges and universities nearby makes Northampton a lively and international place to study. Since 1984, ILI has earned a distinguished international reputation for it’s excellent language and teacher training programs. ILI’s mission is to promote intercultural understanding by providing quality language instruction and teacher training. ILI’s philosophy of teaching is learner-centered and participatory. Through simulations, class interviews, dialogues prepared from real-life situations, and discussions and games, the language is made real and immediately usable outside the classroom. Walking into an ILI classroom, typically no more than eight students, one notices a lively, upbeat atmosphere. Each student, guided by a teacher, is participating, practicing newly acquired language skills. There is a spirit of co-operation and enthusiasm, even laughter in the room. Through simulations, class interviews, dialogues prepared from real-life situations, and discussions and games, the language is made real and immediately usable outside the classroom. ILI serves approximately 650 students each year. The school offers an international Intensive English Program, as well as free English classes and services for immigrants and refugees. It also provides the language program at Hampshire College in Amherst, delivers various state and federally funded programs, and offers French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes in its World Language Program. ILI can also find a program for you to improve your Spanish in the Study in Spain program. ILI provides four-week ESOL Teacher Certificate courses (in collaboration with Vermont ’s School for International Training), as well as on-site cultural awareness workshops, and language and teacher training. ILI is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) providing Professional Development Points (PDPs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and is a member of the American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP). ILI designs and provides on-site Workplace Programs for area businesses and organizations. These classes, custom designed to respond to the needs of the employer and employees, reflect the same learner-centered methodology for which ILI has become recognized. Current and previous clients include C&S Wholesale Grocers, Holyoke Hospital, Baystate Hospital, Midwifery Care of Holyoke, Specialty Looseleaf, Ampad and ISO New England. ILI’s experienced and caring staff is available to students for personal support, in addition to academic and cultural counseling. In our Computer Lab, students can use computers (with Internet access) to practice grammar and pronunciation, study for the TOEFL, as well as keep in touch with family and friends around the world.