• Home
  • Programs
    • Learn English!
      • Intensive English Program
      • Free English Program
        • Drop-In Free English
    • TESOL Certificate Online
    • World Language Classes Online or On-Campus
    • Language Travel
    • Private and Semi-Private Tutorials
    • IEP University Pathways
    • Workplace Training
    • Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
    • Host a Student
      • Procedure for Becoming a Host
    • Program Registrations
  • About ILI
    • ILI’s Mission
    • ILI Staff
    • ILI Board of Directors
    • Join our Team
    • Northampton
    • ILI Support and Accreditations
    • ILI Learning Resources
    • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Partners
    • Educational Partner Resources
  • Volunteer
  • Contact
    • Directions to ILI
  • Donate!

ILI

The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) promotes intercultural understanding and diverse communities by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training.

You are here: Home / News / ILI Earns Highest Ranking From National Accreditation Authority

September 11, 2016

ILI Earns Highest Ranking From National Accreditation Authority

ILI Earns Highest Ranking From National Accreditation Authority
The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) has certified the International Language Institute (ILI) of Massachusetts through 2021. This five-year accreditation is the highest level bestowed by ACCET, which since 1978 has been officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education and training provided by the institutions that ACCET accredits.

ACCET first accredited ILI in 1984, and has continued its recognition of the school’s excellence since then.
“We are proud to earn ACCET’s highest accreditation,” said ILI Board President Eric Wirth. “It underscores the extraordinary creativity and dedication of our teachers and administrative staff. And ACCET accreditation helps assure prospective students from around the world and right here in western Massachusetts that they will receive top-notch service.”
Operating for 32 years, ILI is a non-profit language school in Northampton that partners with 12 local colleges and universities to teach practical English skills to speakers of other languages. The school also trains instructors in effective ways to teach English to non-English speakers in the United States and abroad. And ILI offers  French, German, Italian, and Spanish courses for English speakers who travel for pleasure and business or “who simply want to learn another language,” said ILI Executive Director Caroline Gear.
“We are especially proud of our free English classes for refugees and immigrants. For nearly 30 years, these classes have helped change lives thanks to support from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the generosity of hundreds of local businesses and individual donors,” Gear added.
ACCET personnel paid a site visit to ILI in July and completed extensive research as part of the accreditation process. Among the strengths pointed out in the ACCET assessment are ILI’s professional relationships within the Northampton community; the school’s short- and long-term business plans; the extensive tenure of ILI faculty and staff, which results in a collaborative environment that supports out-of-the box thinking; student-centered classes, including the free English classes for refugees and immigrants; the school’s exemplary teaching and the teachers’ qualifications that exceed ACCET requirements; and the fact that students enjoy their time at ILI and are making significant progress in language development.

Article by ILI Staff / News

ILI News

  • Marco Bittencourt brings a lifetime of multicultural experience to teaching! April 12, 2023
  • ILI Spotlight: Brian Long, teacher trainer and ILI instructor March 29, 2023
  • Volunteer Spotlight: Emily Soltanoff March 15, 2023
  • 4 Great Reasons Why You Should Learn Spanish in the USA February 22, 2023
  • A guide for beginners on how to learn Spanish February 8, 2023
  • Mayor Honors Past ILI Board President February 1, 2023

Email Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter to get periodic updates on programs and services.

ILI on Instagram

We are honored to be the recipient of the @paradis We are honored to be the recipient of the @paradise_city_arts_festivals silent auction this year during the Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29) at the Hampshire County Fairgrounds. Artists who exhibit and sell their works donate items for the auction. This gives you a chance to take part in the fun of bidding on their great creations while supporting ILI at the same time!

Don’t miss free introductory Spanish classes on Saturday and Sunday, right at the show! We'll be holding three 20-30 minute sessions in the late morning and early afternoon, followed by feedback and suggestions on how to find the ILI language course that’s right for you. Classes are limited to 6-8 people per session, so head to the auction tables when you arrive at the festival and sign up in advance. 

✨Calling all volunteers!
Volunteer with ILI at Paradise City Arts Festival! You get free parking and a free pass into the festival on the day you volunteer. You'll assist ILI staff at the auction tables and booth sit for artists while they take quick lunch and bio-breaks. It's lots of fun, and just think of the wonderful art you'll get to enjoy!

➡️Sign up to volunteer here: https://tinyurl.com/ew76y9ee
Last week the IEP celebrated May Birthdays! We gat Last week the IEP celebrated May Birthdays! We gathered for cake, those being celebrated made wishes, and students sang Happy Birthday in English, Portuguese, Tibetan, Chinese, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, & Lao! 🍰

Thanks for creating this video, Jo!

#happybirthday #languagelearning #education #languagelearners #intensiveenglishprogram #northampton #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #ialc
Hurray Aimée! Pictured with her son, CJ, Aimée Hurray Aimée! Pictured with her son, CJ,  Aimée graduated Cum Laude today from @mtholyoke ! Originally from the Congo, it’s been so fun to watch the amazing trajectory of Aimee..from ILI to @gccgreenfield to being selected as a Frances Perkins Scholar and serving on ILI’s Board of Directors and starting @positivelyafricana along the way among numerous other things. We can’t wait to see what she does next! 🎉❤️🎓🚀🌟
Giving Voice 2023 brought together many of the stu Giving Voice 2023 brought together many of the students, staff, alumni, board members, donors, and community of supporters that help make ILI thrive. ⭐️ If you didn’t have a chance to make a donation at the event, but would still like to support ILI, visit ili.edu/donate 💌

Thank you to @artifactcider , @provisionswine , @coopersliquors , and @cafebalagan for providing drinks.

The food at #GivingVoice2023 was from restaurants run by former students or student’s family members! Thank you Pangea Sushi, @_azhar_bakery , @masamexicano , and Mosaic Cafe. 🍱🍰

📸 Photos by Paul Specht
Last night our #GivingVoice2023 student panel feat Last night our #GivingVoice2023 student panel featured Luz Muñoz (Colombia), Canser Bayir (Turkey), and Alina Chirilov (Moldova). The three students are pictured here in the audience before the panel discussion with ILI career and college counselor, Beth Reddish.

Former student Annie Castaño hosted Giving Voice this year and led the panel discussion by asking Luz, Canser, and Alina questions about their experiences. We heard about their backgrounds, what led them to come to the U.S., their experiences since being here, the communities they’ve found and formed, the ways ILI has impacted their lives, and their future goals. We are so grateful to our students for sharing their stories, it was a highlight of the evening! ⭐️

#iligivingvoice2023 #ili #iligivingvoice23 #givingvoice2023 #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #studentlife #bombyx #studentpanel
A stunning cake made by @_azhar_bakery for #iligiv A stunning cake made by @_azhar_bakery for #iligivingvoice23 🎂
  • Home
  • Programs
  • News
  • Support & Accreditations
  • ILI’s Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 International Language Institute of Massachusetts, 25 New South Street Northampton, MA 01060 · Site by Turn Signal Media