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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 / April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

April 21, 2021

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

The past twelve months have been full of challenges: the pandemic rearranged our lives, interrupted our interactions, and enveloped the day-to-day with new anxieties and worries.  And yet, through all of these challenges, the amazing team of ILI volunteers had the energy and drive to devote time each week to help support ILI’s students, programs and services.

We at ILI are grateful beyond words for our volunteers’ dedication and commitment to volunteering with us throughout the pandemic.  From the new and continuing tutors who took the plunge into Zoom meetings, to the new volunteers helping with social media and document translations – thank you!

It’s no secret to us that volunteer tutors and in-class teaching assistants play a special role in the lives of students learning English.  In small group and one-on-one settings, tutors can give personalized attention to learners in the form of language support and also by offering insights into life and customs in the US.  Tutors also play an important role in building learners’ confidence on their English learning journey.  Some of the diverse activities and topics in recent tutorials include:

  • talking about holidays such as Ramadan, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Aid el adha
  • preparing for the MA driving test and permit test
  • sharing favorite recipes and talking about how they’re prepared
  • sitting outside together and talking about traffic vocabulary
  • reviewing past, present and future tenses
  • using the phrase “going to”
  • practicing pronunciation, reading and writing sight words
  • describing pictures from the news
  • comparing and contrasting the American school system with school systems in other countries
  • exploring idioms

It’s also no secret to us that the volunteers sharing their skills and talents with social media and translating documents are also integral to helping smoothly run the day-to-day operations.

Happy National Volunteer Month –  we see you and thank you for all your contributions!

By: Laura Robinson, Volunteer Tutor Coordinator and ESOL Instructor

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

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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 🎂
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