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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 / The Reciprocity of Language Education: Cultivating Tolerance, Compassion, and Humility

February 2, 2022

The Reciprocity of Language Education: Cultivating Tolerance, Compassion, and Humility

A hand holding a large class marble.“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.” – Scott Hayden

Intensive English Program Academic Coordinator and ESOL Instructor Chris Elliot loves the “ah-hah” moments, the moments in the classroom when he witnesses students learning something new about culture, language, or the world.  Chris brings over 25 years of experience to student-centered, communicative English instruction at the International Language Institute of Massachusetts. Originally from Binghamton, New York; he has been teaching since 1996 and has been at ILI since 2008. Originally, Chris was drawn to the school due to its social justice values and commitment to educational access for all. Over 10 years later, and ILI still surprises him with how it never rests, always bringing language instruction to so many corners of the Valley.

ILI’s mission is to promote intercultural understanding and diverse communities by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training. ILI is much more than a language center. The school has a defined Statement of Principles that focus the school’s values and work to actively uphold its mission. Chris believes that the world needs more tolerance, compassion, and humility and that ILI upholds its principles by providing free classes, volunteer opportunities, and scholarships while supporting both students and teachers alike to keep learning and evolving.

Educators have had to pivot and balance in continuous ways over the past two years. In addition to becoming well versedChris Elliott with four of his students. in Google Classroom, Zoom, and apps to teach English online and in person; Chris says that working during the pandemic has opened his mind to new ways to engage students, make lessons relevant, and encourage participation online and in person. As a teacher at ILI, he considers himself in good company. Chris finds inspiration in his colleagues for coming up with improved and creative lessons and cool new teaching techniques, admiring how they strive to stay student-centered and boost student talk time. Anchored by the belief that language education is important because cultural understanding fosters empathy, he also finds the multilingual multitaskers that make up his classrooms inspiring as they balance studying, working, and staying positive. He’s passionate about helping students find their voice in English while also opening their minds to new perspectives. Seeing a student reach their goals such as attending university, getting a job, or speaking English more effectively make him proud.

Whether in or out of the classroom, Chris engages with potential and current students by creating resources and content that aim to help them navigate and progress with their language education and experience. He has written many news items for ILI’s blog that are accessible for free on our website, including:

  • What Is An Intensive English Program: A Complete Guide
  • Intensive English: Top 6 Really Easy Tips and Trips To Enjoy Mastering Your English
  • Academic English vs General English: Should I Improve My Academic English Skills 
  • And many more

Fast Facts: Chris Elliott Trivia

  • Resides in Shutesbury, MA
  • Lover of: cats, coffee, and vegan treats. Loves traveling to waterfalls because the sound and feel of water gives peace ofStudio picture of Chris Elliott mind.
  • Hobbies include: making music, collecting records, and being a cat dad.
  • Currently
    • Reading: science fiction and political commentary
    • Watching: comedy and horror
    • Listening to: vinyl funk, jazz, classical, prog, metal, and rock
  • Quote to live by: “Don’t believe everything you think.”

In addition to being an English teacher, Chris is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, poet, and musician, releasing music and performing around New England as a solo artist Christopher Elliott and in the duo Austin and Elliott. You can find him at www.austinandelliott.com and Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp.

For more information about learning English with ILI, visit Learn English or email macey@ili.edu .

To support ILI’s mission and to learn more about becoming a donor, visit Donate.

Article by ILI Staff / News

ILI News

  • Mayor Honors Past ILI Board President February 1, 2023
  • ILI featured in EL Gazette magazine! January 25, 2023
  • The Top 5 Benefits of Learning English Online with Native English Speaking Teachers January 18, 2023
  • Interview with Edwin Cubillos, Colombian photographer and peace activist December 14, 2022
  • Massachusetts State Senator Jo Comerford visits ILI October 17, 2022
  • Business English Guide to Improve Your Communication Skills October 12, 2022

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“Music is the universal language of mankind.” “Music is the universal language of mankind.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

ILI English and French instructor, Josh Owsley is also a musician! He will be playing bass with @landownerband tonight at @thedrakeamherst . 🎶Hope to see you there!

📸Photo by @vagabundodeltiempo 

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #landowner #livemusic #teacherfeature #thedrakeamherst  #community
Congratulations 🎉 to our graduates  Jeffrey ( Congratulations 🎉 to our graduates  Jeffrey (Peru), Azhar (Kazakhstan), Ruveyda (Turkey), Andrei (Russia) and Yasemin (Turkey). Every month we have an international potluck to celebrate our graduates. You might have seen Azhar’s cakes before, but the cake that she made, as you will say, is truly over the top! We are sad to say goodbye to the students, but excited about the next steps that they will be taking in their lives.

Cake by @_azhar_bakery 

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #studentlife #azharbakery #potluck #education #internationalstudents #ialc #ialclanguages
“We must risk everything for the raw recipe of o “We must risk everything for the raw recipe of our passion” 

We had such an engaging afternoon at @parlorroommusic with ILI Board Member + former president of @gccgreenfield Bob Pura. Bob led a reading and discussion of his new book The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success, which he co-wrote with Dr. Tara L. Parker. Audience members also got the chance to learn more about the process behind the creation of the book. 

Thank you for joining us! 📚

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #bobpura #authorevent #reading #discussion #communitycollege #thecommunityscollege #northampton
Today Bob Pura and Tara Parker read from and lead Today Bob Pura and Tara Parker read from and lead a discussion of their book The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success! 📚 Join us at @parlorroommusic at 2pm. 

In their book, The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success, co-authors Dr. Robert L. Pura and Dr. Tara L. Parker explore the extraordinary impact of this country’s community colleges on people, communities, and our democratic traditions.

As the book’s foreword by Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, states: "[T]he analysis offered by Dr. Pura and Dr. Parker unveils how community colleges—distinctively American institutions—are more essential than ever to fulfilling our nation's historic mission of educating for democracy."

Pura, a member of the ILI board of directors, retired in 2018 as president of Greenfield Community College after 17+ years in that position. Parker is the recently appointed Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at UMass Boston.
 
#thecommunityscollege #authorevent #ili #bobpura #taraparker #theparlorroom #northampton #community
TOMORROW - Saturday, January 28th don't miss an Au TOMORROW - Saturday, January 28th don't miss an Author Reading & Discussion with Bob Pura + Tara Parker at @parlorroommusic at 2pm!

Bob Pura, former Greenfield Community College president (18 years) and now an ILI board member, was on the Bill Newman radio show yesterday discussing his new book. 

So many of our students have found success at @gccgreenfield . Here's a photo of all of ILI's students who were at GCC during Bob's last year...including former board member, Aimee Salmon. Aimee is at Mt. Holyoke and graduating this semester, Florice is at Tulane, Bene is at Smith, Orphee is at Western New England University, Flora just graduated from Western New England and is an electrical engineer in Connecticut and Lastone graduated from UMASS and works in Boston.

➡️Listen to the radio show here: https://whmp.com/podcasts/the-communitys-college/

#whmp #ili #thecommunityscollege #bobpura #taraparker #communitycollege #authorevent #northampton #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts
This past fall, ILI applied to #MassachusettsDepar This past fall, ILI applied to #MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation’s (DESE) competitive grant program to help fund our free English classes for immigrants and refugees. The hard work paid off. When DESE announced the recipients, ILI was on the list! ✨

“We were thrilled to get the good news,” said Macey Faiella, director of ILI’s English programs. “The pandemic shed new light on the disparities that face immigrants and refugees, and we reassessed our program to include greatly expanded offerings. DESE responded positively—all to the benefit of the students.” Starting this fall ILI will teach four levels of online and in-person evening classes and a new intensive in-person morning course. 

For 34 years, ILI has partnered with the state to provide free English classes in western Massachusetts. This award extends the partnership for an additional five years. It funds about two-thirds of the overall program. ILI is responsible for the remaining costs.

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #dese #education #grant #nonprofit #freeenglishprogram #mass #community
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