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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 / Driving curriculum and legislative bill aim to expand access to driver’s licenses for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts!

February 23, 2022

Driving curriculum and legislative bill aim to expand access to driver’s licenses for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts!

Driving curriculum and legislative bill aim to expand access to driver’s licenses for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts!
Two recent developments have the potential to increase the ability of immigrants and refugees to obtain driver’s licenses in ILI’s service area and throughout the state of Massachusetts.
First, ILI and the Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northampton are working together to translate ILI’s Driving Curriculum for non-native English speakers into Spanish. The project is supported by a grant from the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program.  In addition to translating the curriculum, ILI will train Spanish speaking tutors on how to use it.

Created in 2020 and now online at no cost to users, the curriculum’s 10 lessons are the result of a partnership between ILI staff and students and a research team of graduate students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, led by professor Rebecca Lorimer Leonard. The lessons focus on how to navigate the state Registry of Motor Vehicles process and how to study for both the written and road tests. Importantly, the curriculum treats language and literacy skills not just as vocabulary or terms to be learned but also with an eye to the social practices and insights that drivers, particularly those who experience heightened discrimination and danger on U.S. roads, need to know.

 LEARN MORE about the curriculum here.

Second, in mid-February 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that will expand driver’s license access to all residents of the state, regardless of their immigration status. The bill must still pass the state Senate and then be approved by the governor. Similar legislation has been enacted in 16 other states.
Applauding the House action were individuals and organizations comprising the Driving Families Forward Coalition, as well as numerous elected officials, police forces, district attorneys, and sheriffs from around the state. Called the Work and Family Mobility Act, the legislation “moves all state residents toward greater road safety, improved security, better public health and a more vibrant economy, while holding out the prospect of transformational change for undocumented immigrants across the Commonwealth,” according to leaders of the Coalition as reported in the Boston GLobe.
ILI will follow this issue as the legislation moves forward and report on progress in upcoming ILI Newsletters.
Read the Globe article

Article by ILI Staff / News

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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
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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
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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! ⭐️

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A stunning cake made by @_azhar_bakery for #iligiv A stunning cake made by @_azhar_bakery for #iligivingvoice23 🎂
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