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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 / ILI Student Stories: Chinatsu Nagamune

June 29, 2022

ILI Student Stories: Chinatsu Nagamune

Chinatsu Nagamune is an ESOL student in ILI’s Free English classes for Immigrants and Refugees. The background of her Zoom screen reveals fabrics of a beautiful deep blue color. 

Chinatsu working in her studio with indigo and fabric.Chinatsu uses traditional Japanese techniques, such as rice resist paste and hand-cut paper stencils, to create her patterns. The results are stunning: waves and eyes, concentric circles, and sharp lines. It’s all thanks to the indigo, she explains, which she ferments herself in her studio. As a textile artist she compares the practice of her art to the art of language learning, which she has enthusiastically taken up in ILI’s learning community.

When Chinatsu creates her intricate textile art, with a wide range in patterns and items, she uses all naturally sourced dyes. Growing up in a city, she says it was harder to have a connection to the natural world, so she finds the process of naturally dyeing fabrics grounding. Even when she was a kid, says Chinatsu.

I really loved drawing and picking up a lot of objects, and I like collecting a lot of objects like cicada shells, or, like, bark and I’d take them and put them in jars. I grew up in a city and there’s not a lot of nature, so probably as a reaction to that I was very obsessed with nature. So what I’m doing now is very focused on natural materials, from nature. So my dyeing plan is all from plants, dyeing pigments and all the stuff are all from nature…so that makes me very happy and feel very comfortable to work with.

Most of Chinatsu’s art uses indigo dye, which can be fickle; it needs to be fed every day. ChinatsuA closeup of an indigo dyed garment. describes the process of tending to the indigo dye as a dialogue: “It’s always a conversation with the materials.” Over time, she says, you get to know the dye and you can react to it. You learn to know when to add more and when to let it sit. It’s a process of give and take; just like a speaking conversation, it involves listening and learning. 

Chinatsu’s art shows how learning a new language is a lot like the fermentation process. It takes time, but the more time that is devoted to it, the stronger it grows. A little bit of knowledge over time, like learning a new word every day, adds up. It’s also a deeply personal process: although there are guides to fermentation, and many for language learning, too, language varies immensely from person to person, and even from one day to the next. To learn a language is to be in a state of constant evolution and growth. 

Chinatsu says that the community environment of ILI is what keeps bringing her back to learn in her artistic way: “We have all different An indigo dyed and pattern textile.backgrounds, we can talk about things without any judgment, and I think it is a very, very safe place for me and a really great way to jump into the community.” Instead of being worried about making mistakes, she is able to fully engage with her peers and with the English language. For Chinatsu, ILI is a welcoming environment where she feels comfortable with her skills and be confident practicing public speaking. She had lots of public speaking experience in Japanese, she says, but not as much in English until she practiced with the ILI community. ILI also connected her with an instructor who helped her practice presentations about dyeing fabrics. This summer, Chinatsu plans to host workshops to share her knowledge of textile art. She looks forward to teaching her skills to the entire Connecticut River Valley community. 

Check out Chinatsu’s website for more information. 

Interview and article by Emma Germanetto, UMass Amherst Community Engagement Course: Multilingualism and Literacy, spring 2022

Article by ILI Staff / News

ILI News

  • What Is the Difference Between Social and Academic English? (Part 1 of 2) August 3, 2022
  • ILI Interview with Volunteer Tutor Robin Smither July 20, 2022
  • How French Classes Changed Rebecca’s Life July 6, 2022
  • ILI Student Stories: Chinatsu Nagamune June 29, 2022
  • ILI is a finalist for the PIEoneer “Language Educator of the Year” 2022 award! June 15, 2022
  • ILI’s Caroline Gear featured in Rotary magazine! June 13, 2022

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Our home-stay program allows students to experienc Our home-stay program allows students to experience life in the USA in local homes. We match area hosts with international students from all over the world. 🌏 Students eligible to live with a host family are enrolled full time in our Intensive English program anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 months.

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Are you looking to be qualified to teach ESOL anyw Are you looking to be qualified to teach ESOL anywhere in the world? ✈️ Whether you are new to teaching English, or an experienced teacher looking to expand your abilities, participating in a TESOL certificate training course awards you practical and experiential skills. 

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Curious about what to expect from a #TESOL course at ILI? Check out our #BlogPost that breaks it all down! READ here: https://ili.edu/2021/06/30/what-to-expect-from-an-online-tesol-course-at-ili/

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“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mou “The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.” – Goethe

Looking back on beautiful memories from #GivingVoice2022 at @nohocenterforthearts . ☁️ We are so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community! #tbt 

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Fall classes in ILI's World Language Program are r Fall classes in ILI's World Language Program are right around the corner! Sign up today for our session of online or in-person classes beginning on September 19th! To learn more visit ili.edu OR email heather@ili.edu.

The International Language Institute is known the world over for its creative approach to teaching and learning languages. Teachers are supportive and mindful of students’ goals. Their expertise shines through the lessons that they teach, and in their ability to get you up and using the language right away. 

Thanks to @rachaelpricepants for this wonderful video she put together for us last year! 

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How long it takes to learn a foreign language is d How long it takes to learn a foreign language is determined by many factors: your learning methods, background, natural ability, mindset, and ultimate aims, not to mention the target language itself. 

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Caroline represented @study_massachusetts at the r Caroline represented @study_massachusetts at the recent @educationusa Forum in DC. She is pictured here with Jimena Collingwood, International Programs Admissions Coordinator at @westfieldstate . Westfield State is also a member of #StudyMassachusetts and an ILI University Pathway Partner. So great to meet with #EducationUSA advisors from around the world! 📖

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