A student in the Intensive English program from May to June 2026, Keita Hayakawa talks to us about his studying English in the Northampton, ordering coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts, touring Boston’s City Hall, visiting Stephen King’s hometown, and watching Twin Peaks at the Amherst Cinema. Keita goes to show how much language and culture you can experience in an English immersion program in the US.
What Does It Mean to be Trauma-informed?
How can educators and tutors better support learners who have experienced trauma? In this thoughtful guest article, UMass graduate student and ILI volunteer Becca Stachowicz explores trauma-informed pedagogy and shares practical, compassionate strategies for building trust, fostering safety, and improving learning outcomes for all students.
Top tips and tricks for mastering a new language quickly
Think it’s too late to learn a new language? It’s not. Whether you’re aiming to travel, connect, or advance your career, fluency is within reach. With the right mindset, smart strategies, and consistent practice, you can go from hesitant beginner to confident speaker—faster than you might think.