Other Local Programs

This is a list of programs in the Amherst area for international visitors and immigrants.*

Programs & Resources

  • The Center for New Americans
    Free daytime ESL classes for immigrants in downtown Amherst, Northampton & Greenfield.
  • International Language Institute
    Options include: tuition-based Intensive English Program (mornings) and free evening classes (for immigrants only)
  • First Baptist Church
    Free Wednesday morning classes taught by volunteers. The church is located at 434 N Pleasant Street in Amherst and can be reached at 413-549-3596.
  • Holyoke Community College
    Tuition-based daytime ESL classes at 5 different levels. Courses include reading and writing, speaking and listening, grammar, and pronunciation. Financial aid is available for low-income students. There are also evening ESL classes offered through HCC's Division of Continuing Education.
  • MassLinks
    Free online ESL classes two times a week (3 hours each morning) or 2 times a week (2 hours each evening). Translation is available to answer questions and help you register for classes.
  • Round the World Women
    Free activities (trips, parties, speakers, etc.) and conversation groups for international women. The program is run by local volunteers. For information, contact the UMass International Programs Office at 413-545-2843.
  • American Language and Culture Program at UMass
    Intermediate and advanced-level classes on the UMass campus, 6 - 8 PM on Tuesdays (intermediate) and Wednesdays (advanced). $95 per semester.
  • UMass
    Credit-based courses in academic writing, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary to help students master the formal conventions of academic English and meet the expectations of professors and employers in the professional workplace. For registered undergraduates, exchange students, graduate students, teaching assistants, visiting scholars, UMass employees, Five College students, and faculty. Located at 308B Bartlett Hall in Amherst, and can be contacted at 413-545-4210 or by email.
* Visitors are here for a limited time, for example on a tourist, F-1, F-2, or J visa. Immigrants are here to live, work, and stay permanently in the United States.

Private Tutors

Tutor
Phone
Email
Details
Andrea Weiss
978-987-6141 Email
Private, group ESL tutoring. All ages, all levels. $35/hour. TESOL certificate and 10 years' experience. Personalized classes: business English, current news, idioms, phrasal verbs, and more. Games, songs for children! https://andreasenglish.wixsite.com/englishclasses
Brett Iimura
  Email
Hourly fee-based ESL tutoring for children and adults. Also available for early literacy and math tutoring in English, specializing in dyslexic learners.
Jim Luippold
  Email
Hourly fee-based tutoring for adults: $20/hour. Help with conversation, pronunciation, writing, TOEFL Preparation. Meetings at a local cafe, preferably Panera Bread in Hadley or Dunkin' Donuts Rte 9 in Amherst.
Kim Wolfson
413-687-7746
Email
Hourly fee-based tutoring for individuals and small groups. Kim has a TESOL certificate and experience with all levels and ages. Conversation, vocabulary, grammar, and learning games. Hourly fee for one student $35; groups negotiable.
Ralph Sturgen

413-427-6524

Email

Hourly fee-based tutoring: $25 per hour. Conversational English, job interview practice, proofreading/editing of academic papers. Ralph has a background in science and technology.
David Nielsen

413-253-3842

Email

Experienced in editing academic papers and coaching conversational English. Has TESOL certificate and 15 years’ experience tutoring on Skype and in his home. $20/hour.