Boston Language Institute Abruptly Closes

KENMORE SQUARE, MA — The Boston Language Institute, a staple of the Kenmore Square neighborhood since 1981, has taught languages and provided translation services in more than 140 languages, including English as a Second Language, to thousands. But on Jan. 16, a note popped up on the institute's website announcing the abrupt closure of the school following a bank's seizure of its assets.

"This is to inform you that The Boston Language Institute is closed indefinitely. While the Institute has been struggling for some time, resulting in its recent Chapter 11 filing, we had hoped for a turnaround and a successful reorganization,"reads the note signed by the school's president, Siri Karm Singh Khalsa.

Complaints prompted Attorney General Maura Healey's office to review what happened.

"Our office is aware of this closure and has received several complaints. We have reached out to get more information," according to an emailed statement by the AG's office to Patch.

The institute had an internationally recognized TEFL Certificate Program and, according to its website, had trained more than 2,400 English teachers. The Wall Street Journal called the TEFL program “one of the better known programs in the country.”

But Khalsa said the school had been struggling for some time and was forced to file for Chapter 11 recently.

"We had hoped for a turnaround and a successful reorganization," he said in his letter to students earlier this month. "However, the recent seizure by our lender Century Bank of our checking account funds has left us no choice but to terminate operations immediately. This is a regretful situation, but at the moment, we do not have the funds with which to continue to operate."

Khalsa said he planned to compile information about what the school owed students who were still enrolled and said he would keep students updated.

"Rest assured we are doing all we can to wind down our business in an orderly fashion," he wrote.

But that's not assuaging the fear of some employees.

The Boston Business Journal first broke the story, and has more about how the president was warned, according to former employees.

The Globe reported that this is not the first time the school has had financial troubles. Employees told the paper they didn't get paid, despite Khalsa's promises for an orderly closure, for the last two weeks of work they put in, and some fear their citizenship could be at risk.

Read the full Globe story: Healey Reviews Abrupt Closing of BLI

And Read the BBJ original story: Former Employees Say Boston Language Institute Was Warned

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff