Volunteers sought to make a difference

• Volunteers

Keith Olson (second from right) assists adults in the English as a Second Language class offered through District 518 Community Education in this recent photo.

Talk about it

FULDA — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

Monday marks MLK Day across the country, and has become, in recent years, a day in which people are encouraged to give of their time and talents — a day of service.

What if a single day of service can be expanded to a weekend of service — or a month, year or lifetime? Wouldn’t the world be a better place?

Volunteer opportunities seem to be around every bend in our communities, and while each one is rewarding in its own sense, the teachers of District 518’s English as a Second Language program are hoping people with a little extra time on their hands are willing to help the area’s newest immigrants and refugees succeed.

“Helping someone start their education process learning their ABC’s and simple communication words is a pretty easy way to impact lives, and will forever change their life,” said Joanne Bartosh, Nobles County Coordinator of the RVSP program. Bartosh is continually working to connect volunteers with service projects, but is struggling to find people able to assist in meeting the needs of District 518’s ABE classes, particularly in Fulda.

Sherry Boehnke is a retired Fulda school teacher who has led the ESL program in her community for the past four years. In that time, she’s seen ESL students come and go, but new Fulda residents who are refugees of Burma and Thailand — speakers of the Karen language — are returning to the classroom day after day to learn basic communication skills.

“You do not need to have a teaching background,” Boehnke said, adding that anyone who likes working with people is welcome to volunteer — no experience necessary.

In Fulda, ESL classes are taught from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. With rising numbers of students, Boehnke said Wednesdays may soon be added. Volunteers may come to help whenever they are able, whether it is for the full two-hour class or just half an hour.

The classes are taught in room 213 at the Fulda High School, and Boehnke said she even has one volunteer — a high school student — who stops in to help during her study hall.

“They would just be rewarded in so many ways,” Boehnke said of volunteers. “I’ve received so much more from my adults than what I’ve given them, I feel.”

In Fulda, students in the ESL classes are divided into three groups based on their abilities. The newest students are learning the alphabet and simple words and need one-on-one help. Boehnke uses a curriculum that includes workbooks, the Rosetta Stone computer program, hands-on activities, games and flash cards.

“We do a lot of acting out to demonstrate different concepts,” she said. “One very positive thing is they want to learn so badly. They are so eager to be here and be a part of our culture. That is one thing that makes it easier.

Boehnke said some of her students attended school through the eighth or ninth grade in their homeland, while others have never stepped foot inside a classroom.

“I had one student who didn’t even know how to sit in a desk,” she said.

Volunteers can be high school-aged and older, and are welcome to come and observe before committing to be a volunteer.

“I know people would love it if they came in to help,” Boehnke said. “Maybe they’re intimidated, too, not knowing what’s involved.”

Anyone who would like more information or is willing to volunteer may contact Boehnke at (507) 425-2736.

District 518 ABE manager Marty Olsen said volunteers are used regularly in many of the adult education classes offered through the district. Currently, ESL classes are taught in Luverne, Chandler, Edgerton, Pipestone, Worthington and Slayton, all under the District 518 umbrella. In addition, Slayton offers a small GED program.

In Worthington, students in the classes speak a variety of languages, from Karen to Spanish, African languages, Lao and Thai.

“The common language becomes English,” Olsen said. “I think that’s pretty cool. The students learn from each other.

“It can be a challenge not to speak the languages, but I know all of our teachers do not speak any other languages, for the most part,” she added. “They’ve learned to communicate in other ways. We can use some of our more advanced students to help us translate and get the message across. Working together we do … figure it out.”

In Worthington, classes are offered Mondays through Thursdays, and there are multiple time slots open for volunteers to assist.

“Over the course of a year, we enroll over 1,000 students,” Olsen said. “Last year — of those 1,000 — 775 became participants, meaning they attended more than 12 hours a year. We have just under 600 students who come through the program in a month, that’s inclusive of all of the sites.”

Classes typically have 25 to 30 students, and the volunteers play a big role in building relationships with the new English language learners.

“So many of our students come as refugees, and maybe five or 10 years ago had no thought of moving to the United States” Olsen said. “You think about where they were and what they thought their life was going to be and where they are today — they’re making the best of it.

“They’re good people to get to know,” she added. “We want them to be successful, contributing members of society and that’s where they’re headed. We’re doing our part, I guess.”

To volunteer with the ESL or ABE classes in Worthington, people may contact Justin Stevenson at 376-6105.

Daily Globe Reporter Julie Buntjer may be reached at 376-7330.

Tags: nobles county, district 518, news, fulda, education, esl