Daily Times an effective tool for inmates learning English

By Teresa Stowell of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 12:14 PM CDT

Art Risser, of Watertown, teaches English as a Second Language class at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau while inmates are pictured practicing their English by reading an article in the Watertown Daily Times. (TERESA STOWELL/Daily Times)

JUNEAU - Learning to speak, read and write English is not only taught through books and computer programs at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau, but also by paging through the newspaper.

Art Risser, of Watertown, spends two days a week at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau teaching inmates how to speak, read and write English and two days a week at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown teaching local residents English. One of his resources that is a favorite of all of his pupils is the Watertown Daily Times.

Dressed in matching blue uniforms with orange shoes the women inmates looked through the newspaper eagerly Friday morning. Newspapers are not allowed in their regular living space at the jail. They are allowed to watch a TV but one inmate said most others choose to watch soap operas instead of news programs.

“I enjoy reading the newspaper because there is a lot of information I don't know,” a student said. “Being in here I don't hear this information. It's also a higher type of English then just simply talking to Art.”

Friday morning the group chose an article in the Daily Times to read called, “Pakistan warns U.S. not to cross at Afghanistan border.” Each student read a paragraph in the article. Art then asked if there were any words anyone didn't understand and also if they understood what they just read. They spent time looking through dictionaries after finding words in the newspaper they didn't understand. Risser would also try to explain what the word meant.

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The class would also discuss different parts of the newspaper. One section of the paper that caught the attention of many of the male inmates was on the second page titled Dodge County Court.

The class includes inmates who can speak English fairly well to those who know very little English. Risser has pupils from numerous countries including Mexico, Russia, China, Japan, Brazil, Pakistan and the Ukraine.

“She didn't know one word, not a yes or no,” One student said about her classmate after she finished reading a paragraph. “She's been here (in the class) two weeks and yesterday she pushed a button and asked, ‘May I have TV on, please.'”

The jail offers two English as a Second Language classes, Risser's class and a class taught by Moraine Park Community College, which is a computer based program. Risser and Dianne Cochrane teach their class on a voluntary basis through a project by the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown. Risser also teaches the ESL class at the church in Watertown.

“This effort at the jail arose from one of my students in the Watertown classes being arrested on immigration charges and being held in the Dodge County Jail until the legal system had him ready for deportation,” Risser said. “I visited him during his confinement and had an impromptu discussion with one of the jail administrators. She indicated an interest in our program.”

Risser and Cochrane have been teaching the class since January. The men and the women inmates are taught in separate time periods. Only those inmates who have complied with jail rules, are a lower security risk and are a certain classification can attend the classes. Some of the inmates in the class are U.S. Marshall inmates and Federal Bureau of Prisons inmates both of which are just being held at the Dodge County Jail.

To ensure their safety while teaching, Risser and Cochrane are given a duress alarm which is clipped to their belt loop. If there is a problem they can press the button and a dozen officers will be in the room in a matter of minutes. Officer Scott Smith is the program supervisor and is always near the room overlooking the class. There are also cameras in the classroom that are always monitored.

“One time while I was washing my hands in the rest room I accidentally pressed the duress alarm and someone shouted my name and when I walked out there were a dozen police officers outside the door and more running my way,” Risser said. “I've never ever felt unsafe.”

Many of the inmates said they are not only thankful to learn English to better their communication skills with officers in jail, but also because they will be able to understand what is happening with their court proceedings.

“Knowing English not only helps them function in here but also when they get out,” Kevin Hill, deputy jail administrator, said. “It will also help us if they are able to at least say their name, give their date of birth and where they're from without the need of a translator.”

“These programs give the inmates something to focus on,” Hill said. “The facility is safer if these folks are occupied.”

The inmates said they not only practice their English during class but they also help each other back in the living space.

“I've spent three weeks with Art and could not write English but now can write to my American friends and they understand,” a student said.

Risser finished the class by practicing the alphabet with each student saying a letter. Each student then wrote on the whiteboard what they will do when they get out of jail.

Risser and Cochrane also teach an ESL class on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown. Those employers interested about the Watertown program for their employees or others interested can contact Risser at 206-9000. The class is open to all students and there is no charge.