What's it like to help others learn English in Central Minnesota?

This teacher uses her own experiences to help her students learn English.    - - Donna Poisl

Written by Frank Lee

WAITE PARK — Janet Schleper sometimes struggles to communicate, so she knows what it’s like for those who live in Minnesota but were not born in the U.S.

The 57-year-old from St. Cloud had a stroke when she was 3, but she now volunteers as an English as a Second Language tutor at Discovery Community School in Waite Park.

Schleper volunteers several hours a day and several days a week helping those whose native language is not English improve their language skills.

“I talk with them, and if they don’t understand a word, then we use picture books where I look for the word and then explain it to them,” she said. “I help them with their homework. Another day, I might be helping them with their ABCs.”
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