Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-11-28
CAMP DODGE AS
"MELTINC POT'
English Language Taught Foreign
Born Soldiers of Three States.
GOOD PROGRESS MADE
IN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT
Lieutenant at Camp Complies Lexi.
cons for Use of Swedes, Italians,
and Finns-Work Brings
Commentator From
Commanding
Officers.

of teaching foreign born conscripts
from Minnesota and the Dakotas and
from Iowa towns, now in training at
Camp Dodge, was made the subject
of an interesting story written by one
of the writer's Of the committee on
public information. The success of
the English language classes at Camp
Dodge was told the war department
by Brig. Gen. w. ID. Beach in letter
telling of che efforts of Second Lieut..
Hjalmar R. Ramsen, who has COM
piled lexicons for use Of the men who
are not acquainted with the English
language.
The committee on information
lstory follows:
The army as melting pot is
shown by the institution of English
classes in the training camps.
While American soldiers with the
expeditionary forces are learning the
language Of France, it becomes neces-
sary to teach English to certain of
the selectmen now in training in ma
tionsl army environments. The war
department has received report of
satisfactory progress by an English
language class at Camp Dodge, Iowa,
and commanding officers of any can
torment are authorized to institute
such classes when necessary.
Swedish-English. Italian-E g.
lish and Finlish-English lexicons
have been prepared for use at Camp
Dodge by Second Lieut.. Hjalmar r.
Ramsen. In letter to the war de-
partment, Brig. Gen. w. D. Beach
says:
L am sending you pamphlets
showing results of our first efforts at
| teaching English to our mea from
northern Minnesota and Dakota.
Similar pamphlets in Russian and
Greek will follow. / had my regi-
mental commanders sort out their
most hopeless Films, Swedes, Rus
SLAMS, Italians and Greeks, and they
sent me hundred or more. After
a talk the number was reduced to
twenty-eight, who, altho they had
been in this country from three to
seven years, could not speak or un-
derstand English at all. 1t has helped
them, however, to know that their
lack of knowledge of English will not
result in their discharge. The men
are fine lot physically and are
learning fast
"The Swedish-English lexicon, for
instance, contains a list of army
terms and two Introductory para
graphs headed Learn English First
the English word is given, then the
pronunciation, as near as 1t can be
written in Swedish equivalent, viz:
Attention -A-tten-sche1 - Gift
akt; About, face-abaut fes-Helt-
hogerom; Fall in-Fal-inn-Upp-
stallining.
"A similar plan is followed IN the
teaching Of English to those speak
ing languages other than English.
Under the heading Learn Eng
lish,' the following appears;
Learn English. 1t is for your
own benefit. Buy yourself small
dictionary or one of your daily news
papers, and read carefully, and do
not be afraid to ask questions Of
your fellow men. Make up your mind
to learn English, if only few words
each day, as it will help you in the
service.
Remember you stay in the SER
vice even tho you never learn to
speak one word Of English. There
fore, learn to speak English for your
own sake. The government is going
to treat you with justice and see that
no injustice comes to you. The Unit
ed States of America has given you a
home and shelter. and to many OF
your countrymen riches AID pros
perity. You should try now your best
to become a model soldier and 10y
al citizen, and thereby pay back a
little part Of what you owe the Unit
ed States of America"