Can ESL tutors and teachers help their learners deal with the frustrations of living in America without English-language skills?
This question comes to light following a shooting spree in April, 2009, by a Vietnamese immigrant of Chinese descent at an immigrant and refugee center in Binghamton, N.Y. Many of the people killed or injured by Jiverly Wong (also known as Jiverly Voong), before he turned his weapon on himself, were taking a U.S. citizenship class at the time; Wong himself reportedly had taken English lessons at the center.
According to press reports, acquaintances of Wong said that he had been upset about being humiliated by others because he spoke English poorly. Michael Rubinkam, "Jiverly Voong, NY Gunman, Angry Over Poor English Skills, Job Loss," The Huffington Post, April 4, 2009. (Wong may have had additional, deeper problems that fueled his rampage. Hamilton Nolan, "Binghamton Killer's Polite, Deranged Letter," Gawker, April 7, 2009.)
