Schools' link to Vietnamese families to retire
By Jenny Welp, Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Thomas Nguyen sits in a classroom at Central Campus. Nguyen is Sioux City Community School District's only Vietnamese tutor for students learning English as a second language, and is retiring at the end of this month. There will be a reception honoring him from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the Education Service Center, 1221 Pierce St. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
Thomas Nguyen has used his skills as an English teacher in schools, in the army and at a labor camp. And the refugee from Vietnam is now retiring after about 15 years serving Sioux City Community School District.
Nguyen, 65, worked as an English teacher in Vietnam before being drafted into the Vietnamese army in the 1960s. He used his English skills to serve as a liaison between the army and its allies, and his last rank was captain.
But when the communist Vietnamese army took over the southern part of the country, Nguyen was put in a "re-education camp." He said officials told him he would be in the camp for 10 days, but it turned out to be 10 years.
Even while in the labor camp, Nguyen used his English. Other inmates would give him candy or cake for English lessons. He also secretly gave lessons to communist guards, so they would not be punished by their superiors.
Eventually Nguyen was released from the labor camp and worked again as an English teacher. His brother sponsored his family's journey to Sioux City in 1990, and he began tutoring for the school district not long after.
Besides helping middle and high school students who needed the most intensive English language instruction, Nguyen also translated for Vietnamese families all messages sent home from school.
When translating a lunch menu, Nguyen would take the time to learn what an apple turnover was and explain it so families could understand it, said Dann Speichinger, a teacher who has worked with him for 15 years.
"He has a passion for learning," Speichinger said. "He's a good student himself, and he really has a strong desire for the students to excel and have good success."
As the only Vietnamese tutor in the district, Nguyen arranged all the parent-teacher conferences for Vietnamese families and attended them as an interpreter.
"And he does it whenever it's convenient for the parents," Speichinger said.
In retiring Nguyen said he is most looking forward to sleeping late in the winter rather than having to call all the Vietnamese families and let them know if there is a snow day.
Secondly he is excited about finally being able to put himself first. He said he spent the best years of his life doing hard labor in a prison camp, and after that it was time to help his children be successful.
Nguyen is planning to meditate, travel and write about what he has seen. He has visited 43 states in this country and has also visited France, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan and Taiwan.
He said Vietnam is his home and he plans to one day return there, but the United States is his second favorite place in the world.
"My family is very thankful for what it's done for us," he said. "This is the promise land."
There will be a reception honoring Nguyen today from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1221 Pierce St.
Nguyen, 65, worked as an English teacher in Vietnam before being drafted into the Vietnamese army in the 1960s. He used his English skills to serve as a liaison between the army and its allies, and his last rank was captain.
But when the communist Vietnamese army took over the southern part of the country, Nguyen was put in a "re-education camp." He said officials told him he would be in the camp for 10 days, but it turned out to be 10 years.
Even while in the labor camp, Nguyen used his English. Other inmates would give him candy or cake for English lessons. He also secretly gave lessons to communist guards, so they would not be punished by their superiors.
Eventually Nguyen was released from the labor camp and worked again as an English teacher. His brother sponsored his family's journey to Sioux City in 1990, and he began tutoring for the school district not long after.
Besides helping middle and high school students who needed the most intensive English language instruction, Nguyen also translated for Vietnamese families all messages sent home from school.
When translating a lunch menu, Nguyen would take the time to learn what an apple turnover was and explain it so families could understand it, said Dann Speichinger, a teacher who has worked with him for 15 years.
"He has a passion for learning," Speichinger said. "He's a good student himself, and he really has a strong desire for the students to excel and have good success."
As the only Vietnamese tutor in the district, Nguyen arranged all the parent-teacher conferences for Vietnamese families and attended them as an interpreter.
"And he does it whenever it's convenient for the parents," Speichinger said.
In retiring Nguyen said he is most looking forward to sleeping late in the winter rather than having to call all the Vietnamese families and let them know if there is a snow day.
Secondly he is excited about finally being able to put himself first. He said he spent the best years of his life doing hard labor in a prison camp, and after that it was time to help his children be successful.
Nguyen is planning to meditate, travel and write about what he has seen. He has visited 43 states in this country and has also visited France, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan and Taiwan.
He said Vietnam is his home and he plans to one day return there, but the United States is his second favorite place in the world.
"My family is very thankful for what it's done for us," he said. "This is the promise land."
There will be a reception honoring Nguyen today from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1221 Pierce St.
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