“You have a lump on your neck that needs to be checked out immediately,” the doctor said as he discussed with me the results of the thyroid ultrasound he had just performed. 

An uneasiness stirred among the first two rows of my brand-new ESL class. These were not fidgety children; most were much older than me. One woman in the front row spoke up. My brain had no ability to decipher her words, but her tone was clear and...