Did you learn another language?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Did anyone take another language while in school? I have to stay full time while in school and the nursing program itself is not full time (buy 1 hour), so I need another class. I am really thinking about another language. Do you find it useful, the language that I would take is Spanish in the south I think that is the most useful that I could take. Did it inferior with your nursing classes, I don't want to set myself up for failure.

Thanks

Ashley

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

nursing takes up a lot of time. I wouldn't take anything that is going to require a lot of studying. Spanish is really good, but until you get the swing of thinking like a nurse (first semester nursing) you need to stick with a class like aerobics or something, that is my opinion.

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

If you only need ONE credit hour, take something like dance, aerobics, etc. Foreign languages require a lot of time outside of the classroom and I think you will find yourself overwhelmed with nursing school.

In the 1st semester I need only 1 hour the other semesters in school I will need 2-3 hours. I will waiting at least till the 2nd semester.

Thanks

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I've taken a lot of Spanish in high school and some in college... I do wish I would have continued though. If you think you can focus on both your nursing classes and taking a foreign language, then I would do it. Especially if you are required to take another class each semester during nursing school.

I suggest spanish or another foreign language, but if you only need 1 hour I would take an 'easy' class like yoga or the like.

I'm fluent in medical spanish but I didn't take that while in college, I took that through the hospital where I work. I am taking French but it's 4 credit hours as is most foreign languages at my college.

Plus, on the bright side, yoga is a great stress reliever so it will be handy when you're under pressure!

If you must take a language ask your counselor about level 1 languages such as Spanish, French or German. I am fluent in Spanish, which really doesn't take to much mental power to learn. I also speak Arabic and Farsi but they are much more intense (learning to read/write 'backwards' and a whole new alphabet). A language like Spanish can be learned with minimal studying and other passive learning techniques like watching TV or conversing with a Spanish speaker.

As a side note, in almost every industry, being fluent in one or more languages will make you way more marketable than anyone else applying for the same job.

+ Add a Comment