My english is horrible !!!

Ms. Pomfrey · May 22, 2005

Judging by your post, your English grammar is fine; could it be that you have a heavy accent that makes you hard to understand? I've known people who were fluent in English but because they retained heavy accents, they had difficulty communicating. Our local adult education center offered classes for internationals called "accent reduction"; you might want to see if something like that is available in your area. Or you could even get private sessions with a speech therapist or an ESL teacher, telling them you want to focus on your accent and not vocabulary, grammar, etc.

Good luck!

dollydettol · May 22, 2005

hello, earthlovers123
i am also not american. i came to usa 10 years ago. i was straggled with my english at first even if i had learned it in h.s. i was scared to speak because i thought that others will laught at me because of my accent, wordspelling, all others. i started to watch tv or even just listen to how they are talking, i listen to radio, i read lots of newspapers and books, and go to school for nursing assistant after being here about a year. and first my work was in nursing facility where i have no one to speak my language so it was big step for me to break myself and start talking, talking, talking.
i also recommend if you could talk to someone who speak english or even your friends but just using english for about 30 minutes to an hour and i can sure you will feel deference after while. besides, remember that some instructors are just pitty about english because they think that we as foreign students are not capable to do it, to go throught school, or work. i was also in that situation not long ago, and i just ignore what they say because i know that i am capable and nothing is there to stop me. my patients understand me and if that is the case i try to use words that are not too complicated. going throught nursing school is rough time and lots of sacrifies but if you know, just like i do, that you want it do it and be happy.
good luck, i hope this helps, :)
by the way my husband is filipino, i am polish. and your ehglish is very good. keep up there!!!

are you messing??cos your writing sounds 'put on' to be true no offence ment

akor · May 23, 2005

Hello all,
Some of the friends in all nurses are commenting that I need to improve my communication skills in English to do better in nursing school. I am a male nursing student from another part of the world (South Asia). I have a passion for nursing. But at the moment, I need some study skills, good English language ability to get through nursing program.
It would be wonderful if you could give me some suggestions to do better in nursing school. How to improve my English communication skills (oral and written) and study skills that I need to have for nursing school to be successful.

I am an American living in a foreign country and I get made fun of for how I speak their language....It takes much more energy to stick wit hnursing in a foreign language. You have to be very persistent and take the advice of one colleague by reading the paper, watching T.V. in English...just absorb yourself in the language....also read nursing books in English...I find that helps me here in my nursing profession....good luck! you can do it....especially if you are younger than 42 years of age....that's my age and I am finding it exhausting but exhilirating at the same time!!!!!!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 23, 2005

Hello all,
Some of the friends in all nurses are commenting that I need to improve my communication skills in English to do better in nursing school. I am a male nursing student from another part of the world (South Asia). I have a passion for nursing. But at the moment, I need some study skills, good English language ability to get through nursing program.
It would be wonderful if you could give me some suggestions to do better in nursing school. How to improve my English communication skills (oral and written) and study skills that I need to have for nursing school to be successful.

You write it very well I must say. A lot better than most 'English as a first Language' people.

I am of Hispanic decent, born in the U.S. I speak both languages equally well. I get judged on a daily basis because of my slight Hispanic accent. People do not hesitate to ask "Where are you from? or "Where did you migrate from? Although my accent is not that strong it is only natural to have it in me considering that the main language spoken in my household was Spanish. I also decided to move to a Spanish only speaking country to learn how to read and write Spanish correctly, so I picked my accent there as well.

I am married now and my husband is foreign born. In my house we speak both English and Spanish, but have encouraged him to Speak to me in English so that he can work on his English skills. If he says something incorrectly I let him know and ask him to try it again. It is a fun and easy way for him to learn.

Also, let me point out that you should NOT live under other people's standards. You should always be proud of your nationality and improve your English skills for you and only you. You will always meet people who have something not so nice to say about it, so you just need to block it and brush it off. Remember you are a Bilingual citizen and that is so awsome. You can communicate with much more people that others. Be proud of that, leave the "perfect" Enlgish speaking people to do their thing. Know yourself and like I said live for your standards and no one elses. :roll

Lastly, yes English may be very important for nursing and frankly just about any other degree.......BUT can you think of how many "English only" speaking people have gotten through school by the mere sake of using Spell Check on their computer. Many my friend. Some cannot speak without just using street slang. Anyhow, you are doing great. All I can say is practice, practice, and practice. You will soon pick it up better than you can think of right now. Take the advice from the English Teacher who posted previously. After all, she should know much better being an English Teacher.

Good luck my friend,

Jessica

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2005

Y'all is a perfect solution to the lack of a plural form of you in the English language. It's better than the irritating west coast version, which is 'you guys'... If I hear one more perky, bleached blond waitress say that, I think I'll puke...:angryfire

Actually, as I recall, "YOU" and "YOUR" are the plural in English. "Thee" and "thou" are the singular. Lower classes were supposed to use the plural to the upper classes (just like Queen Victoria, "we are not amused" :chuckle.) Which is why the Quakers wouldn't use the words "you and your" to anyone, called every "thee" as a statement of equality.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but couldn't resist.

Earthlovers: your written English looks great to me. You've gotten some great responses, I didn't even know there were accent reduction classes! Now I feel guilty for not working harder on my 2nd language, since I get called on to translate quite a bit, and I know my grammar is far worse than anything you've posted. :balloons: Frankly, I wouldn't sweat it too much, unless your professors start complaining.

dollydettol · May 25, 2005

:crying2:

After living in Va Beach, I prefer "y'all" to the even more annoying "you's," heard in Northern New York State. Its like nails on a chalkboard!

oh how I agree hated that word from school mum always told me NOT to use it and that was a long time ago, dolly UK :crying2:

nursey_girl · May 27, 2005

Judging by your post, your English grammar is fine; could it be that you have a heavy accent that makes you hard to understand? I've known people who were fluent in English but because they retained heavy accents, they had difficulty communicating. Our local adult education center offered classes for internationals called "accent reduction"; you might want to see if something like that is available in your area. Or you could even get private sessions with a speech therapist or an ESL teacher, telling them you want to focus on your accent and not vocabulary, grammar, etc.
Good luck!

Ms accent reduction class took place when my instructor informed me that I sounded like a hillbilly and we were going to work on it! Now I sound like a hillbilly valley girl...lol!

atlanta · May 27, 2005

I am from Thailand, where people speak exclusively in Thai.

I did fine in nursing school and graduated BSN with cum laude.

Nursing school helped me a lot with language skills.

Communication in clinical settings, teaching projects, paperworks, and reading assignments will greatly enhance your language skills.

My english significantly improved upon graduation. I wonder how my English would be if my major was not nursing.

Unlike other majors, BSN or ASN guarantee safe and effective communication skill!!

You will do just fine!!

As for your accent, you may need to know the phonetics and stress.

I took phonetics class ("element of spoken English) in Thailand. This class greatly reduced my accent. Unlike Chinese, spanish, and many other languages, Thai language is extremely rich in vowels and consonants, making it easier to pronounce words from other language correctly.

Bodap · Jul 7, 2005

Hello all,
Some of the friends in all nurses are commenting that I need to improve my communication skills in English to do better in nursing school. I am a male nursing student from another part of the world (South Asia). I have a passion for nursing. But at the moment, I need some study skills, good English language ability to get through nursing program.
It would be wonderful if you could give me some suggestions to do better in nursing school. How to improve my English communication skills (oral and written) and study skills that I need to have for nursing school to be successful.

Dear Earthlovers,

This happens to be my speciality! I am nursing to pay my daughters tuition to college :crying2: Otherwise (Sept.-May) I direct an ESL program in a very international city in Florida. Many cities have advanced ESL classes that are free. If you will e-mail me your city and state I might be able to locate just such a program near you.

Blessings,

BoDap

[email protected]

Cute_CNA, CNA · Jul 7, 2005

Don't know if someone already mentioned this, but just reading books in English can help, in my opinion. Seeing the language, as well as speaking it, can be beneficial.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2005

I don't know what all I can say as far as help learning English but hillbilly is a necessary second language. I think y'all is nuts if you'ens think it aint.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

leopold · Jul 7, 2005

I know where you're coming from, I lived in Spain for many, many years and did not speak the language when I first went there. By the time I came back to the US I was fluent. You have to put yourself in situations where you speak English all the time. Also helps if you put yourself in situations where you have to talk! :chuckle You can also take an english as a second language class, many universities and some vocational schools offer them.

I used to teach English and I learned that the natural way to acquire a language is through spoken skills first and then written skills. Your writing skills are excellent so I bet you have the spoken portion mastered, you may just be experiencing some anxiety about actually speaking.