Nursing students whose English is a second language

Published

Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum, so if a ask you some questions, which already might had been asked please not be mad at me.

I am starting school on August 20th;), but already being worried too much:uhoh3:. Sinse English is my second language (I am Russian speaking) it doubles all my worries. I am sure that in this forum there are may be people why is my shooes and who experienced the same feelings. So I would appreciate any advices on this matter from whose English is not first language.

Also, I would appreciate any advices about all do and don't in the first year of nursing school.

Thank you all.

Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum, so if a ask you some questions, which already might had been asked please not be mad at me.

I am starting school on August 20th;), but already being worried too much:uhoh3:. Sinse English is my second language (I am Russian speaking) it doubles all my worries. I am sure that in this forum there are may be people why is my shooes and who experienced the same feelings. So I would appreciate any advices on this matter from whose English is not first language.

Also, I would appreciate any advices about all do and don't in the first year of nursing school.

Thank you all.

Hello there and congratulation on starting Nursing school!

I also start a nursing classes exactly August 20, English is my second language too but I dont worry a bit about how this matter will influence my abilities to do well in nursing school, as long as you can fairly speak English, write and talk you can do it...also you are more marketable because you will know two languages so in the long run it could be only adventage to you...just like spanish speaking nurses...

Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum, so if a ask you some questions, which already might had been asked please not be mad at me.

I am starting school on August 20th;), but already being worried too much:uhoh3:. Sinse English is my second language (I am Russian speaking) it doubles all my worries. I am sure that in this forum there are may be people why is my shooes and who experienced the same feelings. So I would appreciate any advices on this matter from whose English is not first language.

Also, I would appreciate any advices about all do and don't in the first year of nursing school.

Thank you all.

English is also not my first language and I start an ADN program in August.

So far so good. I had only minor difficulties during pre-requisites.

How did it go for you in your pre-reque classes. Does your school offer English as a Second language classes to help you improve your language skills?

Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

I am a faculty member who has had numerous students who spoke English as a second language.

Usually the only difficulty they have had are with the meaning of local vocabulary - for instance in the area I live people call Coca Cola "sodies." One student came to me alarmed because he thought the other students were offering him illegal drugs!

My best advice is to ask if you do not understand what is being said. I have even had foreign students ask me to slow down as I tend to talk as fast as I can - that did not hurt my feelings at all - I am suppose to be teaching everyone in the classroom.

Good luck to all of you in the Fall.

I am a faculty member who has had numerous students who spoke English as a second language.

Usually the only difficulty they have had are with the meaning of local vocabulary - for instance in the area I live people call Coca Cola "sodies." One student came to me alarmed because he thought the other students were offering him illegal drugs!

My best advice is to ask if you do not understand what is being said. I have even had foreign students ask me to slow down as I tend to talk as fast as I can - that did not hurt my feelings at all - I am suppose to be teaching everyone in the classroom.

Good luck to all of you in the Fall.

You are so right....the slang still gets me at times after all these years of living in the US ;)

English is my first language, but I have a couple of suggestions anyways that can help anyways:

1) If allowed, purchase a voice recorder for lecture. That way if you miss something you can play the lecture back and stop, rewind, look things up as needed. We have a professor who talks incredibly fast, doesn't use blackboard or any other handouts, and won't repeat himself, and I always listen to his twice.

2) Always use the spellcheck and grammar check functions on word before you consider turning in even an informal assignment, but don't rely on them. Print out all of your papers and read them to yourself, out loud if that helps, and try to get someone else to proofread them for you. Points are at a premium in NS, and you don't want to lose any for a typo or confusing "their" and "there."

There are a lot of native speakers in my class who don't follow 1+2, and they are suffering because of it. Start school prepared, recorder in hand on the first day, and you'll be a step ahead of everyone else.

English is not my first languge either I had a hard time in school ,but every one is always willing to help specially the instructors a few tips

1: keep a pad with words you do not understand usually they pop again, that way you don't have to ask them again.

2:Seat in the front of the class that way you can hear better

3: Try to read your assignmets before class that way you can look up difficult words

4: the recorded is nice but sometimes when you play it back you can't hear everything specially if the teacher is walking around the room and everyone is coughin or talking so still take notes

Please ask the professor anything you do not understand, ask the school for information on a minority group too. Anyway hope this help good luck.

+ Join the Discussion