[POLL] is it a reason to NOT pursue nursing anymore?

[ionelaitou]

Hello, I really want to know the opinions of others about this. I would really appreciate if I were to get an outsider's viewpoint about this!

First off brief background (skip to question if not interested):

I moved to Korea, but I really am not fluent in Korean at all.

It's a four year program and once I graduate, I take the 99% pass rate licensure test and start working at one of the three major hospitals. For my school... graduates are only allowed to apply to one hospital of the 257 general hospitals in Korea.

1st year = just general credits

2nd year = theoretical nursing classes + some cadaver and basic nursing skills at uni hospital

3rd year = 1/2 practice + 1/2 theory

4th year = 2/3 practice + 1 class

No habla korean. I was raised in the states. I'm in 2nd year and literally, for my anatomy class, I just colored in the bubbles for the final. It was allllll Korean. I asked(begged) my professors for English. They said they would put in English terminology in brackets...but allllll the questions were all Korean ALL KOREAN and just the terms like "mycrofibril' was english but the rest was in Korean.

Of course, it's expected that a Korean uni would teach in Korean. But, it just makes no sense to me that they have no English versions...because the material they use are translated material that was originally in ENGLISH. The professors and the earlier classes learned in English. Heck, the year before...they taught statistics in English. BUT NOPE NOT ANYMORE.

Also, all the questions are in the format of "what is wrong, not right etc".

Question

I'm not saying their level or quality of education is inadequate...but its not fit for me personally. I want to know what I should do... to continue or to change?

I just don't know what else to do besides nursing.

Do you think it would be wise for me to continue with a program that I'm passing in all C's and D's? Not because I didn't try...but because I am at a severe disadvantage compared to my peers that are fluent in Korean and can understand the ppts, tests, books etc. I've stressed myself out so much to get good grades...but I realized it's no use and its better for me to just not try at all. I've tried using English version of text books, negotiating with the professors, learning on my own, gathering foreign students together but...its no help because they don't care at all. They just say 'oh im sorry..but we're not good at English either' (HOW THE HELL DID THEY GET THEIR PHDS IN AMERICA). They really just don't care at all, because in the end, we just chose a hospital and work there. Their education system FOR ME is a failure. I am taught to fail.

They just don't care, because we're accepted to any hospital we apply to.

There were also foreign students before me that are working at the hospitals now or went abroad. I look up to them, but...their answers are just to change majors or just stick with it. I'm 19 years old btw.

[nlynrob]

Not sure why you're arguing with me. You just made my point. The op is in Korea. He should learn Korean. The end. Also, you have no way of knowing how long those "people" have been in our country. So you can't judge. Op has clearly been in Korea for a good amount of time.

I'm not arguing with you, I'm saying the statement that "only an American" would do that is incredibly ignorant. And I can tell exactly how

long they've been here when I check their insurance eligibility and see they've been covered under their US address for X amount of years.

[ATBStudent]

I'm not arguing with you, I'm saying the statement that "only an American" would do that is incredibly ignorant.

And yet Americans are known for their closed mindedness when it comes to culture and language. It's not ignorance. It's an observation of my own culture.

[nlynrob]

And yet Americans are known for their closed mindedness when it comes to culture and language. It's not ignorance. It's an observation of my own culture.

I completely agree with you and at the same time say that's also a double standard against us. There are mass examples of ethnocentrism in every single culture, just as there are mass examples of those who are open minded and understanding.

[ATBStudent]

I completely agree with you and at the same time say that's also a double standard against us. There are mass examples of ethnocentrism in every single culture, just as there are mass examples of those who are open minded and understanding.

I'll agree to that. The French for example (haha)...I just felt op was being unrealistic in their expectations for accommodation... Culture is a wonderful thing... I wish more people were open to experiencing it.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

ATBS I think you are way off base saying only Americans can go to another culture and expect everything in English. I think that is why I now have to press 1 for English or I have to specify my language when I go to an ATM. It's ridiculous anymore.

To the OP, why in the world would you move to Korea and not learn the language if you were going to live there? Then sign up for college and expect it in English? That is wrong. Are you planning on living in Korea and getting a job as a nurse there? If yes, you need a reality check and learn the language. If not, then you need to come to the U.S. and get your degree. You will probably have to anyway when you move back here.

[ATBStudent]

I think have a Spanish option at the ATM or on an automated phone line is a reasonable accommodation given that we live in a country with such a prevalent Hispanic community. Having professors make up special exams for the single american in their class, is not. That's the only point I was making. Add that to the reputation Americans have for snubbing other cultures...and you get my comment.

[Miss.LeoRN]

Wow. It actually surprises me that people don't seem to realize that while English might be the most predominant language in the U.S it is not "the" language of the U.S. There is no official language in the United States, unlike other countries which do have their own official language. The U.S is also a country that promotes acceptance of other peoples and other cultures. This is why there are signs or automated messages wanting to know what language you want to read/speak in.

In addition, English is THE MOST DIFFICULT language to learn and a lot of times the resources to teach or the availability to learn, no matter how long you've been living anywhere, is simply not available.

As American's we are used to a certain degree of "luxury" which gives us the mindset that if we go to another country, we expect to be accommodated in our own language BECAUSE we accommodate for others in their language. Of course foreigners come to our country without "speaking the language"... 1) there is no language, and 2) we accommodate for them. Anti-discrimination laws demand that we do. Different countries have different rules (and laws). This is culture shock. When you fail to do all the research you should before you gallivant off into the sunset with "instant job after college", that is what you get hit with. How someone decided to go to school in a country where they didn't have knowledge of the language surprises me... not in their own negligence, but that the College itself allowed someone with only a limited basic ability to communicate into a Nursing school.

[applejackcrunch]

I would like to point out that the US does not have an official language, unlike most other countries. Including Korea. This is because we, despite some conservative views disputing it, are a "melting pot" of different cultures, as has been disclosed from day one. Cultural identity is strongly linked to language, and even though we live in so-called modern times, our foundations lie on the efforts of many cultures coming together to create what we have today. Remaining ignorant of that fact is doing a disservice to the very core of our own national identity- meaning that within this American identity we are still able to hold on to our cultural identities as we choose. This is one of those "freedom" things, which seems to disappoint some people.

But I digress. I agree with others suggesting taking a semester off to immerse in the language and culture. OP, you need to be able to communicate with your patients and if you're staying in Korea I would recommend you get used to everyone not speaking English. I would imagine this is the point of your classes being only in Korean, to figure out if you ARE able to speak and comprehend the language- they surely would not allow nurses to graduate and work in the country without this very basic necessity.

[amoLucia]

To OP - how were you able to apply to the nsg program there? Was all the paperwork in English or Korean? Or did you have some interpreter help? That could have shed some light on what was to come.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I would stop. I'm not saying never go to nursing school but stop going to school where the primary language is Korean until you can grasp the language in all forms. I don't think any nursing school should be required to hand out tests or other information that is translated simply because if the instructors cannot understand it, then how can they make sure the test information is accurate?

If a student that spoke and read only Spanish came to my school, she would sit for the same tests and probably fail. My school makes it clear that they do not hand out the tests in other information and they will be expected to be competent in English in order for the school to assess them. The school makes it clear that English as a 2nd language is not a disability when it comes to the school of nursing. So a Korean student who did not speak or read English well would be in the same situation if they went to my school.

[amoLucia]

What are your long-range plans? If you ever choose to come (back?) to the States, you could have difficulty with having your academics accepted for continued studies here. And they might not qualify you to sit for licensure.

Just something to think about...

[MountainBikeChick]

My guess is that if you are getting Cs and Ds, you aren't learning the material anyways. So why would you continue? So you can go on to fail your final test (whatever is comparable to NCLEX) or treat your patients in an unsafe manner? And honestly, it completely baffles me that you would expect to go to a country that has an official language of KOREAN, and expect them to do everything for you in English. Have you put any amount of effort into learning the language? I can't imagine living in a foreign country and not trying to be respectful of the culture I am immersed in. Your entire post comes off as incredibly immature and 'everything is about me', so for that reason alone I would say you should quit…