[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.

[Miss_Piggy.RN]

First off, do you even understand any of the courses? I'm pretty sure, even though I can speak Korean, all of the terminology and having to understand it in English first and THEN Korean (I naturally have to perceive things in English first before translating it over since English is my first language. I hope this makes sense. Bilinguals will know what I'm talking about), it would be extremely difficult for me to even consider enrolling in a Korean program.

I have to disagree with you on trying to understand anything in your native language. It doesn't help at all.

I am bilingual. I moved to United States when I was 30 years old. When I decided to start my prerequisites for nursing program I could communicate on 4 year old child level. Quickly I learned that trying to translate to my native language and then learn in English is not a very good and fast way to learn English... Essentially, I stopped reading and thinking in my native language. I was memorizing pages from books trying to make sure I will succeed and get accepted to nursing program. If OP wants to succeed he/she needs to essentially forget about English for some time

In addition, English is THE MOST DIFFICULT language to learn

I would ARGUE with that

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

OP, what are you going to decide to do?

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I have to disagree with you on trying to understand anything in your native language. It doesn't help at all.

I am bilingual. I moved to United States when I was 30 years old. When I decided to start my prerequisites for nursing program I could communicate on 4 year old child level. Quickly I learned that trying to translate to my native language and then learn in English is not a very good and fast way to learn English... Essentially, I stopped reading and thinking in my native language. I was memorizing pages from books trying to make sure I will succeed and get accepted to nursing program. If OP wants to succeed he/she needs to essentially forget about English for some time

I would ARGUE with that

Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion. However, as someone growing up in a multicultural household and having English as my primary language, I find it more beneficial in the long term with remembering terms and phrases by understanding them in my first language. But then again, no 2 situations are the same and there are a lot of differences in how people learn.

Either way, to OP, it is clear that if you are planning to remain in Korea and pursue nursing there, you will need to learn the language to be successful.

[Crew2Nursing]

I really feel for you personally. I grew up In-between two cultures. I actually had a parent to teach me French/German but my reading and writing was a bit of a challenge to say the least. Every summer my mother would ship me over to Europe to increase my awareness of my heritage.

I do feel sad for you, You are at a major disadvantage with your schooling (Nursing or otherwise).

In order to help you learn your Korean purchase this book. It’s a great way to start actually learning a Language. Any language. Fluent in 3 months – Language Hacking and Travel Tips — Unconventional language hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot; traveling the world to learn languages to fluency and beyond! while it’s mainly for “speaking” It will actually help you in many other areas. (****No I do not profit from this****)

I am guessing that you moved with your family and now confused, upset, angry, and scared at the daunting task of not only learning a new language that is foreign but also the culture. (Trust me, in other words it can “SUCK” big time)

A.) If you plan on moving back to the United States of America, or any other predominantly English speaking country. I would advise you to stop your current studies and focus on learning the language and culture.

B.) If you plan on living in Korea, I would say take a break from your studies if it’s possible and learn the language and culture. Before re-starting Nursing School/Studies.

C.) Never, Never, Never give up no matter what choice or path you take. Life is a journey and sometimes its leads to obstacles that seem like mountains. However, the only way to get over the mountains is one step at a time. Take that first step. Keep going in some direction – just pick your path.

Take some time and figure out if this is what you want out of life. If you want to become a Nurse in Korea, or anywhere! Than only you can make it happen as long as you’re determined (no matter the obstacles) ! Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Keep that head up. It does get better. :)

[ionelaitou]

Thank you! It helped that you understood :) Reallllly inspiring!

[ionelaitou]

They accept international applicants - there are several in my class - Abu Dabi, Indonesia. They accept English and Korean papers. They told me that even though my grades are bad that they(grad schools) would understand that the language barrier had some negative influence on that. In my PO, as long as I make it up with sound research papers and awards, it would be plausible. There are people above me that still knows no Korean yet they are working nurses and passed the interviews.

[ionelaitou]

Thank you for your suggestions! :)

I'm going to try harder.

[ionelaitou]

I see where you're coming from. Reasons for which I had no control over or choice, I had to come back. I had to make do with what I faced. So, while you may think that was an un-researched, "yolo" kind of mistake, for me, it was a brave decision.

[ionelaitou]

You made a really good point about the accuracy of the test information.

I can see others can take advantage of that.

I think your school has a really fair policy for that : ) I think my school is still developing in the "fairness" aspect of education.

[sjalv]

Seriously? Constantly at work I get people who only speak Spanish, German, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Israeli, you name it. And almost EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM gets ****** I can't understand them. My hospital has to pay over 150 different language interpreters to keep up with all the people who won't "learn the language and culture of the country [they're] in".

Just so you know, the language of Israeli is "Hebrew". "Israeli" refers to the people who live there.

I'm pretty sure, even though I can speak Korean, all of the terminology and having to understand it in English first and THEN Korean (I naturally have to perceive things in English first before translating it over since English is my first language. I hope this makes sense. Bilinguals will know what I'm talking about), it would be extremely difficult for me to even consider enrolling in a Korean program.

This is kind of off topic but I speak two foreign languages, neither of which are my native languages, and I don't even think in English when I am reading/hearing/speaking in a foreign language. It's common to translate in your head when you first starting learning but I don't think you should do it once you've gained proficiency.

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.

Who told you that English is the most difficult language to learn? And resources not being available? Google "Learn English" or for example in Spanish "Aprender inglés" and see how many free resources you get. Try learning a language like Finnish, Hungarian, Icelandic, or Mandarin Chinese and tell me that English is the most difficult language to learn.

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OP, you still didn't explain a) why you moved there, b) why you're attending a local university and not like an international school where English is the language of instruction, or c) how you got this far.

[ionelaitou]

Yes, I've been doing that - translating. I'm so happy to meet someone (online) that were in the same shoes. They chart in English..and the hospital system is similar to what they use in America.

I understand 80% of the lectures, classes, readings in Korean, but the terminology - especially medicine and anatomy - is very difficult to understand and translate in English. I just feel at a disadvantage compared to my other classmates.

I took a communication class in Korean (especially for nurses) and it did help. However, the clinicals were a challenge because of nerves + Korean = failure. When I get nervous, I start babbling in Korean. So, it's a struggle! But, it is possible to improve and get better :)

Thank you for asking some questions and bringing up some things I might have missed on :)

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

What an unusual situation you find yourself in. I hope that it works out for you. I second the immersion course -- I've been working on Spanish on my own and though I can comprehend a lot of it and have learned a lot, it means nil if I can't practice it. I'm sure that once you start really throwing yourself into the language and can speak consistently with others that you will really get the hang of it. Then the medication terms should come pretty easily. Good luck! :)