Nursing students coping with English as a foreign language medium of instruction

Summary 

Aim

To explore the strategies used by nursing students in coping with English as a foreign language medium of instruction.

Method

A descriptive repeated-measure design was used. A convenience sample of 78 students completed the assessment tool at three different times. Coping was measured with Folkman and Lazarus' (1988) Ways of Coping Questionnaire. In addition, a Free Response Questionnaire was designed to elicit possible solutions for the participants' limited competency in the English language. Changes in mean scores from time 1 to time 2 and from time 2 to time 3 were examined using paired t- test independent samples.

Results

The study showed that positive reappraisal, planful problem-solving, self-controlling, and seeking social support have decreased significantly (p<.05) from time 1 to 2, whereas confrontive coping and distancing have increased significantly from time 2 to 3, (p<.05). Further, while analyzing the free responses (Part 2), two themes emerged: language-related solutions; and accountability related solutions.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that nursing students utilize a variety of strategies, which change over time. The responsibility for coping with English rests with the collective efforts of the student, faculty, and management.

Keywords: Coping, Foreign language, Nursing students