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

Abstract

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