Nursing Students’ Perceptions and Their Learning Needs in Studying English for Specific Purposes (ESP): A Mixed-Methods Approach
Keywords:
Nursing Students, Perceptions, Learning Needs, ESPAbstract
Nursing is a profession in high demand globally, including in Indonesia. Nurses are expected to be not only proficient in their field but also skilled in foreign languages. To address this need, a study is conducted to explore nursing students' perceptions of the importance of learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP) for their careers and professional development and examine their specific learning needs for developing English proficiency in the core areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, as part of their nursing education. This research employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, surveying 128 nursing students enrolled in bachelor programs at a private university in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, who have been working in hospitals for several years. Data were gathered through a close-ended questionnaire for quantitative insights and a closed-ended questionnaire for qualitative information. The results indicate that most respondents consider English courses vital for their careers, as these courses provide essential skills for healthcare communication and the comprehension of medical literature. Additionally, the courses support academic achievement by helping students understand complex nursing concepts in English. The findings also highlight the specific language skills that nursing students prioritize. Reading skills, such as interpreting medical texts and manuals, were deemed most critical, followed by writing skills, including documenting patient histories and composing research articles, which are vital for professional and academic communication. Listening skills, such as understanding medical instructions, and speaking skills, such as giving verbal directions during emergencies, were also identified as key areas, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive focus on all language domains.
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