What Makes Nurse Students Learn English and What Are the Inhibitors? A Case Study at Nursing Department Unika Santu Paulus Ruteng, Indonesia

Abstract

Learning English is very important for nursing students. One of the fundamental reasons is that English is the most commonly used language in medicine and healthcare worldwide. This study explores the factors that attract and hinder nursing students from learning English. The research was conducted qualitatively using a case study approach to nursing students at the Universitas Katolik Indonesian Santu Paulus Ruteng, Flores, Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and FGDs with informants. The informants were taken purposively using predetermined criteria. There were 14 informants in this study, consisting of 12 students and two English lecturers. The study results show that work orientation after study, acquisition of new knowledge, and the notion of having English skills as a prestige are considered triggers for students to be interested in learning English. Meanwhile, the lack of English Vocabulary Mastery, lack of self-confidence, a less supportive learning environment, lack of class accommodation, and lack of facilitation are considered to be the obstacles to students learning English. The study indicated that internal stakeholders, including English lecturers, heads of departments, and policymakers, identify and implement appropriate strategies to minimize obstacles and maximize factors that attract students' interest in improving their English proficiency.