scholarly journals English Language Proficiency and its Relationship with Academic Performance and the Nurse Licensure Examination

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Michael Flores Oducado ◽  
Marianne G. Sotelo ◽  
Liza Marie M. Ramirez ◽  
Maylin P. Habaña ◽  
Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte

Past researches have shown that various factors influence students’ success in nursing school and the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE). Such factors should be studied as foundations of the nursing programs. Problems with proficiency in the language used by the instructor to teach curricular courses may be considered a barrier to effective learning and academic success. This study ascertained the influence of English language proficiency to the academic performance of students in professional nursing courses and the NLE. This study employed a retrospective descriptive correlational study design. Secondary analysis of data sets of 141 nursing students in one nursing school in the Philippines was performed. Pearson’s r was used to determine the correlation between variables. Findings showed that there were significant correlations between academic performance and the Verbal Ability subscale of the Nursing Aptitude Test (p=.003) and the three English courses included in the nursing curriculum (p=.000). There were also significant correlations between the NLE ratings and Verbal Ability (p=.000) and the three English courses (p=.000). English language proficiency is an important factor in determining academic and licensure success of nursing students. Nursing schools must ensure that approaches in improving students’ English language proficiency must be well integrated into the undergraduate nursing program.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56
Author(s):  
Ryan Michael Flores Oducado ◽  
Marianne Sotelo ◽  
Liza Marie Ramirez ◽  
Maylin Habaña ◽  
Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte

Background: Studies have shown that various factors influence students’ success in nursing school and the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE). Such factors should be studied as foundations of the nursing programs. Problems with proficiency in the language used by the instructor to teach curricular courses may be considered a barrier to effective learning and academic success.Purpose: This study ascertained the influence of English language proficiency on the academic performance of students in professional nursing courses and the NLE.Methods: This study employed a retrospective descriptive correlational study design. Secondary analysis of existing research data sets of 141 nursing students in one nursing school in the Philippines was performed. Pearson’s r was used to determine the correlation between variables.Results: Findings showed that there were significant correlations between academic performance and the Verbal Ability subscale of the Nursing Aptitude Test (p=0.003) and the three English courses included in the nursing curriculum (p=0.000). There were also significant correlations between the NLE ratings and Verbal Ability (p=0.000) and the three English courses (p=0.000).Conclusion: English language proficiency is an important factor in determining the academic and licensure success of nursing students. Nursing schools must ensure that approaches in improving students' English language proficiency must be well integrated into the undergraduate nursing program.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Manal F. Alharbi ◽  
Sahar M. Yakout

Abstract Introduction. Students who speak English as a second language (ESL) may face considerable challenges at English language universities. Aim. To investigate the English language proficiency and academic performance of ESL bachelor’s degree nursing students. Methods. A correlational design was used with a sample of 136 nursing students who completed a structured questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, variables that affect language proficiency, open questions, and English Language Acculturation Scale (ELAS) to identify their English proficiency. Results. Forty-three percent of the participants experienced difficulty in understanding the second language in clinical practice, 68% experienced challenges in studying the second language, and 47% were embarrassed to speak English. Approximately 71% of the participants had low ELAS scores and 58% had a good grade point average (GPA). Regression analysis revealed that internal motivation, study challenge, and entrance GPA were predictors of academic performance. Conclusions. The results suggest that students’ grades were correlated with their use of English to read and write during their studies. Thus, faculty administrators should have concrete plans for improving and monitoring the English language proficiency of students throughout their enrolment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Onica Mankebe Ndwambi ◽  
Lizeth Roets

The low throughput rates of basic nursing students could be indirectly associated with the shortage of nurses in the nursing profession. Various factors could be related to the poor academic performance in tertiary education, with specific reference to nursing students. One of these factors is the selection and recruitment requirements for entry into nursing programmes. The objective of this article is to share the results of a study that was conducted in South Africa to describe whether background knowledge of grade 12 Life Sciences and English Language Proficiency influenced the academic performance in the Biological and Natural Science module of first-year student nurses. A quantitative research study was conducted. Baseline data were gathered by means of a checklist to collect data from first-year student admission records (193), and questionnaires to collect data from second-year students (147). The data demonstrated a positive association between the academic achievement of the Biological and Natural Sciences module and background knowledge of grade 12 Life Sciences and between the academic achievement of the Biological and Natural Sciences module and grade 12 English Language Proficiency. Students, but especially students who comply with specific prerequisites, thus a pass mark of grade 12 Life Sciences and evidence of adequate grade 12 English Language Proficiency, must be recruited to enhance the throughput rates of nursing students to help reduce the nursing shortage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doğan Yuksel ◽  
Adem Soruç ◽  
Mehmet Altay ◽  
Samantha Curle

Abstract This article reports a quantitative empirical study that investigated whether English language proficiency increases over time when studying academic content through English Medium Instruction (EMI). It was also investigated whether an increase in proficiency predicts EMI academic achievement. Student English language test score data and Grade Point Average (GPA) data were collected from a public university in Turkey. Two academic subjects were compared: Business Administration (a Social Science subject, n = 81) and Mechatronics Engineering (a Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences subject, n = 84). Results showed that in both subjects, English language proficiency statistically significantly improved over a four-year period of studying through English. Furthermore, this improvement predicted EMI academic achievement; meaning that the more proficient students became in English, the higher they achieved in their EMI academic studies. This provides evidence for policymakers, EMI practitioners, and language professionals around the world that English does improve when studying academic content through English, and that this improvement has a positive effect on content learning outcomes. Implications of these findings, and suggestions for further research are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sodbir Hamzah ◽  
Hussin Abdullah ◽  
Mazida Ahmad

The use of English language becomes increasingly important, either in educational sector or working sector. The role of social capital should be taken into consideration in helping the students to achieve their academic success. Previous findings indicated that students with limited use of English faced problems in advance subjects. Thus, this study examines the effect of English language proficiency towards social capital and academic achievement. This study employed the survey research design and the sample comprised of 81 undergraduate students enrolled in Economics courses from year two and three in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). The instruments were adapted based on the constructs in the structural model developed. The data has been analysed using Structural Equation Modelling to enable simultaneous analysis of all the constructs and estimate the magnitude of the direct and indirect effects between the constructs. The findings show that there is a significant direct effect of English Language Proficiency (ELP) towards Academic Achievements (AA) and Social Capital Outside Family (SCOF), and from social capital outside family towards academic achievements. The mediating effect of social capital outside family towards English Language Proficiency (ELP) and Academic Achievement (AA) among economics students in UUM was significant. The findings suggest for more activities geared towards increasing students’ English language proficiency to help them to increase their academic achievements.Keywords: English Language Proficiency; Social Capital; Academic Achievement.


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Black

The implementation of ESL courses at universities and colleges has been based on the assumption that a threshold level of English proficiency is necessary for students to succeed at their academic work. The correlation, however, between English language proficiency and academic success has not been clearly established. This paper describes a study undertaken at Brock University which correlates performance of students in ESL courses in spoken and written English with achievement in their other academic courses. The grades received in the ESL courses were correlated with the overall academic average and the major average for the whole group and for each of three degree groups-students completing B.A, RSc., and B.RE. degrees. Analysis of the data revealed a modest positive correlation between performance in written English and the overall and major averages in all groups except the B.RE., in which there was no significant correlation. The grades for the spoken English course failed to correlate significantly with either the overall average or the major average in any of the groups. Pedagogical implications of these surprisingly low correlations are discussed, and suggestions are offered for making skills learned in ESL courses more relevant to the academic needs of students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. MacDonald

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) standardized English language proficiency (ELP) exam is widely accepted proof of ELP at Canadian universities. The majority of Canadian universities set very similar IELTS cut scores for admission; however, these differ from the IELTS-recommended minimum cut scores. The use of the IELTS exam as an admission tool is not unproblematic, with debates around where to set cut scores, the interplay of political and administrative concerns in setting admissions criteria, and the correlation between cut scores and student academic success. As well, the issue of essential academic skills and literacies and their relationship to the exam, curricula, and student academic success figure in the broader discussion around the IELTS exam and its use in Canadian higher education. L’évaluation standardisée des compétences linguistiques en anglais (ELP) du Système international de tests de la langue anglaise (IELTS) est largement reconnue comme preuve de compétence en anglais dans les universités canadiennes. La majorité d’entre elles établissent des notes de passage IELTS très semblables pour l’admission, mais celles-ci diffèrent des notes de passage minimales recommandées par l’IELTS. L’utilisation de l’examen IELTS comme outil d’admission n’est pas sans problèmes en raison des débats dont font l’objet la hauteur des notes de passage, l’interaction des préoccupations politiques et administratives qui entrent en jeu lors de l’établissement des critères d’admission, et la corrélation qui existe entre les notes de passage et la réussite académique des étudiantes et étudiants. La question des compétences et littératies académiques essentielles et de leur relation avec les examens, les programmes d’études et la réussite académique des étudiantes et étudiants entre elle aussi en ligne de compte dans le débat plus large qui porte sur l’examen IELTS et son utilisation dans l’enseignement supérieur au Canada.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document