2024 年 7 巻 2 号 p. 12-20
Objective
To clarify the changes in the same nursing students’ interests in and reasons for learning English, attitudes toward people from other countries, willingness, motivation, and need for studying English as a goal as they progress to a higher year of study.
Methods
We conducted a prospective study with undergraduate nursing students at a medical university in Tokyo using an online self-administered questionnaire. The McNemer test and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for analyses.
Results
A total of 80 students completed the questionnaire in two different years (2018–2019). Regarding self-evaluated English level, 75% of the students answered that they could speak “a few words” or “can only greet others.” The top three highest scores for basic interest in and reasons for learning English were “traveling abroad” and “traveling to English-speaking countries,” followed by interest in “English-language music, movies, and dramas” in both years. Among the 16 items, four items decreased significantly: “It is fun to study English,” “I am interested in English-language newspapers, magazines, and online articles,” “I would like to attend classes taught in English,” and “I am interested in technical books written in English.” Attitudes toward communicating with people from other countries and willingness and motivation to study English did not change significantly. The learning needs total score, specifically the preparing for professional work subtotal score, decreased significantly. The most frequent need to study English as a goal was for traveling, followed by listening to general English, and having daily conversations in both years.
Conclusion
Undergraduate nursing students’ interest and need to study English decreased significantly, while their willingness to study English and positive attitudes toward people from other countries remained stable. It is necessary to develop an effective English curriculum to enable students to set a goal and maintain their interest and need to study English.
