Abstract
Nursing curriculum usually focuses on vocational development to train students to become nursing professionals after graduation. However, due to the packed major schedule and curriculum, many students are not required to take additional foreign language courses for their associate degree. Based on the lens of social cognitive career theory, the researcher sought to understand the motivations and reasons behind the learning behaviours. One research question was guided in this study, which was, what are the motivations and reasons for taking foreign language courses beyond their (i.e., nursing students) major curriculum and coursework plan? A qualitative research method was employed to collect interview data from 60 nursing students. The finding of this study indicated that the interest in career development and personal consideration were two of the most important factors for foreign language learning for these groups of nursing students. The results of this study provided recommendations for college leaders, government agencies, and policymakers to reform and polish foreign language courses and offer directions to contemporary students of the nursing curriculum. Students may also be benefitted as the study outlined the motivations and reasons for foreign language learning. Therefore, all parties may take this study as a blueprint to exercise their future developments.
Highlights
Social cognitive career theory was employed to investigate the motivations and reasons for taking foreign language courses beyond the major curriculum and coursework plans of community college students majoring in nursing
As the nature of social cognitive career theory is useful for interdisciplinary studies [36,40,41], the researcher may employ this theory to the problem of foreign language learning among community college students in the United States [39]
Career Development Based on social cognitive career theory [35,43,44,46,47,48,49], individuals and groups may select a direction and language based on their career development potential
Summary
Nursing students are trained to become professionals in the medical field. Communication to patients in their native language or targeted language may increase patients’ understanding [1]. Knowledge of a foreign language and cultural awareness are two of the most important elements for nursing professionals to work with patients from different parts of the world [11]. There are different motivations and reasons why people decide to learn a foreign language, in this case, nursing students. Another study [26] indicated that students, adults, and individuals tend to learn a foreign language due to popular culture and entertainment, such as the K-pop culture [25,27]. Through the lens of social cognitive career theory, most participants stated that financial considerations are the most important motivation for foreign language learning [11]. Different individuals have their own reasons and motivations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
