Native French speaker entering an English health program with lots of practical evaluations. How difficult is the adjustment?
I just got my acceptance letter for a health profession program that includes a lot of practical evaluations, oral interactions, and hands-on labs, but English is my second language. I’m a native French speaker and I studied entirely in French my whole life, so I’m a bit nervous about communicating confidently during practicals and evaluations.
I already completed my undergrad, so I’m already familiar with some of the concepts in French and I know I can usually work around the academic material. I also know that written exams and evaluations can be done in French, so I’m not too worried about that side. What stresses me more are the practical evaluations, labs, and clinical interactions that happen mainly in English.
For people who went through something similar, how hard was the adjustment? Did your English improve quickly once immersed in the program? Any tips for dealing with anxiety during practical exams or clinical interactions in a second language?