How I Managed Nursing School in Canada With Weak English

When I started nursing school in Canada, my English wasn't good. Not "I need to improve a little" — actually limited.

Lectures were hard to follow. Group discussions stressed me out. Writing assignments took twice as long as they should have.

I knew this was coming. So instead of wishing my English were better, I asked myself one question:

How do I get through this — with the English I actually have?

Here's what I did.

I Made the Right Friends Early

This was probably the most important thing I did.

I wasn't a good note-taker. In fast-paced lectures, I missed things — sometimes small details, sometimes entire concepts. So I found people I could trust, and I asked for help.

I borrowed notes. I compared mine with theirs after class. I filled the gaps I couldn't catch in real time.

It wasn't a perfect system. But it worked.

Making friends early in a nursing program isn't just a study strategy — it's survival. Everyone is overwhelmed. Everyone needs someone.

I Recorded Every Lecture (With Permission)

I couldn't process spoken English fast enough to absorb a full lecture in one sitting.

So I started recording classes. Before I did, I always asked the instructor first — most said yes without hesitation.

Instead of panicking about missing something, I could go back and listen again at my own pace. Sometimes I still didn't fully understand it the second time. But hearing it twice was always better than losing it after one pass.

If you're in a similar situation — just ask. Most instructors want you to succeed.

I Had Help With Writing

Writing was the hardest part.

Not just grammar — understanding what the assignment was actually asking. Structuring an argument. Making it sound coherent when English isn't your first language.

My girlfriend helped me with essays. Not just grammar — sometimes structure, sometimes what I was even trying to say.

At that point, I didn't overthink it. I just needed help.

I Always Submitted Assignments Late (On Purpose)

Most assignments were submitted online. Which meant I could see what others submitted first.

So I did.

Even when I finished, I didn't submit right away. I waited. I looked at how classmates structured their work. I compared their direction with mine.

Sometimes I realized I was completely off. Like — answering a different question entirely.

That's why I waited.

Yes, I was usually one of the last to hand things in. But I was also more confident I wasn't going in a completely wrong direction.

I Stopped Competing With People Who Weren't Fighting the Same Battle

Everything took me longer. Reading. Writing. Understanding instructions.

At some point, I stopped looking at how fast others finished and just focused on finishing.

It sounds simple, but it took me a while to get there.

Final Thoughts

My English didn't suddenly get better. I just found ways to keep going with what I had.

If you're starting nursing school in Canada and your English isn't strong — you don't need to fix everything first. Find your people. Record the lectures. Use every resource available to you, without shame.

That was enough for me. It might be enough for you too.