My name is Ashley Pelletier-Simard, and I am the director of Bilingualism and Translation with the Canadian Nursing Students' Association.
I'm currently a student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and I am starting my last year in the advanced standing nursing program.
I graduated from a francophone secondary school, and I am very fortunate to be a Canadian citizen who speaks both languages fluently. However, I chose to continue my studies in English. Not all students have the opportunity to study in English. Yet it's our right as Canadians to have access to services in the language of our choice.
I asked my francophone committee members about their experience to date. They told me they were disappointed that in 2018 there were still language problems in a country that claims to be proud to be bilingual.
As far as the NCLEX exam is concerned, you will easily understand how difficult and frustrating it can be to learn a subject in French, relearn it in English and end up taking an exam in French. This examination is translated by Americans without taking into account the turns of phrase, a crucial element in such an important examination.
Many students in northern New Brunswick do not have the opportunity to adequately prepare for the exam, as they don't understand English and all preparatory materials are in English. They are disappointed that they don't have access to the same services in their native language.
The University of Regina's La Cité campus and the University of Alberta will launch a bilingual nursing program in 2018. These will be classes of fewer than 15 students.
Why are so few students enrolling in a program that would improve the quality of their nursing services? The answer is simple: all students want the opportunity to pass, but the French version of the NCLEX exam and the French preparatory material leave much to be desired.
A change must be made in the administration of this exam before other students decide, like me, not to pursue their studies in their native language or choose another career because the risk of failing is too high.
Thank you.