CCC helps Noriko return to nursing

Noriko Young was a registered nurse in Japan when she met her future husband, an Oregonian. She moved to the U.S. when she got married and started taking English as a Second Language classes at Clackamas Community College. She studied English for one year. Noriko was very pleased with her experiences in the ESL program. She felt that she got a lot of individual attention from her instructors because of the small classes. Also, the instructors were very accessible, got to know the students well, and tailored the instruction to meet students’ needs. Noriko also liked how they took the time to follow up on questions the students had, particularly about grammar. While studying English in the computer lab, Noriko was also able to improve her computer skills. After completing the ESL program, Noriko felt well-prepared to take college classes. She still kept in touch with her ESL instructors, who helped her with her resume and job search skills. In 2004, the college got a grant to prepare immigrants who were registered nurses in their native countries to become licensed nurses in Oregon. Noriko was accepted into the program, and now she hopes to pass the required tests and become a nurse in Oregon.