English for Nursing: The Importance of Developing Communicative Competences

The role that English plays in the Italian academic setting has considerably changed during the last decades: in fact, it is not only considered just a language to be learnt by those who are studying linguistics and literature in the Departments of Foreign Languages anymore, but it is seen as an important means of communication for all those who are attending university. Given the fact that English has spread throughout Europe as a Lingua Franca, indeed, the ability to use it and to interact with people not sharing the same mother tongue has become of central importance. The present article aims at explaining the relevance that the English language has in medicine and, specifically, in courses addressed to future nurses, who are supposed to be the caregivers having the most intimate relationship with patients. After a brief but detailed explanation of the reasons why students are asked to devote their attention to English, a more practical approach to the teaching of the language and to the development of communicative competences will be offered.