Maybe ...
  •  you’re new to the UK and are  shy about speaking in English
  • you're hoping to come and work in the UK  and want to prepare
  • you’re worried your patients won't understand your accent
  • you think your colleagues will judge you for making mistakes
  • you hesitate about jumping into conversation in the staff room 
  • your neighbours speak with a local accent, that you don’t always understand 
  • you’re busy with work and don’t have the time to focus on your English
  • you   just want to learn more  about  British culture and way of life

Whatever your reason, speaking  more fluently and with confidence will make a significant difference to your professional and personal life!

Nursing-Talks

Effortless but effective conversation in English!
What is it?
Nursing-Talks   is a members' conversation club designed specifically for overseas nurses (B2-C1*). It's a chance to practice essential English skills for your career and daily life in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment.   

 Communication skills

  •  Practice speaking English in real-life and healthcare-specific scenarios.
  • Learn everyday phrases to communicate more confidently as you chat with patients,    relatives,  colleagues and friends.
  • Develop  techniques to make your conversations flow more naturally. 

Cultural adaptation

  • Improve your understanding of local customs, as well as healthcare practices in the UK.
  • Gain insights into cultural differences in communication styles, helping you connect better with patients, colleagues and friends    from diverse backgrounds.

Professional development

  • Boost your career prospects by building communication skills that are highly valued in healthcare.
  • Develop confidence in English to help you excel in interviews, presentations, and team collaborations.
*B2 level of English = minimum OET Speaking  B / IELTS   7 
What will we talk about?
These are just some of the topic areas we  cover. Some topics might be a little more serious than others  - this is to develop  different types of communication skills and techniques. 
What do I get  if I  become a Nursing-Talks member?

A supportive community

  • Connect with a network of international nurses who understand the challenges and rewards of working abroad.
  • Share experiences, support each other, and grow together in a friendly, non-judgmental setting.

A relaxed & informal setting

  • Join online classes as often as you like with conversation topics that respond to the needs and interests of overseas nurses
  • Enjoy a fun, stress-free environment where you can make mistakes, ask questions, and improve at your own pace.

Feedback & resources​

  • Receive  written or oral feedback on your performance.
  • Develop aspects of your grammar and/or pronunciation with online resources  depending on your needs.
​ How does Nursing-Talks work?

Before​

Before class I’ll send you information  (article, short video, or podcast) ​ about the topic of the week so that you can learn key vocabulary and expressions. You’ll also have access to short video tutorials with useful phrases to help you express your ideas and opinions about the topic.

During​

During class we’ll explore the topic of the week in small groups. You’ll have the chance to practise what you’ve learnt and share your ideas and opinions with other international nurses. I will be there to assist and motivate if you need it and to provide some initial feedback.  

After​

​After class I’ll send more detailed feedback on your performance (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and delivery skills), as well as resources to help you improve. If you want to attend all three sessions, you can. As the week progresses, you'll see your confidence  and fluency in English grow and grow!
Who's the course tutor?
Hi, my name's   Ros  and I'm  the tutor  running   Nursing-Talks.
Let me tell you something about myself. 
Like you, I have spent many years  learning foreign languages (French, Russian, German and Japanese). I also lived and worked abroad  in Japan and France for   25 years .   So, I understand the types of  challenges    you're experiencing trying to integrate into a new  culture and communicating with colleagues and the wider community in another language. 
​
I also have  over 20 years experience training   overseas healthcare professionals in clinical communications skills.   Collaborating with one of the UK's largest   healthcare recruitment agencies, I  have trained   over 450   clinicians  since 2019 who now work in 90    NHS hospitals across the UK. 

Today I write coursebooks to help prepare  overseas  healthcare professionals  for OET  and to communicate with patients. I    also train other teachers who want to work in this rewarding field.  
Why do I need a conversation club?
There are many reasons why nurses want to join a conversation club  . Let's look at a few examples:
 Priya
I often work nights, so don’t have chance to speak to many other people during my shift. And when I get home, I speak to my family in my own language. It gets a bit lonely sometimes. 
​
Nursing-Talks  provides the opportunity you need for genuine and meaningful conversation in English. We prioritise verbal communication and active listening which are vital for developing fluency and understanding during real-time conversations. You’ll get lots of support from me and I also encourage collaborative learning. This means members can learn from each other’s experiences, as well as from their mistakes, and accents. Most importantly, members can support each other at the same time. 
Lisa
We speak English in my home country, so I don’t need to study the language.  However, when I came to the UK, I found my patients have quite strong accents and they use lots of expressions that are new to me. 
​
Nursing-Talks offers a real cultural exchange, providing opportunities to learn about cultural norms in the UK, idiomatic expressions, and colloquialisms through conversation, which is invaluable for integration. You’ll also learn techniques and strategies to navigate more challenging or sensitive conversations. 
Cara 
I’ve asked my colleagues to correct my English, but they never do. My partner is English, but she/he refuses to correct me. 
​
Because of the context, colleagues will often understand the main message and so don’t think its necessary to correct you. They also won't want to offend you, especially if you're their senior.    Your partner probably wants to avoid tension (!) Correction technique is a skill. It requires  knowledge of the English language, as well as a pedagogical approach that is sensitive and supportive.  Your  course tutor is trained to do this effectively and can also provide resources  to help you improve and stay motivated. 
Rafael
I attended English class to prepare for my OET / IELTS and it was very intensive. I want to improve my English conversation, but I don’t want to have to study that hard again. 

Nursing-Talks is very different from a test-preparation class. There is a structure, and I will ask you to prepare a little before the session so that you have the information you need to discuss the topic of the week. However, the real work happens during the session itself, where we prioritise natural, everyday spoken communication. We encourage you to use English spontaneously, helping you build confidence and fluency. You'll be in a   stress-free    environment and I guarantee - no tests -!!
​Sign up for Nursing-Talks today and take that first step towards
​effortless but effective conversation in English!
Is it OK if I just ask a few more questions?
​When do the conversation classes take place?
I hold 3 sessions a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) at different times of the day (morning, lunch time, early evening). 
You should attend at least one session a week. However, if you can attend all three, you’ll see your confidence and fluency grow and grow! 

How long are the sessions?
Each session lasts 60 minutes. 
If you’re a little late, don’t worry, just login as normal. 

Where do the sessions take place?
We meet online on Zoom.  Just before your class you’ll receive a link to join the session.
Zoom accounts are free. You can sign up here. 

What does my membership include?
  • Access to  12 conversation sessions a month.
  • Resources to help you prepare for  the topic of the week
  • Video tutorials  to help you develop techniques for   participating in conversations with ease
  • Additional materials  and links  to free online resources, depending on your needs
  • Plus  a    monthly newsletter, Conversation Starters in Healthcare with more conversation topics in  healthcare

How much does it cost to be a member?
Membership costs £40/month. 
If you attend   all 12 sessions  in a month, that’s   only   £3.33/hour   –   less than the price of a cappuccino (!)
​And even if you only attend one session a week, it’s still a bargain at £10.00/hour. 

I'm an international nurse, but I don't live in the UK. Can I still become a member?
Yes, of course - you would be very welcome!
If you're preparing to come and work in the UK, the topics we discuss will be very beneficial for you. 
We might sometimes discuss topics related to living and working in the UK, but everyone's input will be   highly valued. 

I'm not a  nurse, can I still become a member?
This group  is specifically for international nurses and so the topics I choose will focus on their needs and interests.   
If you are interested in a conversation club for overseas clinicians, pharmacists or vets, then please contact me directly.  

I don't have B2 level of English, can I still become a member?
If your level of English is a little lower,  then contact me directly and we  can have a chat about   it. 

Can I stop my membership at any time?
Yes, of course.   
I will always encourage  members to try the membership for the full month, but if you feel its not for you, simply email me directly. 
​Sign up for Nursing-Talks today and take that first step towards
​effortless but effective conversation in English!
Monthly newsletter
As a member of Nursing-Talks you'll also receive my monthly newsletter, Conversation starters in healthcare. 

Conversation starters in healthcare  includes: 
  • - articles on a variety of current healthcare topics
  • - A-Z of medical terminology
  • - patient stories
  • - celebration of UN and international  days in healthcare
  • - current events and training programmes*

*Events are   primarily for English language trainers, but some may interest you too