Wednesday, June 17, 2026
CVTC ELL, nursing students develop skills, build confidence together
Nursing and English Language Learner (ELL) students at Chippewa Valley Technical College participated in a mock clinical intake experience designed to build communication skills, confidence and cultural awareness through real-world interactions.
A collaboration between CVTC Nursing and English Language Learning (ELL) students gave both groups an opportunity to develop skills they will use long after they leave the classroom.
During a recent mock clinical intake experience, nursing students worked one-on-one with ELL students, helping them navigate health care conversations while gaining firsthand experience communicating with people from diverse backgrounds.
The experience was designed to create a meaningful cross-cultural learning opportunity that helped students build confidence, understanding and real-world communication skills.
For ELL students, the experience helped reduce anxiety around health care interactions while providing an opportunity to practice communication in a supportive environment.
"My students were very nervous to speak to native English-speaking Nursing students, but they felt that the students were all very kind, nice and patient," said Alyssa Hedenstrom, CVTC ELL instructor. "Practicing this in a safe environment makes a world of difference."
The nursing students prepared for the experience by creating intake forms, visual aids, teaching materials and communication tools designed to support language learners. Through these interactions, students gained experience in nonverbal communication and building trust and understanding with patients.
CVTC Nursing Instructor Katelyn Zoromski said the experience exceeded expectations.
"Everything about it, from the energy in the room to the engagement from both groups of students, was exciting, meaningful and honestly just fun to be part of," she said.
After the event, nursing students talked about the importance of slowing down, communicating clearly and recognizing that effective health care communication involves more than spoken language. Students identified trust-building, body language and cultural awareness as critical components of patient-centered care.
Zoromski said the collaboration allowed students from both programs to learn from one another.
"It was clear that students on both sides were learning from each other in real time," she said. "This experience went far beyond practicing skills. It built confidence, increased awareness and really emphasized the importance of connection and patient-centered care."
For nursing students, the activity offered a realistic opportunity to practice patient communication and adapt their approach to meet the needs of individuals from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
For ELL students, it provided a chance to build confidence advocating for their own health care needs in a welcoming environment.
Hedenstrom hopes the event's success will lead to additional partnerships between ELL students and other academic programs, creating opportunities for students throughout the college to learn from one another while building skills for the workforce and community.
