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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of self-directed learning ability and creativity on college adjustment in nursing students. Method: Data were collected by questionnaires from 148 nursing students in October, 2010. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson`s correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: A positive correlation was found for college adjustment with self-directed learning ability and creativity. Self-directed learning ability and major satisfaction were significant predictors of college adjustment. The model explained 44.1% of the valuables. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that self-directed learning be considered when developing strategies to increase college adjustment in nursing students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing clinical competence in nursing students. Method: The participants were 125 nursing students and data were collected from October 8 to December 18, 2010 using questionnaires with. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson`s correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: There were significant correlations for creativity, problem-solving ability, self-directed learning ability, and clinical competence. The factor influencing clinical competence the most was creativity, followed by problem-solving ability, self-directed learning ability, and grade point average score. The regression model explained 37% of variance in clinical competence. Conclusion: The results indicate that for improvement in the clinical competence of nursing students, it is necessary to develop strategies and education programs to enhance creativity, problem-solving ability, and self-directed learning ability.

This article challenges a recent proposal for the theoretical interpretation of L1 and L2 interaction that results from the abrupt change of language environment in internationally adopted children. According to this proposal (Pallier, Dehaene, Poline, LeBihan, Argenti, Depoux and Mehler, 2003; Ventureyra, Pallier and Yoo, 2004), such children experience a total loss of their L1, while, as adults, they exhibit a nativelike ultimate attainment of their L2. These authors suggest that what they see as a total loss of L1 allows a resetting of the neural network that normally subserves L1 retention and hence permits a complete acquisition of the L2. Data from two of our own research projects, one on L1 remnants in Korean adoptees in Sweden (see Park, forthcoming), and the other on age of acquisition and ultimate L2 attainment of Swedish (see Abrahamsson and Hyltenstam, in press), which included data from Latin American adoptees in Sweden among other participants, suggest (i) that L1 remnants are indeed maintained, (ii) that L2 attainment isnotenhanced by severe L1 attrition, and (iii) that there is an age dimension to both the degree of L1 attrition and the level of L2 ultimate attainment in international adoptees. We therefore contend that a maturational interpretation of language replacement data is preferable.