Electives - Humanities in Medicine

Elementary Medical Spanish

Elective Number: (Oasis E18q) 3520

Course Supervisors: Dr. Rafael Triana and Ms. Beatriz Cortabarria

Designated Signer: Dr. Marcia Childress, 5361 Barringer

Evaluation should be given to: Ms. Cortabarria

Available: Rotations 3 and 7 - Class of 2008; 4 and 7 - Classs of 2009

Prerequisite: Students must have NO prior knowldge of Spanish. Those with some previous Spanish study should enroll in Medical Spanish - Language & Culture #3515

Time to Report: TBA

Place to Report: TBA

Typical day: Rotation 4: M-Th, 5:30-7:30/8:00 pm; Rotation 7: TBA

Attendance: A student may not take time away during this rotation.

• Anyone who is ill or has a personal or family emergency must contact Student Affairs and the course director.
• Students are allowed to take off up to 1 day per week to interview between November 1 and February 1.
  • Specific days missed must be approved by the Attending on Service.

Number of students per rotation: Rotation 4: Minimum of 4, Maximum of 10. Rotation 7: Minimum of 4; Maximum of 15.

Course Description: The Hispanic population is the largest and fastest-growing minority population in the U.S.—35 million people, according to the 2000 US Census. By 2050, fully 25% of Americans will claim Spanish as their first language. In order to practice in most areas of this country, physicians need a command of basic Spanish and an understanding of Hispanic culture and the ways it influences health and medical care.

This course offers intensive elementary-level instruction in Spanish language and culture, all oriented to the practice of medicine with Spanish-speaking patients. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required— indeed, this course is intended for students who have never before studied or spoken the language.

Students develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to successfully perform linguistic tasks allowing them to communicate in everyday situations (e.g., greeting, narrating present and past events, describing, ordering, comparing and contrasting). By the end of four weeks, students

• have a working knowledge of basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary and some specialized medical vocabulary,
• can converse in simple yet effective terms with a Spanish-speaking patient about his/her illness and related circumstances,
• be familiar with some health concerns of Spanish-speaking populations, especially as these are expressed in and influenced by social and cultural values and spiritual beliefs, and
• qualify for the elective course in more advanced medical Spanish, (Humanities #3515: Medical Spanish - Language and Culture).

Instruction focuses on grammar and vocabulary fundamentals combined with medical terms, medically related phrasing and idioms, language for specific clinical situations (admissions, emergencies, etc.) and health-related cultural information. The course also gives students opportunities to practice applying Spanish in mock medical settings. Cultural studies may include readings, presentations by clinicians working with Spanish-speaking populations, case studies, role-plays, and student-initiated activities and projects. The instructor evaluates students' language facility and cultural awareness on the basis of class performance and participation, presentations, and possibly, quizzes or tests.

The course meets for a total of ten hours per week. The Rotation 4 class meets Monday through Thursday evenings, while the Rotation 7 class meets Monday through Friday afternoons. To the extent possible, especially in the latter weeks, class is conducted in Spanish. Some additional class time may be scheduled to accommodate clinic and/or community visits and cultural activities. Students should expect to invest additional time outside of class in language practice and review. Students purchase the assigned texts (approximately $160). Students in the Rotation 7 class also attend Medical Center Hour.

This description is a general overview. The instructor will establish the schedule and particular requirements at the time of the course.