This entry-level conversational Spanish course for health care professionals provides development of the basic skills necessary to effectively communicate in practical health care situations. 16 hours (Textbook required)

Fee:

$179

Spanish for Health Care Profesisonals by William C. Harvey (ISBN-13: 978-1-5-5850420-2) (3rd edition)

Practical application of learned grammar constructions and vocabulary will be emphasized through class activities such as role-play with fellow students. Special attention will be given to pronunciation and accent, as it is crucial, particularly in health care situations, to communicate clearly and be understood.

Week I:
• student and instructor introductions; course format and objectives
• discuss concept of informal vs. formal ways of addressing people in Spanish
• discuss formal commands and their significance in the medical field
• learn and practice common formal commands (i.e., stick out your tongue, have a seat)
• vocabulary: “Anatomy” and “Pronouns & Prepositions”

Week II:
• review material from Week I
• interrogative words/phrases (i.e. who, how much, what time)
• find out who a patient is and how they are doing/feeling using the verb ESTAR to be (present state of being), and SER to be (permanent/physical state of being)
• vocabulary: “Feelings/State of Being,” “Family/Relatives,” and “General Medical”

Week III:
• review material from Weeks I and II
• ask about patient medical history, forming questions using the verb TENER to have.
• vocabulary: “Medical Forms/Paperwork” & “Diagnoses/Afflictions”
• role play: using the verbs SER, ESTAR, and TENER, practice asking questions regarding patient health and medical history

Week IV:
• review material from Weeks I - III
• find out what a patient can do and can not do, using the verb PODER to be able to
• vocabulary: “Common Verbs (walk, talk, see, hear)” and “Hospital Personnel”
• role play: incorporating PODER with the verbs and vocabulary learned thus far, practice asking questions to obtain additional health-related information

Week V:
• review select material from Weeks I – IV
• introduction to the subjunctive mood
• learn to give a patient instructions and recommendations using the subjunctive
• role play: practice giving orders/instructions and advice using the subjunctive
• vocabulary: more “Common Verbs”

Week VI:
• review material from Week V; additional practice with the subjunctive
• return to formal commands; compare and contrast formal commands vs. giving orders and instructions using the subjunctive
• vocabulary: “Places” and “Directions & Spatial relationships”
• role play: practice giving directions using formal commands and/or the subjunctive

Week VII:
• learn to discuss what you are going to do in the future, and ask patients about future activities/plans using the verb construction IR + A
• role play: practice talking about and asking others about future plans
• vocabulary: students’ choice

Week VIII:
• course review*:
• reinforce selected verb conjugations/constructions
• address issues with pronunciation
• reiterate difficult concepts
• discuss/review any topic/theme upon student request

*If students do not want a review, this final class can be used to introduce new material, on a topic of student’s choice

Simple lesson-pertinent homework will be assigned periodically to help foster continuity in students’ Spanish language acquisition.