CASA (Center for Advanced Studies Abroad): Alicante - Spanish for the Medical Profession

Offered in winter (3-weeks) and summer (4-weeks) the Intensive Medical Spanish course in partnership with Universidad Miguel Hernández Medical School at the Hospital San Juan in Alicante, Spain. It is geared toward Intermediate & Advanced level students who would like to improve their Spanish language skills with a medical concentration.  The classwork focuses on medical terminology and is beneficial for students planning to work in fields of medicine, health, nutrition, and many other health related professions.  The academic work is complemented by field trips to local hospitals and labs. During their course of study students will live with a local host family in Alicante. In addition to the course students will also have the option of attending academic field trips during the weekends to places like Madrid.  Please find a more in-depth course description below.

Goals and Objectives
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students at an intermediate level of Spanish or above with specific vocabulary and structures related to Spanish as used by health care professionals. The course will focus on developing communication skills, both for direct interaction with individuals in health care settings and for situations in which interpreting or language and cultural mediation services are needed. Language development within a Spanish for Specific Purposes framework will be combined with lessons in inter-cultural communication and awareness, language policy, and specific information about the Spanish health care delivery system.

Content
The following topics will be covered in class:

•Visiting the doctor. How to take a health history in Spanish. Clinical intake procedures. Vocabulary, cultural considerations, recording information in a concise, accurate and useful written format.
•Human anatomy. Major organs and systems and their functions. Common descriptors.
•Common ailments and more major diseases. Names, symptoms, treatments.
• Emergencies. How to deal with emergency situations in Spanish.
• Food and Nutrition. Cultural beliefs as regard diet and food preparation.
• Physical

Guest speakers and scheduled visits:
• 2-hour presentation by a physician trained in Spain but practicing in the U.S. Her topic will be “Language interaction with foreign patients. What a doctor really needs to know in an intake interview.”
• 2-hour presentation by a trained nutritionist. Topic: Differing values and approaches to nutrition and good eating habits. A comparative look at Spain and the United States.
• 2-hour tour of hospital and presentation by director of hospital interpreting services.
• 3-hour visit to the Anatomy/Cadaver lab at the Miguel Hernández University School of Medicine.
• 3-hour visit to an Alternative Wellness Center with homeopathic, naturalist, and alternative approaches to health care.
• 2-hour session in the Surgical skills lab. Practice suturing, carrying out physical exams on lab models, discussing basic surgical techniques.

Methodology
Class sessions will combine language development exercises with emphasis on production, comprehension, reading and writing. Grammatical concepts will be reviewed as issues arise in the lessons. Vocabulary building will be emphasized. Basic community interpreting skills will be developed through role-plays and simulations. Guest speakers and community visits will complement the coursework being done and constitute an integral part of the learning experience.

Grading
Students will be expected to attend class and participate regularly. There will be regular classwork and a final exam. Students will also be expected to attend certain community-based activities to gain first hand knowledge of issues related to health care. The final grade will be based on class attendance, participation, attendance at co-curricular events, and the final exam.

Housing and Meals
Students live with carefully selected Spanish families to ensure complete immersion in Spanish language and culture.  Students take all meals with their host family, share in traditional celebrations and family events, and become a part of every day Spanish life.