Spanish for Doctors, Nurses, Medical Workers & Healthcare Providers
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals – Part 1
This is a specialized and intensive Spanish language course designed to enhance effective communication between patients and their healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, medical staff). Emphasis is on basic, practical language needed to communicate with Spanish speaking patients and their families at the hospital or doctor’s office, on the telephone, or at the patient’s home.
Price: $160.00 when: SESSION 2: Saturdays, April 21, May 5, 19, and June 2, 2012. where: Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center
2644 Appian Way, Suite 102
Pinole, Ca 94564
Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center has been approved as a Continuing Education Provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15113.
Upon completion of this course, registered nurses certificate available for $25.00
Improve your efficiency and effectiveness by learning key phrases, questions, and directives in Spanish. If you think this is an overwhelming task because it is time consuming, or you think you don’t have the patience to make such a long term commitment as to become proficient in a second language, we’d like to help you get past these roadblocks. Now, think about how knowing a few phrases can minimize your frustration when trying to communicate to ALL your patients. Begin by looking at the sample sentences below. Read them, say them aloud, and envision yourself using them in real situations. Remember that all roads to success start with small, beginning steps.
1. Su cita es el lunes a las 3:00 de la tarde.
Your appointment is Monday at 3:00 in the afternoon.
2. Ud. necesita regresar el día 15 de enero a las 11:00 de la mañana.
You need to return January 15th at 11:00 am.
3. ¿Tiene fiebre?
Do you have fever?
4. ¿Dόnde le duele?
Where does it hurt?
5. ¿Le duele la cabeza?
Do you have headaches?
6. ¿Se siente cansada?
Do you feel tired?
7. ¿Tiene vόmitos?
Do you feel nauseated?
8. ¿Está tomando medicamentos?
Are you taking medication?
9. ¿Cuántas veces al día?
How many times a day?
10. El médico estará con Ud. en seguida.
The doctor will be with you shortly.
Are you surprised to find that it wasn’t that difficult to learn realistic, appropriate phrases that you can use in real life? We can help you learn more like these in a four-session class that meets on Saturdays at our school in Pinole, CA. Our school is approved as a Continuing Education Provider, and registered nurses can qualify for a 12 contact-hours certificate. For more detailed information about the classes we offer visit: http://www.marialanguages.com/classes/medical-spanish-class.shtml
The Spanish language has become increasingly important to Social Workers, Eligibility Workers, and social services support staff who need to interact with a diverse population. Clients who apply for aid or who require counseling all need to provide basic information and documentation for various types of assistance that are available to them. In return, the social services staff needs to understand questions, and offer instructions that the clients can follow.
In California the need for Spanish language skills is always present. And social services staff who are bilingual, when working with native Spanish speakers, can be more effective in their jobs. They are also more valued and often higher paid. While it is optimal to be fluent in a second language, it isn’t always necessary. For example, asking for a client’s name, directing them to the waiting area, or making an appointment requires some good vocabulary words and basic sentence formations. As the Spanish-speaking client moves beyond the support staff to the professional staff, however, a deeper knowledge of the language is more likely needed.
Some students choose to study Spanish from the beginning with the aim of understanding the grammatical constructions and obtaining a rich vocabulary. Others choose to focus on courses that are specifically geared to their professional fields. Probably the best, and quickest, results come from a combination of the two. For example, if you have a selection of key words and phrases already in your memory you can use them on the job right away. Not only are you practicing your language skills in the field, but you are also showing your client a respect for their culture and for them as individuals. Even if you are making mistakes the Spanish-speaking client will be more relaxed with someone who is trying as hard as they are to communicate. Often it is mutual laughter in a tough situation that inspires confidence and relieves tension.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences approves some language programs for continuing education credits. This would be a good place to start for choosing the program that will help you improve your communication skills in Spanish. Maria Oliveira offers courses that are approved by the BBS at her school in Pinole, California. These courses combine basic Spanish sentence formations with focused words and phrases specific to social services situations; certification is available. For students who are not in the area, including out of state social services language learners, there is also a CD and Workbook program that can be purchased for self-study.
Whichever path you might choose to learn Spanish for your social services work, it is a worthwhile goal that will profit both you and your clients. Think how much easier it will be to function in a job when you are not dependent on third party translators. Consider the efficiency you will enjoy by taking care of matters immediately, and with diminished misunderstandings. Improve your workplace situation soon by committing yourself to learning Spanish.
Health care providers interact daily and directly with a diverse population. Cultural and language differences often get in the way of effective communication, and when it comes to health care, serious problems can result from misunderstandings. From setting appointments to describing symptoms to explaining medications, medical staff frequently depend on casual interpreters such as family members or friends. Sometimes that interpreter is a child, or even a stranger, which creates issues regarding accuracy and privacy. Rather than depending on such individuals, a person planning to enter the health care field would be wise to include second language studies in their schedules, and current providers would also do well to pick up a second language to boost their efficiency and effectiveness.
Choosing that second language should be based on the community that is served, but current demographics predict an increased growth of the Spanish speaking population, which makes the study of Spanish a likely choice. While becoming fluent in any language is a worthy goal, often you can improve your communication with patients by choosing to learn significant and frequently used words and phrases, along with some basic grammatical constructions. For example, learning greetings and common social phrases will put your patient at ease. And obtaining personal information, from street address to ailment, will work better if you can ask the right questions. Having the vocabulary to make the next appointment, to explain a prescription, to understand the symptoms named, ensures good health care service.
There are several ways for medical providers to learn Spanish and become more productive in their chosen field. If you have the time, there are traditional classroom-style programs that are directed at health care providers. For those who need to fit it into their own schedules, there are self-study audio programs on CDs, and there are workbooks for practice. Maria Oliveira offers all of these options, including on-site classes in Pinole, California. Furthermore, since Maria Oliveira is approved as a Continuing Education Provider, several of these courses, both on-site and self-study varieties, are especially noteworthy for nurses who are interested in the CEUs. Of course, any class approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses would serve you well, no matter which role you play in providing health care, and Maria makes these courses available to all.
When you are learning a second language practice is the key to success, and what better way to practice than with fellow students, teachers, and bilingual guests in a relaxed social environment. We offer light refreshments and a lot of fun while you enjoy your conversation with other participants. From beginner to advanced, everyone is welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to practice your skills.
In our Spanish classes we spend some time exploring the differences between words that look alike or sound alike. In fact, these words are used in very specific, and separate, ways. When students practice their Spanish conversation skills, recognizing and understanding the differences between these words increases their comprehension level. Let’s clarify the finer points that separate these words. Here are five examples of similar, but definitely different, word pairs that may have puzzled you in the past.
1.
abril a month of the year abrir to open (a verb)
2.
cuarto fourth, or room
cuatro the number four
3. nada nothing nada he/she swims (3rd person singular of the verb to swim – nadar)
4.
cocina the kitchen cocina he or she cooks (3rd person singular of the verb to cook – cocinar)
5.
trabajo the job trabajo I work (1st person of the verb to work – trabajar)
You probably noticed that some pairs are spelled exactly alike, or that only a single letter in a word changes its meaning. Sometimes it is the context of the sentence that tells you which word is the correct one. Understanding these often confused word usages is not the same as memorizing idiomatic expressions; by learning them you are attuning your eyes and ears to actual meaning differentiations. This is how you become truly bilingual.
If you have any troubling word pairs that you want to tell us about, send it to our comments section. Meanwhile, we’ll be back soon with more of these “Frequently Misunderstood Words.” Stay tuned!
Acquiring knowledge and improving one’s self is vital in today’s ever challenging world of business. No one knows this better than Maria Oliveira who was born in the Portuguese Azores Islands and at the age of 19, unable to speak English, came to the U.S.
She is a Tenacious Woman – who has: Tenacity
Empowerment
Nacreous
Ambition
Courage
Intuition
Optimistic
Unique
Success, who paired it with:
Will-power
Originality
Motivation
Astute, a
Nurturing spirit
to fulfill her dream.
Join Host Jewel Daniels and Guest Maria Oliveira as they chat about the challenge of learning a second language and the difficulties in developing and operating a language learning center.
Are you ready to make friends and meet new people using your Spanish language skills? This CD will help you by providing 11 fun lessons filled with all new vocabulary, phrases, and sentences that focus on social and personal interactions. You will learn how to greet people, get to know them better, and even ask for a date. Learn the culturally polite way to start a relationship, but also how to decline one. This course is great for self-study and practice, and is also excellent for learning useful, travel-friendly expressions. Study cards are included for visual learning.
ISBN: 978-1-888165-91-3
Price: $19.95
For more information call: 1-510-223-3320
Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center
2644 Appian Way, Suite 102
Pinole, CA 94564
When you prepare to learn a second language it is helpful to understand the distinct but connected components that comprise your studies. Vocabulary, grammar, and practice are the three keys to language learning. Becoming bilingual very much depends on the inclusion of all three, and understanding their place in the order of things will help you learn quickly and thoroughly. Interestingly, as you progress from basic to intermediate to advanced, the three components start to merge for more in depth learning and comprehension.
1. Vocabulary
Learning the words is the very basis of language learning. When you understand the words you increase your comprehension. Even a single word can say a lot! But vocabulary is about more than reading and writing, it is also about speech and sounds. Make sure your source is authentic and reliable!
2. Grammar
Learning where to place the words in a sentence is what grammar is all about. And using sentences to express ideas is what language is all about! Grammar can be tricky. There are rules to learn, and then there are also exceptions to the rules to learn, but don’t let it overwhelm you. To make it easier on yourself, grammar should be learned in increments. That is to say, start with the basics, and build on those. Taking it a step at a time will help you break it down into manageable pieces.
3. Practice
Practice makes sure you have learned the material. It includes speaking or reading aloud, interacting with others, and using repetition. Look for materials that require you to fill in blanks, rearrange sentences, and answer questions. Look for quizzes, puzzles, and illustrations that will elicit correct answers from your memory. Repeating words or sentences gets you started, but using what you have learned in new constructions, created by you, means you have stored the material in your brain for future use. Use television and radio and CDs to listen and repeat; use classmates and teachers for interactions; seek out community members to exchange greetings and pleasantries. Practice leads to fluency!
Language learning is clearly a process that starts with words, builds to sentences, and finally, with practice, becomes a means of full expression. But perhaps we should include a fourth key: hard work! Individual effort and self-motivation support successful language learning, and people who become articulate in a second language are, without exception, rewarded by the achievement in many ways. Become bilingual; make it your goal!
Vocabulary building is one of the most effective techniques to develop for efficient language learning. Certainly there is more to language than vocabulary; the grammar puts the words together, and practice makes the sentences you create useful. But without vocabulary you have no sentences to construct, nothing to say, nothing to understand. As you strive to become bilingual, you should focus more and more on vocabulary building because the broader the range of your word choices, the more you can express yourself. That is what fluency is all about!
There are several methods for acquiring a larger vocabulary, but the most important thing is to make learning a full time experience. That is, instead of looking at your allotted study time as the only time you learn, you should incorporate vocabulary into your everyday life. One way to do this is to place sticky notes around your home. Labeling cabinets, appliances, furniture and other familiar items will make you conscious of their meanings as you go about your daily activities. Say the words aloud until they become automatic in your mind. If possible you can do this at work, in the car, and any other place you inhabit. Another method is to carry vocabulary cards to use when you have a few moments to spare. These cards have English on one side and translation on the reverse so you can memorize words at any time. These kinds of things are simple and can be handmade by you, using card stock or even plain paper.
Probably the most popular and effective technique is to use vocabulary CDs. You can play these in the car, around the house, even on your MP3 player so that you have vocabulary learning going on whether you are driving, doing dishes, or taking your daily walk. CDs can be stopped and started, repeated and replayed, and hundreds of words are available to you. They are good for self-testing and reviewing, and they are convenient for almost all situations. The most significant advantage to CDs is that you can hear the correct pronunciation; when you repeat the word you are hearing, you get to focus on the sounds as well as the meaning.
It doesn’t matter which language you decide to learn, just remember to incorporate vocabulary building into your daily routine. The other parts of language learning will fall into place faster if you have lots of words available to you.
Spanish 4A: Fine-Tune Your Spanish Conversational Skills
Course Description: Explore a variety of everyday situations using your Spanish language skills to communicate useful information. Students will find interactions helpful for travel or business. This class advances toward fluency through oral practice and is best suited for students who have completed in-depth vocabulary studies.
Date: Winter2 – Tuesdays: January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2012
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.*
Course #: 12506 Tuition: $87.00 plus classroom materials
*Please note this class is held at our Language Learning Center in Pinole, CA. For more information about Maria's online language courses please click here!
