Beginning Medical Spanish. Oral Proficiency and Cultural Humility is designed for medical professionals and supporting staff with no prior knowledge of Spanish who need to develop oral language skills and cross-cultural sensitivity to establish relationship-building communication with their Spanish-speaking patients.

This hospital-tested program teaches how to connect with patients of limited English-speaking ability and offer them the quality care they seek. Role-play activities allow students to develop their oral proficiency in meaningful contexts and contribute to a creative and dynamic classroom environment. Written exercises provide opportunity for practice outside the classroom, and audio recordings are available online for use in class and at home. The cultural readings and extensive bibliographical references in each chapter provide students with information about Hispanic values, beliefs and health practices, while teaching them to consider how these may vary with the identity of each individual and the degree of acculturation to US mainstream culture.

Whether you are a student preparing to work in a medical environment, or a professional already working with Spanish-speaking patients, the innovative method of hands-on learning though role-playing practice provided in this program will give you the specific skills you need to communicate confidently and respectfully in Spanish.

Parizad T. Dejbord Sawan is Associate Professor of Spanish at The University of Akron, USA. Originally from Palma de Mallorca-Spain, she received a MA degree in French literature from the University of Akron and holds a PhD in Latin American Literature from the University of Michigan. In 2004, she obtained her National Certification from the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to be an Official Tester of the Spanish Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). She initiated a collaboration between Akron Children's Hospital and the University of Akron through the design and implementation of a 3-semester Beginning Medical Spanish program for medical professionals and supporting staff in 2013 and continues to teach all of the classes at the hospital. She is also a member of the national Medical Spanish Taskforce and is currently participating in the project Engaging Language Professionals for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Latinx Communities with Ohio State University. This project has been funded by a grant from the Patient-Centered Research Outcome Institute.