ERIC Number: EJ1087320
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Dec
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-2133
EISSN: N/A
An Overview of Medical Spanish Curricula in the United States
Hardin, Karol
Hispania, v98 n4 p640-661 Dec 2015
The US health care system faces linguistic challenges. Disparities in language-concordant care for Spanish speakers persist due to current demographics and a paucity of bilingual providers. A proliferation of courses in Spanish for health care professions suggests that universities and post-graduate institutions are attempting to meet this need; however, the quantity of programs does not necessarily indicate quality or achievement of desired outcomes. The current study examined medical Spanish programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level that were described in academic literature over a 38-year period. Programs generally were underreported and not comparable, well evaluated, nor easily replicated. Regrettably, in the medical domain, modest language proficiency is considered adequate and programs targeting advanced proficiency are rare. Suggestions are offered to make curricula in Spanish for health care more evidence based, longitudinal, and collaborative.
Descriptors: Spanish, Medical Education, Educational Quality, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Health Services, Bilingualism, Health Personnel, Outcomes of Education, Graduate Study, Undergraduate Study, Advanced Courses, Curriculum Development, Evidence Based Practice, Profiles, Languages for Special Purposes, Time Management, Program Descriptions, Teaching Methods, Student Evaluation, Course Content, Literature Reviews
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Inc. 900 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Tel: 248-960-2180; Fax: 248-960-9570; e-mail: AATSPoffice@aatsp.org; Web site: http://www.aatsp.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Information Analyses
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A