Medical Spanish in South America
Chile – Argentina – Peru
Did you know the USA has more Spanish speakers than Spain? In
fact the American Spanish-speaking population ranks third in
the world, behind only Mexico and Colombia.
Today’s health care organizations know that communication
is vital to effective patient care, and Spanish ability has
become a necessary skill in more and more clinics. A trip to
the emergency room is traumatic enough without adding a stressful
language barrier.
Who may
participate in Medical Spanish?
Pre-med, nursing, and medical students as well as health care
professionals. Your Spanish level can be novice through very
advanced. However, you should be at least intermediate to appreciate
the clinical shadowing.
What are the program
components?
Standard Spanish Course. 12 hours/week of group classes
plus 5 hours of private classes for a total of 17 hours / week.
With no more than seven students per group, and private classes
you will have lots of participation opportunities and feel much
more engaged than in a typical classroom. (Think dinner table
as opposed to lecture hall.) But be prepared. Though the atmosphere
is comfortable, the course is demanding. However, there are
two breaks with free coffee, tea, and snacks. Bring your laptop
to connect to our free wifi.
Clinical Shadowing.optional Here
you will get to see Latin American health care in action two
times per week. If you are a premed student, this can help motivate
you in your future studies. On the other hand, if you are a
practicing health care professional you will observe differences
with procedures back home.
Medical Spanish Lessons. optional Supplement
your course with health care vocabulary and/or role-playing
scenarios. Specialized classes designed to help you in future
patient diagnosis and instructions. If you want to understand
phrases like “me duele tanto la espalda”
or “me pica la garganta” sign up for
these.
Where will I live? Host Family. You can directly experience
the culture while living with a local host. Since this option
includes breakfast and dinner, you can practice using the subjunctive
while discussing politics at the table.
Shared
Apartment. Another popular option is the shared apartment.
Our students come from around the world, so you’ll have
an international experience right at home.
What can I do outside of class and shadowing?
The program is not all work and no fun. We have optional activities
nearly everyday, from cooking classes in Peru to tango dancing
in Argentina to weekend ski trips in Chile.
Where does ECELA operate Medical Spanish? Cusco, Peru: Capital of the ancient Incan empire,
Cusco is a charming, small, mountain city with exposure to traditional
cultures. If you’re interested in anthropology or archaeology,
Cusco is for you.
Lima, Peru: A city full of history and culture, endless
beaches, hills and mountains, nightlife, and the best food in
all of South America.
Santiago, Chile: Snowboard in the summer. Surf in the
winter. Aside from being a very modern city with fine restaurants
and museums, Santiago has nearby natural attractions for the
adventurous.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Like New York, Tokyo,
and Paris, “BA” is one of the world’s cultural
centers. Fortunately the costs are a tiny fraction of the other
cities. Where else does the subway cost 30 cents? * Medical Shadowing not offered in Buenos Aires January
– February
When is the course?
At ECELA we welcome new students every week of the year, even
the holidays.
How much does as typical
program cost?
17 hrs (group
+ private)
Spanish Classes
Medical Shadowing
(Optional)
Housing*
Total / Week
Cost / Week
$250
$125
$125
$500
*Housing cost varies based on your option and location.
How many spots are there?
While we would like to accommodate everybody, we face limitations
from housing, Spanish classes, and clinics. You should book
your program well in advance.
How do I apply?
First register at our website, www.ecela.com.
If we are able to confirm a spot we require a $300 deposit.
What is the typical weekly
schedule?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9:00/1:00
Group
Spanish
Medical
Shadowing
Group
Spanish
Medical
Shadowing
Group
Spanish
1:00/2:00
Lunch
Break
Lunch
Break
Lunch
Break
Lunch
Break
Lunch
Break
2:00/3:00
1 hr.
Private Spanish
1 hr.
Private Spanish
1 hr.
Private Spanish
1 hr.
Private Spanish
1 hr.
Private Spanish
Testimonial:
I shadowed two doctors, both of whom were quite willing
to explain everything they were doing.
They were very approachable and informative. I enjoyed
learning from them.
- Abilash Gopal, Medical Student - Tufts University
Argentina
