Fastest / Most Efficient Way to Learn Spanish for Clinical Volunteering / Work?

[deleted482591]

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What's a good way to work on Spanish to converse with patients in a clinical volunteering / work setting?

 

[Lannister]

Go live in a Spanish-speaking country for a few months and volunteer in a hospital.
More practically, most universities offer medical Spanish courses.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Immersion programs by far.

 

[Lannister]

Oh, also, if you just want to improve your general conversation skills, check out Meetup.com and see if there is a Spanish language Meetup group.

 

[Halcyon32]

Lannister and WedgeDawg are right. Immersion is the quickest way to learn any language but it can be difficult at first. To get a base or even to learn over the course of a few months, I recommend Duolingo.com It's fantastic and has free lessons for many languages. You can probably completely learn to speak spanish solely through that site but you'd still be missing some crucial elements of language learning such as getting used to how fast spanish is spoken and the slang, etc.

Also, @Lannister how did your spanish fluency come up in interviews and such

 

[Chelsea FC]

Eat alot of Adobo . And when i mean alot I mean alot . Put it in your coffee , tea on your meats put it in everything you eat. I have been studying Spanish speaking people for years now since I've in a long term relationship with one and I can assure you this is the most common source of their Spanish speaking powers

 

[ZPakEffect]

Duolingo is terrible. I have been using Fluencia for only a few months and I can already hold complex conversations in Spanish. You get what you pay for.

 

[Halcyon32]

Duolingo is terrible. I have been using Fluencia for only a few months and I can already hold complex conversations in Spanish. You get what you pay for.

I like it. Although I had a pretty strong spanish base beforehand. But I'm using it for french now with no prior knowledge and I think its great. And yeah I'm sure fluencia is good but I don't wanna pay so Duolingo is fine for me and many others I'm sure

 

[Lost in Translation]

If you want to really learn a foreign language, there's no better method than to live in a country where that's the primary language spoken. It literally forces you to learn the language.

 

[ZPakEffect]

I like it. Although I had a pretty strong spanish base beforehand. But I'm using it for french now with no prior knowledge and I think its great. And yeah I'm sure fluencia is good but I don't wanna pay so Duolingo is fine for me and many others I'm sure

I too thought Duolingo was great until I tried Fluencia. The difference between the two is like using your undergrad biology textbook versus using TBR for MCAT review.

 

[pageantry]

Immersion programs are good but often expensive. You can easily DIY that in San Pedro La Laguna on Atitlan del Lago in Guatemala. 20 hours of one on one lessons per week will run you about $80. If you want to also stay in a private room with a family and get three homemade meals per day, it's about the same amount more. If you prefer to live alone, motel rooms with hot water bathrooms and wifi and a flower covered balcony with hammock will run you $6/night. It is very beautiful there, with lots of cool things to do. Flights are cheap. Step off the plane and there will be a billion shuttles waiting outside (as long as it's not after 2:30pm) to take you straight to San Pedro for $25. Safe, simple, fun. Live music at great bars will cost you a dollar for your mojito.

Learn Spanish super quick. Anyway, that's how I do it.

 

[Lannister]

Also, @Lannister how did your spanish fluency come up in interviews and such

My interest in Spanish and my study abroad have definitely come up in every interview I've had. At least one interviewer said that it was what really stood out to them about my application. We usually end up talking about how I want to continue speaking Spanish in medical school as a translator at a free Clinic or do some kid of medical mission trip to a Latin American country or something. It has definitely been a good conversation starter.

 

[Medical Bear]

Get employed at your neighborhood Wendy's, you'll hear plenty of spanish. (I speak from experience here).

 

[Oh_Gee]

Get employed at your neighborhood Wendy's, you'll hear plenty of spanish. (I speak from experience here).

panda express, too

 

[Lost in Translation]

Naw that's Vietnamese.

 

[480640]

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