Importance of Spanish for future doctors?

[jram2323]

I took Spanish in high school and was pretty good. Enough to have a beginner level conversation and understand 75% of what the average Spanish person was saying. 4 years later, I can barely speak it but my reading/speech comprehension is nearly the same.


Should I take a Spanish course again to improve? I have room in my schedule and plan to take medical Spanish in med school/go abroad. Will this be important as a physician 20 years from now?

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[deleted407021]

Hopefully not anymore than it is now. It is still a good ability to have. I recommend fostering it. Good luck!

 

[PingPongPro]

It really depends on where you will be doing your medical education/training/practicing. A high proportion of patients that come into the hospital at my school are only Spanish speakers.

 

[The Kraken]

You would be foolish to not take Spanish classes when you have the time now.

 

[WingsFan]

Ich finde Deutsch viel wichtiger als Spanisch. Und natürlich schöner.

 

[link2swim06]

So speaking spanish is helpful but you really need to be very fluent and know how to communicate about healthcare topics to be able to speak directly to a patient without an interpreter.

Speaking broken spanish is a unfair to the patient when you can get a interpreter.

Therefore, I would say go all the way (to the point where you sound like a native) or don't worry about learning it.

 

[RuralPhysician8]

I took Spanish in high school and I enjoyed the process of learning a new language. I plan on to work on it and become fluent due to there being a large Hispanic population in my area. Most of the faculty and students, though, at my university (large, very diverse) acknowledge French as the key language in the global perspective.

 

[Barcu]

So speaking spanish is helpful but you really need to be very fluent and know how to communicate about healthcare topics to be able to speak directly to a patient without an interpreter.

Speaking broken spanish is a unfair to the patient when you can get a interpreter.

Therefore, I would say go all the way (to the point where you sound like a native) or don't worry about learning it.

I agree and disagree.

It really is unfair to your patient if you have the resources available for translators (or phones) to try and speak insufficient Spanish. However, this assumes that these resources are always available, which is not always the case. Knowing some Spanish is always helpful. Plus, being able to talk and communicate with your patient in their native language is a great way to build rapport, even if you ultimately bring out the translator to discuss the essential medical issues. So I wouldn't frame it as either learn it fluently or don't learn it at all. I would say to learn it the best you can. It will be useful, no matter the level that you learn.

And this may be semantics, but I always have an issue with trying to achieve "fluency." If you don't grow up speaking a language, there is a very good chance you will never sound like a native. But that isn't an issue. There are plenty of doctors in the US from abroad. They have accents and do not sound "native." But they can communicate effectively with patients in English. That's all it takes. Take the time to learn the proper vocab and how to communicate effectively. Don't worry about the ability to blend in on a trip to Mexico.

 

[armybound]

Ich finde Deutsch viel wichtiger als Spanisch. Und natürlich schöner.

as much fun as I had studying German, you'll get a ton more use out of Spanish.

I'd study it. I regret not taking courses in med school when I had the chance.

 

[WingsFan]

as much fun as I had studying German, you'll get a ton more use out of Spanish.

I'd study it. I regret not taking courses in med school when I had the chance.

Where I live, the Spanish speaking population is almost non existent. Arabic on the other hand would be of tremendous value. It all depends where you are.

And for whoever said French was more important for a global perspective, just remember which European nation is keeping the Euro alive and dominates the medical industry in continental Europe 😉

 

[Perrotfish]

So speaking spanish is helpful but you really need to be very fluent and know how to communicate about healthcare topics to be able to speak directly to a patient without an interpreter.

Speaking broken spanish is a unfair to the patient when you can get a interpreter.

Therefore, I would say go all the way (to the point where you sound like a native) or don't worry about learning it.

Learn Spanish. Aim for fluent but learn what you can. Its arguably the only course you can take in Undergrad that 100% transfers over to medical school.

 

[mimelim]

So speaking spanish is helpful but you really need to be very fluent and know how to communicate about healthcare topics to be able to speak directly to a patient without an interpreter.

Speaking broken spanish is a unfair to the patient when you can get a interpreter.

Therefore, I would say go all the way (to the point where you sound like a native) or don't worry about learning it.

I disagree. Yes, it is ideal to be fluent and communicate what is going on with your patients. At the same time, having functional, basic Spanish makes your life a lot easier in the hospital, regardless of what specialty you are going into. By far my biggest regret about my education was not taking Spanish in Elementary/Middle school seriously and further, not reinforcing it in either undergrad or medical school.

Also, as previously pointed out, getting an interpreter is not easy and takes time.

 

[deuist]

If I could go back to college again, I would change my majors to Spanish and statistics. Nothing you do in pre-med will be as useful. And as far as French, give me a break. The average physician doesn't work for the World Health Organization.

 

[jeghaber]

If I could go back to college again, I would change my majors to Spanish and statistics. Nothing you do in pre-med will be as useful. And as far as French, give me a break. The average physician doesn't work for the World Health Organization.

+1 Still just premed, but man, I definitely wish I had more experience with Spanish and statistics. In terms of language, Spanish>>French in utility; I chose to take French because "it sounded prettier" and regret not having taken Spanish -- I'm taking Spanish at an extension school this fall, so hopefully that will help a bit. As mentioned above, I think it'll help develop rapport with patients, and as more and more of the US is becoming Spanish-speaking, I'd imagine it'll only become more important in the future.

Side note on statistics: I loved my major, but working a cognitive neuroscience lab full time, a more solid background in statistics would make things so much easier. If you know statistics, you can go into ANY kind of research. If you're still in college, and want to continue research later, take at least a couple courses in statistics!

 

[Deadlifts]

Ayuda a estudiar espanol en una clase pero ud necesita a hablar con otras personas.

I grew up with Spanish classes with very little conversational skill to show for it. It took working in a kitchen to actually learn to speak with some semblance of ability. It doesn't do much to be able to read Miguel de Cervantes but not know how to carry a conversation.

 

[Mr Avante]

And for whoever said French was more important for a global perspective, just remember which European nation is keeping the Euro alive and dominates the medical industry in continental Europe 😉

😉😉😉 +1👍

 

[mvenus929]

So speaking spanish is helpful but you really need to be very fluent and know how to communicate about healthcare topics to be able to speak directly to a patient without an interpreter.

Speaking broken spanish is a unfair to the patient when you can get a interpreter.

Therefore, I would say go all the way (to the point where you sound like a native) or don't worry about learning it.

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and respectfully disagree. Yes, it's ideal to have an interpreter present. But this may not always be possible, or practical on the timeline you need. For instance, if someone comes into the ED with abdominal pain, being able to ask a few simple questions in Spanish can get you started on the workup and possible surgical consult while you wait for the interpreter to either get on the phone or arrive for the full history.

It's also useful to know some Spanish for the physical exam, because it's not very practical to be holding a phone while doing the physical exam if you don't have a live interpreter present.

And this may be semantics, but I always have an issue with trying to achieve "fluency." If you don't grow up speaking a language, there is a very good chance you will never sound like a native. But that isn't an issue. There are plenty of doctors in the US from abroad. They have accents and do not sound "native." But they can communicate effectively with patients in English. That's all it takes. Take the time to learn the proper vocab and how to communicate effectively. Don't worry about the ability to blend in on a trip to Mexico.

ERAS actually has levels of fluency from basic (I know a few words and can communicate in limited situations) up through native/functionally native (people can't distinguish me from a native speaker). Advanced is defined as 'native speakers have no problem understanding me, but probably perceive that I am not native speaker.' So, good goal to have--become an advanced speaker.