Hello everyone,
I have a quick question about selecting the language proficiency on ERAS.
Backstory:
I am a Mexican-American born in a Spanish speaking household. Both my Parents and sisters are from Mexico. I was born in the US, and spoke Spanish growing up. However, I initially spoke more English as a child because my sisters would translate to my parents who only spoke Spanish. Now much older, I speak Spanish easily. However, I notice that I do make an error here and there when I speak and at times forget a word. (This even happens to me in English where my brain goes blank and forget a word in the moment)
I am making this post in reference to this question.
Language Fluency: I def am not a native speaker. I have a bit of an accent when I speak and people can tell I was not born in Mexico and it was not my native tongue.
However I am stuck between these two. (From ERAS)
Advanced:
"I speak very accurately, and I understand other speakers very accurately. Native speakers have no problem understanding me, but they probably perceive that I am not a native speaker. "
And
Good:
"I speak well enough to participate in most conversations. Native speakers notice some errors in my speech or my understanding, but my errors rarely cause misunderstanding. I have some difficulty communicating necessary health concepts."
I spoke to my sisters who are Native Spanish speakers (They speak perfectly without an accent). They told me I def fit into the advanced category. They understand me perfectly, don't misunderstand what I am saying, and understand health concepts I explain. I also have no issues understanding Spanish. I am practicing my medical Spanish but that is because I learned all medical terminology in English at Medical School. So many terms I am learning in English I am just relearning in Spanish but its quite simple now that I know what they mean. (Many of these terms, my mom doesn't even know since its medical Spanish)
However, I notice when I speak I at times make small errors. So at times I may mess up a conjugation after a long session of speaking. Or at times when using the incorrect article when speaking (some exceptions exist in Spanish). Extremely minor things, however I fear that if I put advanced, someone may try to speak to me in Spanish and think I am lying on my application to look better.
I was thinking of just putting good but my sister told me its *****ic because it would make me a weaker candidate and it isn't true since she really believes I fit into the advanced category.
What should I do? I just fear getting interviewed at a residency program in Spanish out of the blue and making a tiny error when speaking and being called a liar and lose a chance there.
Should I just play it safe and write good? Or would that be stupid since it can mess up my chances?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I have a quick question about selecting the language proficiency on ERAS.
Backstory:
I am a Mexican-American born in a Spanish speaking household. Both my Parents and sisters are from Mexico. I was born in the US, and spoke Spanish growing up. However, I initially spoke more English as a child because my sisters would translate to my parents who only spoke Spanish. Now much older, I speak Spanish easily. However, I notice that I do make an error here and there when I speak and at times forget a word. (This even happens to me in English where my brain goes blank and forget a word in the moment)
I am making this post in reference to this question.
Language Fluency: I def am not a native speaker. I have a bit of an accent when I speak and people can tell I was not born in Mexico and it was not my native tongue.
However I am stuck between these two. (From ERAS)
Advanced:
"I speak very accurately, and I understand other speakers very accurately. Native speakers have no problem understanding me, but they probably perceive that I am not a native speaker. "
And
Good:
"I speak well enough to participate in most conversations. Native speakers notice some errors in my speech or my understanding, but my errors rarely cause misunderstanding. I have some difficulty communicating necessary health concepts."
I spoke to my sisters who are Native Spanish speakers (They speak perfectly without an accent). They told me I def fit into the advanced category. They understand me perfectly, don't misunderstand what I am saying, and understand health concepts I explain. I also have no issues understanding Spanish. I am practicing my medical Spanish but that is because I learned all medical terminology in English at Medical School. So many terms I am learning in English I am just relearning in Spanish but its quite simple now that I know what they mean. (Many of these terms, my mom doesn't even know since its medical Spanish)
However, I notice when I speak I at times make small errors. So at times I may mess up a conjugation after a long session of speaking. Or at times when using the incorrect article when speaking (some exceptions exist in Spanish). Extremely minor things, however I fear that if I put advanced, someone may try to speak to me in Spanish and think I am lying on my application to look better.
I was thinking of just putting good but my sister told me its *****ic because it would make me a weaker candidate and it isn't true since she really believes I fit into the advanced category.
What should I do? I just fear getting interviewed at a residency program in Spanish out of the blue and making a tiny error when speaking and being called a liar and lose a chance there.
Should I just play it safe and write good? Or would that be stupid since it can mess up my chances?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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