spanish- worth it?

[argonaute]

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I have never taken spanish in my life, but would it be worth it to take it? I know spanish is becoming more and more important for doctors, but would it help me enough to justify the effort of taking it? (I would have to take at least 3 semesters, 5 units a semester, to count towards any kind of major breadth requirements.)

Or the better question, would not taking spanish or any other foreign language be a major detriment to my ability to get accepted into medical school and become a doctor?

 

[sarahg]

My opinion is that you can learn more speaking and listening ability in a month abroad than you can in a year at home, especially if you spend time at a Spanish immersion school. It doesn't even have to be accredited, just be run like a responsible business and have native teachers. Look for recommendations in travel guides. You can spend two weeks at one in the cheaper countries (Nicaragua, etc) for around $400, accommodations and activities included. It'll be around double for countries like Costa Rica and in South America, and probably more in Spain.

I'm not sure whether adcoms share my opinion -- for all I know claiming you are fluent doesn't matter a bit and they want to see coursework. You'll need coursework to learn to read and write the language but I think that's secondary to understanding and speaking in a medical setting. I do think it's worth learning if you want to apply in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, etc. Especially if wanting to work with the underserved will be a part of your application -- in some areas I think people will find it odd if you claim you want to treat the underserved but you haven't bothered to learn Spanish. In my opinion, the best options for learning would be 1) Coursework and spanish school abroad, then 2) spanish school abroad only, and finally 3) coursework only.

 

[argonaute]

My opinion is that you can learn more speaking and listening ability in a month abroad than you can in a year at home, especially if you spend time at a Spanish immersion school. It doesn't even have to be accredited, just be run like a responsible business and have native teachers. Look for recommendations in travel guides. You can spend two weeks at one in the cheaper countries (Nicaragua, etc) for around $400, accommodations and activities included. It'll be around double for countries like Costa Rica and in South America, and probably more in Spain.

I'm not sure whether adcoms share my opinion -- for all I know claiming you are fluent doesn't matter a bit and they want to see coursework. You'll need coursework to learn to read and write the language but I think that's secondary to understanding and speaking in a medical setting. I do think it's worth learning if you want to apply in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, etc. Especially if wanting to work with the underserved will be a part of your application -- in some areas I think people will find it odd if you claim you want to treat the underserved but you haven't bothered to learn Spanish. In my opinion, the best options for learning would be 1) Coursework and spanish school abroad, then 2) spanish school abroad only, and finally 3) coursework only.

thanks for your insight.

right now, my primary interests really have been research and academics. I'm hoping to get started in volunteering and helping out in the community, but I don't really see myself dedicating an entire semester to study/volunteer abroad.

Unfortunately, I'm chinese, and I go to berkeley (definitely not unique in that aspect.) California schools are probably my most likely prospect, and
so I forsee that not knowing spanish may start to become a major detriment.

I really hate to be like the premeds who are doing things 'just to get into medical school', and I get the feeling that if i did spanish that would be what I was trying to do. Maybe it would be worth it if knowing spanish significantly boosted my application...so

would it be a significant boost to my application?

 

[Brent8927]

I think learning Spanish is extremely helpful as a physician, but I wouldn't learn it unless you think you would like to work with the Spanish-speaking community. It takes a lot of work to learn a language fluently enough to feel comfortable to use it in a medical setting, where minor misunderstandings can have large ramifications.

I agree with the previous poster that you can probably learn Spanish much better by living abroad. I took a year of Spanish and worked at a clinic that served the Spanish-speaking Day Laborer population in Oakland, CA, but my Spanish is still extremely limited. Being immersed in a language is generally what linguists (and professors) regard as the best way to learn a language.

I doubt not taking a foreign language will hurt your chances. But, it certainly helps, and Spanish is a great language to learn (esp. in the US).

Personally, I wish I had taken Chinese or Arabic, or another language that is really different. Spanish is definitely the most useful language to know (and FYI, my interviewers did point out my coursework in Spanish), but considering I hardly speak/remember enough Spanish to ask "where is the bathroom?" I probably would have benefited more by learning a language that would have really made my mind think differently. To me, a language where you read right to left and have characters would have been a really interesting learning opportunity.

 

[devilpup]

thanks for your insight.

right now, my primary interests really have been research and academics. I'm hoping to get started in volunteering and helping out in the community, but I don't really see myself dedicating an entire semester to study/volunteer abroad.

Unfortunately, I'm chinese, and I go to berkeley (definitely not unique in that aspect.) California schools are probably my most likely prospect, and
so I forsee that not knowing spanish may start to become a major detriment.

I really hate to be like the premeds who are doing things 'just to get into medical school', and I get the feeling that if i did spanish that would be what I was trying to do. Maybe it would be worth it if knowing spanish significantly boosted my application...so

would it be a significant boost to my application?

If you're thinking Cali, then learning Spanish will give you a huge advantage when doing clinical work. An important point to remember is that one does not have to take university level courses to learn Spanish. Simply being exposed and interacting with Spanish speaking individuals can help you in attaining your goal; one simply has to be willing to take the initiative. This is how several of my 'gringo' friends learned... The idea is to be able to carry a meaningful conversation with a patient, and not necessarily write/speak formal Spanish like a Hispanic native--which is what a formal course aims to do.

In regards to whether speaking Spanish will make you a 'better candidate'...I would say it does not matter. If you wish to learn Spanish, do it because it will help you better communicate with a large population base, rather than because it will give help with your acceptance to a top school. Focus on the basics.

 

[Lauren87]

I think taking a foreign language definitely affects your chances of getting into medical school. I thought school's wanted you to achieve at least an intermediate level in a foreign language (200-level)? I may be wrong. I took Spanish up to 202. However, taking a foreign language class is not the same as learning a foreign language because I cannot speak Spanish to save my life. It's all about your teacher and how much you study, because you can pass Spanish classes with As without knowing much. Also, they say you're never really fluent until you go to a Spanish speaking country anyway. However, if you go up to advanced Spanish I think you'd be able to speak something.

 

[Handinhand]

I took two years freshman/sophomore and although I can sit down and talk with someone, it's still very limited. Also, the hardest part I find with Spanish is talking to native South American speakers who speak VERY rapidly. You really have to train your ear to pick up the words being spoken by a true native speaker.

 

[vickpick]

it will in no way boost your application, unless u will be able speak spanish sort of fluently at the end of the coursework...

 

[Thama]

How to become fluent in Spanish:

Take classes here for a while, at least a semester, preferably a year. Get comfortable with the grammar and basic vocabulary. You'll still be hopelessly lost in actual conversation with a native after that time, but you need the foundation in place first.

Spend at least a year in a Spanish-speaking country, or living in a Latino neighborhood in SoCal/Texas/Miami. Total immersion for a month won't do much more than let you feel good about barely beginning to understand a native speaker going at full speed, and coming up with a standard response. You need to be speaking nothing but Spanish for 8 months to a year to really get good. When you can't find a word you need, write it down (keep a pen and pad of paper with you). Look it up when you get home.

Once you get back, find as many Spanish-speaking friends as you can. When around them, speak nothing but Spanish. A Spanish-speaking significant other is also a really good idea.

 

[LizzyM]

Even if you can speak well after 2 years of classroom Spanish (rather unlikely), the type of communication necessary in a clinical situtation is a different ball of wax.

You'd be far better off concentrating on getting some clinical experience in addition to your research and academic acheivement.

 

[Excelsius]

Even if you can speak well after 2 years of classroom Spanish (rather unlikely), the type of communication necessary in a clinical situtation is a different ball of wax.

You'd be far better off concentrating on getting some clinical experience in addition to your research and academic acheivement.

But what about CA schools? For example, UCLA says that Spanish is "strongly recommended." Wouldn't it be very helpful then?

 

[LizzyM]

But what about CA schools? For example, UCLA says that Spanish is "strongly recommended." Wouldn't it be very helpful then?

Well, if they want to see it on the transcript, and you are interested in that school, then it might make sense to take the coursework even if it doesn't have much usefulness in "real life".

I agree with Thama that 8-12 mos in total immersion can do the world of good in terms of developing fluency. However, I'm not sure that a year of classroom is necessary, particularly if you've had some basic grammar in a similar language (French, Portugese, Italian). I went to a Spanish speaking country in South America for a year after 2 years of classroom French and I was fluent within 9 months although I didn't have the vocabulary to read novels or discuss the fine points of cancer therapy.

 

[Thama]

However, I'm not sure that a year of classroom is necessary, particularly if you've had some basic grammar in a similar language (French, Portugese, Italian). I went to a Spanish speaking country in South America for a year after 2 years of classroom French and I was fluent within 9 months although I didn't have the vocabulary to read novels or discuss the fine points of cancer therapy.

Starting from scratch (no romance language education), I think someone could learn most of the basic grammar and the essential vocabulary in a few months, if they had several hours per day to study. Most people don't dedicate that kind of time to the classroom, though, and don't have several years of a similar language to fall back on.

 

[charlie murphy]

i believe being able to speak both spanish/english fluently will boost you application anyway, not just medschool.

 

[Hiroshi]

So I have a question.

I really want to learn Japanese in college just for myself. I've taken Spanish all through middle school and high school, but should I continue it in college or take Japanese? Or should I take both? (Or would that be too many credits going to foreign language - thus not leaving room for other classes?)

 

[Rendar5]

So I have a question.

I really want to learn Japanese in college just for myself. I've taken Spanish all through middle school and high school, but should I continue it in college or take Japanese? Or should I take both? (Or would that be too many credits going to foreign language - thus not leaving room for other classes?)

Do it if you want to. But if you're anything like me, if you stop spanish and do japanese, you'll forget your spanish and be able to speak japanese modestly after a couple years. Then you'll get to medical school, relearn spanish, get maybe a month of immersion, force yourself to speak spanish with your patients (i can do it enough to do a full H&P with the vast majority of my patients), then realize you can't converse in japanese anymore because you have no one to talk with. That said, if you want to, take both. The only thing you need room in ur schedule for is ur pre-reqs. If you wanna spend the rest of ur time on learning 2 languages go for it. if you wanna do other stff, just commit one class to another language. BTW, I don't regret spending 2.5 years on Japanese classes at all. It was a blast.

 

[Hiroshi]

Do it if you want to. But if you're anything like me, if you stop spanish and do japanese, you'll forget your spanish and be able to speak japanese modestly after a couple years. Then you'll get to medical school, relearn spanish, get maybe a month of immersion, force yourself to speak spanish with your patients (i can do it enough to do a full H&P with the vast majority of my patients), then realize you can't converse in japanese anymore because you have no one to talk with. That said, if you want to, take both. The only thing you need room in ur schedule for is ur pre-reqs. If you wanna spend the rest of ur time on learning 2 languages go for it. if you wanna do other stff, just commit one class to another language. BTW, I don't regret spending 2.5 years on Japanese classes at all. It was a blast.

Hmm. I guess I'll go with one language. Seems like you're suggesting Japanese. One last question though, so it wouldn't hurt my application if I didn't take Spanish?

 

[maymee3]

How to become fluent in Spanish:

Take classes here for a while, at least a semester, preferably a year. Get comfortable with the grammar and basic vocabulary. You'll still be hopelessly lost in actual conversation with a native after that time, but you need the foundation in place first.

Spend at least a year in a Spanish-speaking country, or living in a Latino neighborhood in SoCal/Texas/Miami. Total immersion for a month won't do much more than let you feel good about barely beginning to understand a native speaker going at full speed, and coming up with a standard response. You need to be speaking nothing but Spanish for 8 months to a year to really get good. When you can't find a word you need, write it down (keep a pen and pad of paper with you). Look it up when you get home.

Once you get back, find as many Spanish-speaking friends as you can. When around them, speak nothing but Spanish. A Spanish-speaking significant other is also a really good idea.

Props to that! I have been working on my fluency since the seventh grade (I'm now 23) with 2, 6 month breaks of no classes. I studied abroad in Spain and would highly recommend traveling to a foreign country to learn the language. However, I would NOT suggest traveling without knowing anything. I think it would be overwhelming and frustrating. I think the point is, depending on how fantanstic your language-absorbing abilities are, it is a little late to start now if you are just doing it to boost your app b/c schools who care about language want people who are fluent/near fluent. In my epxerience applying this year, the Cali, CO, and NY schools were very interested in being able to speak Spanish (I'm sure there's more that I didn't apply to like TX, NM, and AZ). If you have only taken a few classes or have only been working on it for a short amount of time I don't think they would really factor that into your app. That being said, if you truly want to be able to learn the language for career purposes, I say crack open the books, travel somewhere, and get a conversation buddy. I have never once regretted pursuing the language and have several friends entering med school who are just starting to learn. You can always find ways to get better, and if you figure you will be practicing medicine 20 years from now, that's 20 years of Spanish you could have under your belt. I have had several jobs in health care, and even more jobs not in health care, and I have used it in every single job. It is a truly rewarding feeling to know you made a patient's life easier just from being able to communicate with them in the language that is most comfortable for them.

It is definitely a challenge and something that requires a great deal of dedication. Just because you learn something and think you will know forever doesn't mean you don't have to continue to practice. I find myself still loosing vocab just because there are words and verb forms I don't use often. I try to review vocab, take refresher courses, and use it with my friends and patients that speak it. Good luck whatever you decide!

From a previous post, Arabic would be awesome to learn! Although learning a language with different symbols for letters would be extremely challenging...

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

YES to maymee..

as a hispanohablante, my opinion is that one should study a language that they can get at least a bit of experience practicing, somewhat frequently. If you don't you will lose lots of vocabulary over time.

Re: living abroad -- yes, if you have the time and the money. I've had (years ago when I was more fluent) people ask what part of South America I was from. I've never lived abroad, have traveled sparsely to spanish speaking countries. It is not required. But in any major city, just about any neighborhood will have spanish speakers -- practice with them and you'll keep up the skills.

Re: clinical spanish versus conversational -- yes they are different, but I've had very positive experiences speaking w/hospital patients in spanish, even if I don't know every body part. Learn a few new ones every time - dolor = pain. tiene dolor aqui = does it hurt here (and then point to a body part). This stuff is appreciated by patients -- you're trying to understand THEM in their own language. Don't need to learn the atria and ventricles' technical names in spanish to be effective here.

 

[Rendar5]

Hmm. I guess I'll go with one language. Seems like you're suggesting Japanese. One last question though, so it wouldn't hurt my application if I didn't take Spanish?

Spanish might help your application a bit, but then again just knowing that you ahve enough spanish to get by may help, although the only way to do that honestly is to spend time in a spanish-speaking country speaking spanish. But think of it this way, how many people can put down Japanese on their application🙂 Then you may get to talk about why you took it on your interviews. Honestly, in the end, you want to do as much as you can at college that you love and won't get to experience again. Just do all the neccesary's for med school (volunteering/shadowing, an EC that you're very into, pre-req classes, and possibly some research), and then just do everything you want to do and not what you think would look good.

Besdies, you can always take medical spanish and do immersion programs when you're in med school.

 

[Perrotfish]

This is the Spanish immersion school I used, if you want something a little less clinical and a little more fun than the program the previous poster linked. If you spend a semester there you can get pretty darned fluent in a hurry.

BTW classes in the US are just about useless, or at least they were for me. Of the few hundred kids I met in the program I had just linked most had taken at least a little Spanish at home, and good percentage had more than 3 years. Out of all of them, I met one person who had any real ability to communicate because of her effort (she had studied for a year and was somehow completely fluent, natural poloyglot I guess). For everyone else, though, HS/college Spanish was VERY low yield.

 

[nick_carraway]

I agree that basic conversational Spanish will not help in an interpreting situation. You'll end up much better at reading than speaking/listening even after three years. Sure comes in handy for ordering pupusas and horchata from the local Salvadoran joint, though.

 

[med17]

i am going in as a undergrad freshman and the policy is that if you have at least 3 years of a foreign language with a C or better for all three years in high school, you are exempt from the foreign language requirement...

i have had four years of honors level and above spanish and have gotten As all four years...so I would be exempt from the language requirement...

however, i can still take more classes in college.

i will definently be studying in med school in the northeast...so I am wondering as to what my best bet is regarding spanish in college...

as another side to the issue: i do want to go to germany or somewhere in Western Europe to do study abroad and do some research, and for that reason I was wondering as to whether I should start learning another language instead...

...or not do foreign language at all...?

please guide me!

thanks 🙂

 

[apumic]

This is totally an n=1 case, but when I studied abroad, one of the most fluent girls taking courses that summer had actually learned all of her Spanish in a single year in San Diego. She took a 12-month immersion intensive there (I believe it was at UCSD). Obviously, her case is unusual but said she had had minimal exposure prior to the class and when she took the placement exam we all had to take, she placed as a level 8 (8th semester Spanish; for reference, the school requires students to be or place in a level 5+ course to take regular courses w/ the students there). I also heard the girl speak Spanish w/ natives and it was near-native; however, I doubt most people achieve those results. My Spanish after a few months abroad and then having a bilingual gf is strong enough that I've used it at work when communicating w/ patients' families but it's also meant falling on my face plenty of times. I do think there is some value, though, in meeting Spanish speakers halfway w/ your Spanish, as many will become

 

[longhorn09]

It's def. worth it!

 

[apumic]

...less embarrassed about their own English skills as you make (minor) mistakes in their language. As a result, your humility may actually be therapeutic in some ways and foster their growth in English. Of course, you still need to be able to communicate medical concepts well enough -- esp if they dont speak any English at all!