Would a second language be helpful?

[SalemK]

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I live in a state (CO) with large Spanish-speaking population, and it's vital that I go to med school in-state. I'm wondering if brushing up on my Spanish would be a plus when applying to med school (and residency later on).

I had five years of Spanish in high school and college, 20 years ago, and I can understand a good portion of conversations -- it's remembering how to conjugate irregular verbs, etc., that I've forgotten. The ER doc I shadow speaks fluent Spanish and it's immensely useful that he doesn't have to find a translator.

So I guess my questions are: 1. will anyone care if I'm fluent, and 2. if so, how should I go about improving my skills? I've already gotten some CDs to listen to while I commute to work. Should I take Spanish along with my prereqs when I go back in the fall?

 

[7starmantis]

I dont know that I would take Spanish courses during pre-reqs (just for money and time sake) but I think knowing Spanish would certainly be helpful. Can't see how it could hurt. I'm learning Spanish right now (trying) before starting because I live in Texas and its going to be needed. In fact a lot of TX med schools teach medical spanish during your first or second year.

 

[NTF]

Brushing up probably won't do anything unless somehow you can become conversationally fluent in that short time. Otherwise I'd just concentrate on your coursework. Your extra time would be better served (application-wise) getting as much face time with patients and physicians in clinical settings.

Plus, be very wary of overselling your language skills. You never know if your interviewer will just suddenly decide to do the rest of the interview in spanish.

But as a future physician and resident of the SW you'll definitely be well-served by pursuing the long-term goal of learning spanish.

 

[anavistas]

I hear everywhere that Spanish is very useful , I was wondering if knowing other languages like French or German, which are not spoken in US is considered an advantage for the sake of application to med-school ?

 

[J ROD]

I would def learn Spanish....if you can!!

 

[BPlaysItCool]

I hear everywhere that Spanish is very useful , I was wondering if knowing other languages like French or German, which are not spoken in US is considered an advantage for the sake of application to med-school ?

The utility of Spanish is in the large number of patients who speak it--some exclusively. Especially so in certain regions. Now beyond that it's very specific to where the medical school is located. In very specific situations I could see certain languages being very attractive skills--Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin--would be useful here in California.

French and German. No. Not useful at all. Well because let's see. Their economies are better or the same as ours. And therefore their emigration patterns are the random occasional professional or something like that. This is population service goals. Otherwise a boring EC, like the chess club or plays the guitar. etc.

 

[SalemK]

Thanks for the excellent advice, as always.

I think I'm going to do my utmost to improve my skills on my own. I have some time while I do my prereqs, plus I am surrounded by people I can practice with (my husband's family, our next-door neighbors, the MD and an RN where I volunteer). And I'm not starting from scratch -- I would never have called myself fluent, but I'd say I had a good grasp of conversational Spanish at one point.

I'll plan on getting a medical Spanish book and work on the terms that come up in patient interviews. And I bet it wouldn't be too hard to find additional volunteer opportunities where I could practice, too.

Lastly I'll make sure on my apps not to oversell my abilities. I just read some feedback from an applicant's U of Colorado interview where the interviewer conducted half the interview in Spanish because the applicant had described himself as fluent. Gahhh!

 

[njbmd]

If you are not otherwise qualified, a second language isn't going to put you into medical school. Spanish is useful but the majority of medical students are fine without it and get in without it. It's your overall competitiveness that is going to get you into medical school and not being able to speak a second language.

If you attend a university where mastery of a foreign language is required for graduation, then Spanish is useful but don't enroll in a Spanish course because you believe it will confer some advantage in application to medical school. Useful but not necessary by any stretch of the imagination unless you are going offshore.

 

[No Time To Lift]

What's the take on Russian? Would medical school really pay attention to that attribute or would it be one of those "oh that's nice" things?






I really wish I spoke Spanish though.

 

[Valvool]

Any second language on your app would help, but don't exaggerate your abilities. One of my interviewers conducted part of the interview in the second language I had listed on my application in order to test my proficiency.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I can't think of an instance in life where knowing a second lanuage wouldn't be helpful. If you've got the patients then do it. Heck, I'm always needing a Spanish translator.

 

[hasp]

I live in a state (CO) with large Spanish-speaking population, and it's vital that I go to med school in-state. I'm wondering if brushing up on my Spanish would be a plus when applying to med school (and residency later on).

I had five years of Spanish in high school and college, 20 years ago, and I can understand a good portion of conversations -- it's remembering how to conjugate irregular verbs, etc., that I've forgotten. The ER doc I shadow speaks fluent Spanish and it's immensely useful that he doesn't have to find a translator.

So I guess my questions are: 1. will anyone care if I'm fluent, and 2. if so, how should I go about improving my skills? I've already gotten some CDs to listen to while I commute to work. Should I take Spanish along with my prereqs when I go back in the fall?

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]When I came to Honduras 15 years ago it was not my intention to work in healthcare but there was such a need at the Community Clinic on the island that I now call home that it was hard not to volunteer. Where I settled was in Utila in the Islas de la Bahia (Bay Islands) and at that time all the healthcare care needs were in the hands of one Practical Nurse..


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Utila Community Clinic, like all of Honduras has definitely changed since then. At that time I could get by with very basic Spanish skills. Because of the ingression of Hondurans (especially after Hurricane Mitch) it is now not possible to work effectively without fluent Spanish..


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Also having learned Spanish has allowed me to volunteer in many areas of Honduras with Medical Brigades, at NGO clinics and even to obtain work on projects with the WHO/PAHO in Honduras and Costa Rica..


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]For me there is nothing as effective as living in the environment be it as a home-stay or with a program that focuses on teaching Medical Spanish. Your level of interaction and satisfaction in dealing competently with Latino patients and their families is the reward for the time and expense of spending time in a Spanish healthcare setting..