Spanish Acquisition Begets Enhanced Service (S.A.B.E.S.): A Beginning-Level Medical Spanish Curriculum

Abstract

Abstract As the Hispanic and Latino population in the United States grows, the demand for Spanish-speaking medical providers rises. Medical trainees have increasingly recognized this need; student interest in Spanish-language education during medical school has grown, especially at institutions serving a large Spanish-speaking patient demographic. This 24-week beginning-level medical Spanish curriculum outlines a student-run, multifaceted, experience-based curriculum model intended to provide first- and second-year medical students with a rapidly acquired, functional command of the Spanish language applicable to a clinical setting. The enclosed curriculum contains a comprehensive instructor's guide, a comprehensive beginning-level student textbook, a series of interactive practice cases, and answer keys to the practice exercises and quizzes contained within the textbook. The instructor's guide provides a step-by-step manual outlining the development of a medical Spanish course, complete lesson plans spanning the 24-week course duration, and strategies for modifying the course to meet the needs of various institutions and learner groups. To our knowledge, this curriculum is unique in that it is student-run and utilizes an interactive, multifaceted teaching approach. The curriculum has been successfully implemented at the University of Colorado Denver, the results of which were presented at the Association of American Medical Colleges' Western Group on Student Affairs and Western Group on Educational Affairs annual meetings.

Keywords

• Health Equity Research
• Curriculum
• Spanish Language
• Student-Run