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Medical Spanish for Heritage Learners 
Institution name: University of Texas Pan American
Address: 1201 W University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539
Telephone: (956) 665-3441
Extension:
Fax:
Web address: http://www.utpa.edu/medicalspanish
 
Name: Glenn Martinez
Title: Professor
Address: 1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg,  TX  78539
Email: utpamedspan@gmail.com
Telephone: (956) 665-3442
Extension:
Fax:
Purposes and goals of the program:
Medical Spanish for Heritage Learners is a unique academic minor program designed for undergraduate students pursuing a degree in the health sciences. The minor program seeks to build on heritage language skills through the development of a professional register of medical Spanish, translation and interpretation skills. It also builds cultural and sociolinguistic understanding of the health challenges faced by Spanish-speakers in the United States. The program integrates academic coursework with field experiences both at home and abroad that give students an opportunity to use medical Spanish skills for public health purposes.
Program origin:
The Medical Spanish for Heritage Learners program began in 2008 at the University of Texas Pan American. UTPA has a distinguished history of preparing highly qualified undergraduates for the medical professions. UTPA ranks seventh in the nation among undergraduate institutions in sending Latino students to medical school. The acceptance rate of UTPA applicants to medical school is 67%, exceeding the national average by nearly 40%. The Medical Spanish for Heritage Learners program was designed to prepare these future medical professionals to provide high quality service to Spanish-speaking patients.
Program funding:
The Medical Spanish for Heritage Learners program was generously funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education Comprehensive Program.
 
Languages/dialects taught:
  • Spanish
    •
    Program type:  Higher Education
    Average enrollment: 250
    Total contact hours per week: 3
    Times per week classes meet: 2
    When meetings take place:
    Regularly scheduled classes, local field trips on weekends, international field trips in the summer.
    Where meetings take place:
    University campus.
    Parents' or guardians' expectations of the program:
    Parents' or guardians' involvement in the program:
    Instructors' expectations of the program:
    Number of instructors in the program
    Full-time instructors: 1
    Part-time instructors: 3
    Volunteer instructors:
    Languages in which instructors are proficient:
    Spanish, English
    Educational backgrounds and credentials of instructors
    (e.g., diploma, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, certificate):
    PhD in Spanish MD MA in Spanish Master of Public Health Certified Medical Interpreter Credential
    Professional development opportunities instructors have:
    Professional development opportunities instructors need:
    Students' expectations of the program:
    Student background
    First-generation immigrants: 40%
    Second-generation immigrants: 50%
    Third-generation immigrants: 5%
    Children of interethnic marriages: 5%
    Children of interethnic adoption:
    Indigenous students:
    Others:
    Students' countries of origin:
    Students are mainly from Mexico
    How the program identifies heritage language speakers:
    Students self identify as heritage language speakers
    Average enrollment: 250
    Approximate percentage of students who complete the program: 80%
    Approximate percentage of students who continue to study the heritage language after completing the program: 20%
    Possible reasons that students continue to study the heritage language after completing the program:
    The demands of the majors in the health sciences normally prevent students from continuing to study Spanish. Upon graduation, most go on to medical or dental school or to graduate programs in the health sciences.
    Total contact hours per week: 3
    Times per week: 2
    Student grouping (e.g., proficiency level, grade, age):
    Language skills taught in the program (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, and listening):
    Reading, writing, speaking, listening, translation and interpretation
    Aspects of culture included in the program (e.g., history, literature, traditions):
    Literature, traditions, sociolinguistics
    Other content taught in the program:
    Public health and health communication
    Instructional methodologies used in the program:
    Communicative, content-based learning, and community based learning
    Levels of language proficiency reached by the end of the program (e.g., ACTFL proficiency levels, language tasks able to perform):
    ACTFL advanced high
    Textbooks:
    Manuals and workbooks:
    Self-designed materials:
    Films, videos, and DVDs:
    Music:
    Technology:
    Standardized tests used:
    Other assessments used:
    Connections with local schools or other organizations:
    Credit received from formal education system:
    Types of support received (e.g., financial, time from parents or volunteers):
    Additional support desired:
    Challenges faced by the program:
     
    Comments: