HomesteadSchools.com - Survival Spanish for Social Workers, Counselors, and MHPs

Course Outline

The nation’s Hispanic population increased 1.4 million to reach 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanics remained the largest minority group, with blacks (single race or multiracial) second at 40.7 million in 2007. With a 3.3 percent increase between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, Hispanics were the fastest-growing minority group.

Being Hispanic means a connection to the Spanish language, although in Latin America there is also a multiplicity of other languages spoken by various groups, e.g., the indigenous peoples. Each Latino group coming to the U.S. spoke Spanish, but each country has its particular way of speaking Spanish. The way the language is spoken varies according to class, regional, ethnic and racial differences within each country.

In working with Hispanic clients language can be such an obvious barrier, challenge, and point of identity that it can sometimes obscure other critical, more subtle aspects of cross-cultural understanding. There are certain cultural nuances or unwritten rules that govern social interactions. These unstated rules can impact the way in which individuals perceive, seek, and receive services. These essential cultural aspects can involve interactions as simple conversational gambits and spatial (physical space) relationships, along with larger institutional issues such as family visiting hours, patient education, and measuring individual responses to pain. Being aware of and understanding the cultural context for these interactions can be a tremendous asset to you as a mental health practitioner, and in your ability to deliver effective care.

If you’re a younger provider, even though you will be awarded respect as an authority figure, you should be more formal in your interactions with older Hispanic clients. Formality should not be taken to mean coldness or distance, but rather politeness. It is polite to address Hispanic adults as Señor (Mr.), Don (Sir), Señora (Mrs.), or Doña (Madam)
Even if you do not speak Spanish, greeting a person with “Buenos dias” (good morning) or “Buenas tardes” (good afternoon) suggests that you have respect for the Spanish language. These few words become an important cue to people about your positive attitudes towards them as too often Hispanics sense hostility and disdain for their limited use or lack of English. If you speak some Spanish, it is important to remember to always use the formal usted (you) until such time as the client explicitly suggests the use of the informal tú (you).
Encourage the asking of questions. Out of a sense of respeto (respect) many Hispanic clients tend to avoid disagreeing or expressing doubts to outsiders. They may even be reluctant to ask questions or admit they are confused about the purpose of the meeting. Associated with this is a cultural taboo against expressing negative feelings directly. This taboo may manifest itself in a client’s withholding information, not following instructions, or terminating direct contact.

Learning Objectives

1.	Converse in introductory Spanish with your clients.
2.	Become familiar with unique aspects of Spanish culture.
3.	Interview victims of child abuse.
4.	Distinguish between leading and non-leading questions.
5.	Interview victims of domestic voiolence.
6.	Discuss with a victim of domestic voilence various forms of abuse, such as physical, sexual, psychological, economic, etc.

Course Contents


1	Introduction to Spanish
		Spanish Alphabet
		Spanish Pronunciation and Syllable Division
		The Number 1 to 21
		Ordinal Numbers
		Days of the Week
		Months of the Week
		Seasons of the Year
		The Family (La Familia)
		Adjectives
		Grammar Notes
		Important Expressions (Expresiones Importantes)
		Greetings
		Expression of Time
		Hygiene Supplies
		Antonyms
		Body Parts – Partes Del Cuerpo
2	Numbers
		Numeros - Numbers From 0 to 99
		Numbers From 100 to 1999
		Cien, Ciento
		Arithmetical Expressions
3	Days, Months, Dates, Seasons
		Los Meses del Año
		La Fecha
		Las Estaciones del Año
4	Clock Time
		Hora del Reloj
		“A Quarter Past” and “Half Past”
		Expressing Minutes After the Hour
		Expressing Time Past the Half-Hour
		Expressing “A.M.”and “P.M.” in Spanish
		“At” + Time of Day
		Other Time Expressions
5	Adjectives
		Agreement of Adjectives
		Adjectives That Follow the Noun
		Adjectives That Generally Precede the Noun
		Adjectives That Precede the Noun
		Adjectives That May Precede or Follow the Noun
6	Estar, Ser
		Estar
		Estar, Ser
		Ser
7	Important Expressions>
		Expresiones Importantes
8	Hispanic Culture
		Hispanization
		Religious Diversity
		Population Information
		Names
		Family Structures
		Communication and Social Interaction
		Time Orientation
		Health Beliefs and Practices
		Health Promotion, Prevention, and Treatment
		Health Status
		Behavioral Health Risk Factors
		Health Screening
		Maternal and Child Health
		Diet and Food Practices
		The Hispanic Family
		Summary
9	Interviewing Victims of Child Abuse
		Protocol for Interviewing Victims Child Abuse by Video Tape
		Leading and Nonleading Questions
		Continuum of Questions from Open Ended to Close Ended
10	Child Sexual Abuse Interview: More Questions
		The Interview Process
			Focused Questions
			Multiple-Choice Questions
			Yes-No Questions
			Strategic Use of Questions
11	Strategies For Interviewing Domestic Violence Clients
		Interview Process
		Discussing Abuse
			Physical Abuse
			Sexual Abuse
			Psychological Abuse
			Economic Abuse
			Other Issues
			Interviewing the Child

Comments

"Studied off-on at my leisure. Enjoyed and did read all the contents. Excellent home study! Will continue to do again, learned a lot!" - M.P., Monrovia, CA

"This course was one of the best I have ever taken. The format was excellent. I really enjoyed and learned from this course." - M.P., Newark, CA

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