Intensive Spanish in Argentina
Immerse yourself in “castellano”, the official language of the Argentines. Learn how to chat with the locals as well as communicate with doctors, nurses and patients in basic medical Spanish.
This is an amazing opportunity to develop your language skills with a course designed to complement your healthcare elective or placement experience. In a group of up to four people you will spend a week working on your grasp of Spanish, learning how to communicate with locals before progressing to key words and phrases that you will hear on your clinical placement. Understanding what healthcare staff and patients are talking about allows you to get fully involved in patient care, which will help you get the most out of your placement experience.
The Spanish Course
Your course is run by a specialist intensive Spanish teacher at the Work the World house at the beginning of your time in Mendoza. Lessons take place in small groups of up to four housemates and you will be assessed on day one to make sure your teacher knows what level of Spanish you currently have. It is recommended that you study as much as possible before you leave as this gives your teacher the opportunity to create more detailed lessons for you, maximising your skills before you start at the hospital.
Your course is split into theory and practical sessions. Mornings are spent in the Work the World classroom, building on your vocabulary, learning grammar and sentence structure, as well as taking part in group exercises. As the week progresses you will begin to focus on key phrases and terms tailored specifically to your healthcare placement. You will find this essential once you start at the hospital as most doctors, dentists, physio’s, midwives, nurses and patients do not speak English.
Your teacher will join you for lunch and then during the afternoon will take you into Mendoza to help you use your Spanish in practical scenarios. This is a great chance to practice your conversational and listening skills, as well as get to know the area. You will visit local markets, trek in the nearby mountains, take a tango class and enjoy a wine tour around Mendoza’s famous vineyards. Chatting to locals, looking at street signs and hearing and seeing Spanish in context will bring your language skills on dramatically.
Benefits
It is essential for anyone taking part in the Argentina programme to have intermediate Spanish before they start at the hospital and the best way to develop your vocabulary and conversational skills quickly is to learn in-country. With small groups and a teacher who can tailor classes to your level and elective needs, the Work the World course is the best and most cost-effective preparation for your placement.
For students that are not able to fit this additional week into their placement time, a more intensive course in the UK is definitely recommended. Unfortunately very few will focus this specifically on medical terminology, or provide a tailored course at such a low price. If you can stay in Argentina a week longer, it really is worth it.
