There can be little doubt that learning Spanish is a necessity for all those involved in the health care profession. Often caring for patients is a matter of effective communication. This means that if you can’t communicate with your patients, important factors about their illnesses, concerns and issues may very well not be addressed. In just a few years, the United States will have the second largest Spanish speaking population in the world. In fact, only Mexico will have more Spanish speakers. These statistics have obvious implications for all American health care workers.

Hospital administrators are quickly realizing that they must have their organizations prepared for this new and emerging reality. More and more, hospitals are requiring their staff to speak some Spanish. This type of requirement is increasing common for health care workers who are working in the emergency room. The logic behind this push to have health care workers speak Spanish is pretty clear. Imagine you are working in an emergency room and you have a seriously injured accident victim arrive who only speaks Spanish. Not being able to effectively communicate could quite literally be the difference between life and death.

There are a few ways one can go about learning Spanish, such as taking Spanish night classes, for example. However, this option does come with some pretty substantial drawbacks for many people. The time frame for learning Spanish through your typical Spanish class can be rather slow. This is especially true if you are trying to take Spanish on the side while working full time. Immersion programs have long been popular for those looking to learn a foreign language. The pace can be fast and intense, but so are the results. Those who need to learn Spanish quickly will be well served in considering such a program. Such programs at Spanish schools are a solution for health care workers who are looking to learn the language quickly.

Many people looking to learn Spanish are opting for these types of Spanish immersion programs. Besides learning the language, cultural experiences and activities are an integral part of the course. Such programs are offered in a variety of countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile or Peru. While Mexico is convenient for North Americans, recent events and security concerns cause many to look further. For example, Mexico’s current crime wave is a sad fact of life. This factor unfortunately makes Mexico less than an ideal spot for traveling students. Due to this factor, many people choosing to learn Spanish abroad are opting for other countries.

Further down in South America, Argentina, Chile and Peru tend to be far safer than Mexico and can be the ideal choice for health care workers. Visiting Inca ruins in Peru or dancing tango in Buenos Aires will surely be remembered. The cultural perks that go along with an immersion program as you learn Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru make your trip most memorable.

In fact, some study abroad programs even have programs specifically designed to tackle the specific needs of health care workers who are learning Spanish. With a little investigation you can learn Spanish abroad while also conducting role-playing and clinical shadowing. Some study abroad programs also offer instruction geared towards health care workers like the teaching of medical terminology in Spanish. In the case of clinical shadowing, students are assigned to a doctor or nurse and then follow them as they work with a country’s health care system. There are even Spanish immersion programs that allow health care workers to reach out to the community through the means of heath fairs, which provide much needed tests and screenings to impoverished locals in South American.

One recent American student, Lori Hendrickson from Milwaukee, studied Spanish abroad and shadowed in a public health hospital in Buenos Aires. As she was already a nurse, she was able to practice her newly learned Spanish medical terminology with real patients. Hendrickson stated that, “the friendly staff in the E.R. and Obstetrics Unit not only allowed me to participate in direct patient care, but also gave me great insight into the structure of the Argentine health care system.”Latin Immersion provides clinical shadowing programs at its Spanish language schools in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. For more information => http://www.latinimmersion.com/medical-spanish.html



Have you long wanted to learn Spanish but can’t fit it into your busy life? Now might be an opportune time to consider a career break. Many people do not realize how possible it is to learn Spanish in Chile, for example, at one of the country’s Spanish schools. One of the great aspects of these programs is that there are no set time periods. Additionally, Spanish schools can last from a couple of weeks to up to six months. Therefore, there is some flexibility as to how to fit your career break into your schedule.

The bottom line is that there has probably never been a better time to go and acquire new skills for a resume. With high unemployment and a bleak job market, a few months in Latin America learning Spanish and interning can certainly make resumes stand out from the crowd. Besides working an internship or volunteering can also give you a new perspective and time to access goals from afar.

Spanish immersion schools take place world-class cities such as Buenos Aires and Santiago. There is also a great deal of fun to be had in these locations as well. Those in Spanish immersion schools are able to do things like go snowboarding in the Andes Mountains while in Santiago or learn the tango in Argentina. Spending a few months in South America visiting and learning in these three countries will definitely change your perspective and will likely even alter your perceptions about what it is you “need” to have in your life to be happy.

With a very low cost of living, the dollar goes far in South America. Visitors are always happy to ride the Buenos Aires subway for a mere 30 cents. But that is only the tip of the cost savings iceberg, as you generally won’t need a car. An added plus is that Internet cafes are everywhere. All of these factors add up to make it so a person can learn Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru without having to spend a lot of money in the process.

The experience of a new culture brings benefits far beyond the classroom. While you attend Spanish immersion schools, it is possible to live with a local host family, which is a great way to experience the culture. Further, you will have wonderful experiences with your classmates as you learn Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru. Students from around globe attend these international programs. This gives students the experience to spend a great deal of time with people from other countries. Meeting people from all over the world can be very beneficial to those on a career break who are looking for new perspectives.

As Ann Glotzbach former Spanish immersion student from New York City stated, “I would highly recommend the school to anyone who is seeking an enriching, comprehensive and fun language learning experience. Each school offered engaging professors, well organized teaching materials…and diverse and dynamic classmates.” Anyone looking for a way to boost their resume and broaden their horizons would be well served by studying Spanish in South America in a Spanish immersion program. Who knows? You might even stay in South America and open up a business or become an English teacher. One thing is for sure, after taking a career break to learn Spanish in Argentina. Chile or Peru, you will have new options and new perspectives.ECELA operates Spanish language schools in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. More details are at => http://www.ecela.com



Have you long wanted to learn Spanish but can’t fit it into your busy life? Now might be an opportune time to consider a career break. Many people do not realize how possible it is to learn Spanish in Chile, for example, at one of the country’s Spanish schools. One of the great aspects of these programs is that there are no set time periods. Additionally, Spanish schools can last from a couple of weeks to up to six months. Therefore, there is some flexibility as to how to fit your career break into your schedule.

The bottom line is that there has probably never been a better time to go and acquire new skills for a resume. With high unemployment and a bleak job market, a few months in Latin America learning Spanish and interning can certainly make resumes stand out from the crowd. Besides working an internship or volunteering can also give you a new perspective and time to access goals from afar.

Spanish immersion schools take place world-class cities such as Buenos Aires and Santiago. There is also a great deal of fun to be had in these locations as well. Those in Spanish immersion schools are able to do things like go snowboarding in the Andes Mountains while in Santiago or learn the tango in Argentina. Spending a few months in South America visiting and learning in these three countries will definitely change your perspective and will likely even alter your perceptions about what it is you “need” to have in your life to be happy.

With a very low cost of living, the dollar goes far in South America. Visitors are always happy to ride the Buenos Aires subway for a mere 30 cents. But that is only the tip of the cost savings iceberg, as you generally won’t need a car. An added plus is that Internet cafes are everywhere. All of these factors add up to make it so a person can learn Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru without having to spend a lot of money in the process.

The experience of a new culture brings benefits far beyond the classroom. While you attend Spanish immersion schools, it is possible to live with a local host family, which is a great way to experience the culture. Further, you will have wonderful experiences with your classmates as you learn Spanish in Argentina, Chile or Peru. Students from around globe attend these international programs. This gives students the experience to spend a great deal of time with people from other countries. Meeting people from all over the world can be very beneficial to those on a career break who are looking for new perspectives.

As Ann Glotzbach former Spanish immersion student from New York City stated, “I would highly recommend the school to anyone who is seeking an enriching, comprehensive and fun language learning experience. Each school offered engaging professors, well organized teaching materials…and diverse and dynamic classmates.” Anyone looking for a way to boost their resume and broaden their horizons would be well served by studying Spanish in South America in a Spanish immersion program. Who knows? You might even stay in South America and open up a business or become an English teacher. One thing is for sure, after taking a career break to learn Spanish in Argentina. Chile or Peru, you will have new options and new perspectives.ECELA operates Spanish language schools in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. More details are at => http://www.ecela.com



Savvy college grads have really begun to see their bridge year, the year after graduation but before work begins, as a great time to enhance the resume. If you can increase your fluency in a foreign language and gain some valuable work experience at the same time, you really cannot go wrong. When you start applying for jobs you really want to stand out from the crowd, and this kind of experience can give you the edge.

Increasingly, people are seeing real benefit by attending Spanish schools in South America. If you are looking to learn Spanish quickly, you can definitely benefit from choosing to study Spanish abroad. Spanish schools in South America are an immersion experience and provide their students with a great deal of cultural exposure. These are world-class opportunities that you are unlikely to find elsewhere.

Soon America will be home to more Spanish speakers than anywhere in the world other than Mexico. With the trend toward multilingual population, an ability to speak fluent Spanish will become increasingly important in the workplace. Additional benefits of spending one’s bridge year at Spanish schools in South America include networking opportunities. In today’s competitive job market any advantage can be a big advantage.

There are organizations available that specialize in bridge year programs geared towards students looking to study Spanish abroad. Such programs include a 16 week adventure in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Yet, it is not all studying and course work in Spanish schools in South America. These beautiful countries, of course, have a considerable amount to offer in culture rich activities and just good old-fashion fun. Tango dancing in Buenos Aires is only the tip of what you can do in this fast-paced cosmopolitan city. Likewise, Chile is loaded with natural wonders to explore and such fun activities as wine tasting, which will never get old.

When you are choosing a Spanish school in South America be sure to find one that seeks to make sure that students have amazing travel experiences while they study Spanish abroad. As Jerry Wang of Texas expressed, “The social component of the trip is the best part of the whole experience. In 5 months, I’ve met about 200 people, ranging from 19-65 yrs old. There were students, pilots, dean’s of universities, teachers, VPs of companies, small business owners, tons of lawyers, etc. from all over the world. The relationships I’ve built are lifelong and we continue to keep in touch.”

Another important factor to look for in Spanish language schools in South America is whether or not internships are offered. The bridge year is the opportune time to boost the resume with an internship. Internships in South America can vary considerably. They can range from marketing internships to internships in social work to everything in between. You could find a six-month program where three months are spent learning Spanish and three months are spent working on an internship. Generally, programs begin in mid-June and end in mid-December. If you can gain an internship experience and Spanish fluency, your time abroad can provide lifelong dividends.

While it is true that the internships don’t come with any pay, the upside is that the cost of living is very low in Peru, Argentina and Chile when compared to the cost of living in the United States. You will have no need for a car while other expenses such as housing, food and expenses such as nights out are a fraction of what they are in the States.

Approaching your bridge year, as a time to increase your r