Spanish for Social Service Professionals/Providers

3 units

Spanish for Social Work Professionals/Providers course focuses on developing intermediate oral/ writing/listening/comprehension Spanish language skills to increase the social service professional/provider's language competence with the goal to communicate with Hispanic clients in the context of social service fields, such as social work, occupational therapy, public health, and not-for-profit community service. The course will develop Spanish skills and terminology to conduct client interviews, children/youth/family counseling, socio-economic development services and programs, environmental and health education, resource managements, drug/alcohol dependency and domestic violence counseling, caregiving for the elderly and persons with disabilities, physical and mental health. The course examines, as well, topics to develop cultural proficiency, such as values, beliefs, cultural identity, gender, social class, and ethnic/national diversity affecting behavior and social interaction in Hispanic culture. The class will host Social Service Professionals who work with the local Hispanic community to talk about cultural proficiency and differences treating Hispanic and American clients. As part of the class, students will study videotaped interviews in Spanish, do role-playing activities, and listen to recorded professional interviews in Spanish. Prereq: Basic level of Spanish (high school Spanish) or an oral/written language assessment with the instructor is required to take this course.