Spanish an Essential Skill for Future Employment

Texan doctors are the latest professionals to enroll in Spanish language programmes to improve the service they give to patients. The demand for medics who can speak to patients in their own language is increasing in the region, where a large percentage of the population is Spanish-speaking.

Many families have to rely on interpreters, who are expensive for both the hospitals and the patients. By studying the Spanish language and culture the doctors hope to better understand the needs of their patients and to take their fear out of visiting the doctors.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, and the numbers have dramatically increased interest in Spanish classes. In 2004, Spanish speakers in the U.S. made up 14 percent of the nation's population. By 2050, the Hispanic population is expected to triple, according to the Census Bureau. Around the country, especially in states such as Texas with a large Hispanic population, Spanish classes are catching on among health professionals.

In 2002, the School of Nursing at the University of Texas, Austin became the first four-year nursing school in the country to require its students to take a three-credit-hour Spanish course and many hospitals in the Spanish speaking regions are making Spanish a required skill for recruitment.

Meanwhile, police and sheriff's departments across the Spanish speaking states are calling for more officers who can speak the language. In Baldwin, Alabama, Spanish speaking officers are kept busy being called out to act as translators. Some Baldwin deputies and state troopers have taken short-term "Spanish survival" courses, and many ticket books now have Spanish phrases. The stress of an emergency, accident or a crime can create more misunderstanding when communication breaks down, leading to the loss of valuable time or evidence. The police forces are offering bonuses and pay supplements to attract bilingual officers who are now heavily in demand.

The Bush Administration Attempted to address the language rift by recently declaring English as the official language of the US. This does little to resolve the problems faced by the authorities in dealing with Spanish speakers, and many are taking it upon themselves to learn the language in order to better their chances of finding work in the public sector.

According to US career advice organisation Prospects, communication is one of the most frequently mentioned words in recruitment, and employers, therefore, generally have a positive perception of language students who may also have spent periods of time abroad gaining an insight into another culture, adapting to new surroundings and people, and working or studying in a team and independently. Employers in all sectors will value these skills and experiences invaluable, particularly in today's climate.

There are many ways to learn Spanish, but experts agree that nothing beats total immersion. Immersion (or being thrown in at the deep end) involves studying the language of your choice in the country where it is spoken, for example learning Spanish in Spain. The real benefits of this approach are twofold: firstly you will learn the authentic language as it is really spoken by locals and second you will have no choice but to leave your English at the door and dive right in to speaking the local language!

Many courses offer the option to live with a native host family during your stay, where even total beginners will be expected to practice what little they know. It might sound like a daunting prospect but the need to communicate is a great motivational tool. Courses begin throughout the year in Spain, while longer term programs commence in September.