Deming, NM- The first class of students attending the Medical Spanish course sponsored by Western New Mexico University’s Language Institute and Mimbres Memorial Hospital graduated on April 2 after completing the first module of the course. The course teaches members of the medical field, Spanish in order to help them aid members of the community who may not speak English.
While Western New Mexico University’s Language Institute has carried basic ESL classes that teach English to people so that they can find a job, as well as academic ESL which teaches people how to read, write and study grammar in English. This is the first course teaching formal medical Spanish in the area. “It is very important for the Luna County community to have people that can communicate with them.” Dr. Magdaleno Manzanarez, Western New Mexico University’s Vice President of External Affairs, said about the Language Institute.
Ken Leupold, Director of Western New Mexico University’s Deming Branch helped develop the idea for the course with Manuel Rodriguez, the director of the Language Institute. “There are a lot people in our community who speak only Spanish and a lot of medical professionals that don’t speak any at all.” Leupold said.
Rodriguez agreed that becoming bilingual was essential to living in the Luna County area, and that there was a great need for professionals that spoke both Spanish and English in hospitals. Rodriguez soon met with members of Mimbres Memorial Hospital and soon the first formal medical Spanish class in the area was formed.
Participants in the courses were instructed in private classes at Mimbres Memorial Hospital, with Rodriguez tailoring what he taught in the class to each student’s field of work. The course has had huge success with a particular graduate, Bill Delaney, who reportedly was able to give one of his patients a medical interview entirely in Spanish.
Later this month, the graduating class will begin attending the second module of the Medical Spanish class, taught by WNMU graduate Frida Gonzalez, which will cover more in-depth Spanish while a new class is ready to begin module one. Rodriguez said that there are also plans for the program to expand beyond the hospital and will soon invite professionals from doctor’s offices to take the class as well. Western New Mexico University also plan on opening a Language Institute in Juarez, estimated to be established later this year.
