Instituto Chac-Mool's Spanish for Social Work class is tailored to help social workers, and students of social work, break down barriers by developing skills and knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. This will enhance their effectiveness with their Spanish-speaking patients or clients. Students are welcome to study for as short as one week, however six weeks is usually required to complete the course objectives.

This class will be taught using a variety of methods with an emphasis on experiential learning: i.e. lecture and instruction, drills and practice, role play, cultural immersion activity, audio and video taping, videos viewed in class, community based activity, workbook practice, course assignments and readings.

Course Description:

Intensive Spanish practice through simulations involving real life situations in intercultural settings. Provides vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and cultural information for the specific needs of the social workers professional. An intermediate Spanish proficiency level is recommended to get the most from this course.

Course Objectives:

1. Familiarity with the complexity of cultural and personal identities existing among and within Spanish-speaking populations and their corresponding language variations.
2. Skill in application of values and professional ethics as they relate to effective communication with a variety of client systems, including differences related to economic class, geographic and national origin, levels of ability, gender, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual differences, and age across the life span.
3. Skill in use of a systemic, strengths approach in data collection, assessment, intervention, and evaluation, with clients who have limited proficiency in English
4. Application of communication skills in interview that incorporate cultural nuances and empowerment goals for the promotion of social justice and human well-being among Spanish-speaking populations.
5. Familiarity and beginning skills in application of terminology specific to different fields of practice.
6. Skill in self-assessment and goal directed professional growth for cultural competence in practice with Spanish-speaking client systems.

Optional Course Credit: 1-6 university semester credits can be earned, course syllabus can be provided upon request. Instituto Chac-Mool is fully accredited by the Mexican Ministry of Education as a higher education institution. Please request the transcript while at the school (a mailing fee will be charged).

The student spends the morning by studying general Spanish with other students of their same Spanish level, in order to improve their communication skills. These small group classes begin at 8:50 am and end at 11:55 am.

In the afternoon, the student begins private instruction with a teacher qualified to teach Spanish related to the field of Social Work. This class is tailored to the student's requirements and may include appropriate vocabulary, role-playing exercises, and discussions of important cultural aspects in the relations between the patient/client and social worker. The private portion of this course is 12:20 to 1:50 pm. (summer month students may be required to begin this session at 2:00 pm.)

2008 Tuition: $320/wk (summer rate is $350/wk)
Rates include both the group and private lessons.

This is a fully customizable one-on-one program suitable for beginning or advanced students. Please request a price quote based on your objectives.

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OPTIONAL VOLUNTEER WORK

Outside of class time, participants in the Spanish for Social Workers program are able to have practical experience doing internships in a health care institution, volunteering in orphanages, rural clinics, hospice care, etc. We need a minimum of two weeks advance notice to set up a volunteer schedule, so please register as early as possible. We request a minimum of three weeks at the school in order to get the most from your volunteer program.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended that students have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish before beginning the Spanish for Social Workers course.

My time at your school was invaluable to my profession as a social worker. I now can relate better to my clients. With a caseload heavy with individuals from Mexico, I found I not only needed the language skills, but I needed to understand the culture.

Janice, social worker

Because of your love and extreme dedication to your work in helping others understand Spanish, we have been able to take the next step in our journey of reaching out the "hurting" in Cuernavaca! God bless you for helping us so diligently! Chac-Mool is the BEST in our eyes!!!

Paul and Sharita, missionaries

I can't thank you and the teachers at the school enough for the wonderful experience I had in trying to improve my spanish language skills. I cannot believe the incredible amount that I learned in a short, two weeks! I put my medical spanish to use right away as the first week I was back to work I encountered two patients that could only speak and understand Spanish. Both the patients and my colleagues (and myself!) were impressed that I was able to carry on whole conversations in very difficult medical topics.

Denise, nurse practioner

My experience in Cuernavaca has been excellent. I only wish I had more time at Chac-Mool. Hopefully I will be able to come back to Cuernavaca and Chac-Mool in the future. One last thing - my family was fantastic, I don't think I would have learned near as much about both the language and the Mexican culture without their help.

Will, physician