| The need for Spanish-speaking bilingual employees | | | | advancement and salary." Some companies are |
| continues to be high. The Daily Press in Newport | | | | paying double to find qualified bilingual workers. The |
| News, VA that many local emergency responders and | | | | article goes on to say,"second languages, especially in |
| other medical personnel are taking classes to learn | | | | the U.S. are likely to help in fields where you deal |
| Spanish. Spanish is becoming essential to their job | | | | directly with buyers, such as automobile sales." |
| functions. The local instructor says that the goal is not | | | | The Dallas Morning News reports that last year, half of |
| to make students fluent, but to give them the phrases | | | | the patients at the Parkland Hospital in Dallas were |
| they need to calm and assist Spanish-speakers in the | | | | Hispanic. The article points out that language isn't the |
| course of their everyday jobs. The local responders | | | | only barrier to treating Hispanic patients. Attitudes |
| are attending an 8 week class, and their employers, | | | | about treatment and cultural differences can pose |
| the Olde Towne Medical Center and the Williamsburg | | | | problems as well. One doctor gives an example of a |
| and James City County Fire Department are footing | | | | patient treating himself with chili peppers. The doctor |
| the bill. | | | | compromised with the patient and said he could have |
| In other news, the Wall Street Journal Online reports | | | | one chili pepper if he also took an antibiotic. Also, |
| that "there is growing awareness that studying a | | | | Texas Health Resources, a large medical group in the |
| foreign language can help make you a lot more | | | | area has made its entire site, texashealth.org, available |
| hirable," says Jerry Campe, Deputy Director of the | | | | in Spanish. |
| National Foreign Language Center. The Journal also | | | | Help your employees and professionals learn Spanish. |
| says that "for many professionals, that means | | | | Enroll them in Spanish One on One from |
| investing the time and money to learn a foreign | | | | wardspeaking. |
| language could pay off in terms of career | | | | |