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