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