Common Language Spoken Research Articles

Supervision Strategies Used to Support Spanish-Speaking Bilingual Counselors

Multilingual diversity is increasing in the United States, with Spanish being the nation’s second most common spoken language (U.S. Census, 2016). In response, more Spanish-speaking bilingual counselors are providing bilingual counseling services. These counselors face unique experiences related to the constellation of language, culture, and professional development. Yet, supervisors are working with these counselors and little is known about their experiences or specific supervision strategies. This article presents the results of interviews with supervisors (N=8) of Spanish-speaking bilingual counselors regarding their supervision strategies. Implications for supervisors are provided.

PAEDIATRIC SCHOOL OUTREACH: DEMOGRAPHICS AND CLINICAL NEEDS OF A UNIQUE INNER-CITY STUDENT POPULATION

Abstract BACKGROUND Paediatric School Outreach (PSO) clinic is a school-based health centre housed in a Kindergarten-Grade 8 public school. It serves an inner-city community impacted by the social determinants of health, such as language and income, which are barriers to accessing health care. This clinic focuses on developmental/behavioural, mental health and educational concerns. OBJECTIVES To characterize demographics, social determinants of health and some clinical characteristics of patients accessing services at PSO. By gaining a better understanding of the challenges of patients, services may be tailored to better suit patient/family needs. DESIGN/METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of children enrolled at PSO from November 2015 to March 2017. Data were obtained from demographic questionnaires and the electronic medical record. Analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23) and are primarily descriptive. This work was funded by a faculty of medicine student research program and approved by research ethics boards at our hospital and school board. RESULTS 138 children, between the ages of 2 and 15 years (average birth year 2008) enrolled at PSO during the study period. 73% were male. 70% of patients were in Grade 1 or above at enrolment. Children tended to be Canadian born to immigrant mothers; 74% of children were born in Canada but only 34% of mothers were also Canadian-born. After Canada, Hungary was the second common maternal place of birth (12%). English was the most common language spoken by patients (71%), followed by Hungarian, Tibetan, Portuguese and Spanish. 58% of patients’ families had a household annual income (HAI) of <$30,000 and 18% a HAI of $30,000–49,999. 84% of 138 patients reported having a family physician. Referrals were made by school support team (54%), teacher (36%) or principal (28%). The common presenting concerns were behaviour (81%), school performance (60%), followed by social communication (51%) and emotional presentation (49%). Among 132 patients with clinical records, 13% were on any medication at enrolment; and 3% (4/132) on psychostimulants. 14% of patients were started on medication during the study period, most frequently psychostimulants (11%, 15/132). CONCLUSION PSO patients are culturally diverse and at least three quarters have HAIs below our city’s median of $65,829 (2015). The majority reported having a family physician but accessed our clinic for educational/behavioural concerns, suggesting PSO may be a stream-lined approach. With knowledge of maternal languages, we can begin to translate questionnaires and clinic materials. Further data analyses will better describe diagnoses and referrals made at the clinic.

Access to Interpreter Services at U.S. Dental School Clinics

The number of Americans with limited English proficiency (LEP) is growing, and legal protections mandate that LEP individuals have equal access to health care services. The aim of this study was to determine the availability of interpretation services in U.S. dental school clinics and the kinds of instruction dental students are given regarding treatment of LEP patients. A survey was distributed to the academic deans of all U.S. dental schools; 35 completed the survey for a response rate of 58%. Respondents were asked to report on the number of LEP patients treated in their student clinics, the resources available to students working with LEP patients, and the extent of instruction offered. Descriptive statistics were calculated. The results indicated that the proportion of LEP patients treated at U.S. dental schools was perceived to be higher than that of the general population. The availability of interpreter services and the extent of student education about LEP individuals varied widely. Among the responding schools, the most common language spoken by LEP patients was Spanish, followed by Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) and Russian. Most of the responding dental schools reported offering fewer than two hours of instruction to their predoctoral students on treating LEP patients. Although almost 90% of the respondents indicated believing LEP patients received care equal in quality to that of non-LEP patients in their clinics, only 61.9% indicated that their students were adequately prepared to manage LEP patients following graduation. These findings suggest that dental schools should consider curricular innovations that will prepare students to work with LEP populations and improve the ability of LEP patients to receive care in the teaching clinic setting.

Machine Translation of Public Health Materials From English to Chinese: A Feasibility Study.

BackgroundChinese is the second most common language spoken by limited English proficiency individuals in the United States, yet there are few public health materials available in Chinese. Previous studies have indicated that use of machine translation plus postediting by bilingual translators generated quality translations in a lower time and at a lower cost than human translations.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using machine translation (MT) tools (eg, Google Translate) followed by human postediting (PE) to produce quality Chinese translations of public health materials.MethodsFrom state and national public health websites, we collected 60 health promotion documents that had been translated from English to Chinese through human translation. The English version of the documents were then translated to Chinese using Google Translate. The MTs were analyzed for translation errors. A subset of the MT documents was postedited by native Chinese speakers with health backgrounds. Postediting time was measured. Postedited versions were then blindly compared against human translations by bilingual native Chinese quality raters.ResultsThe most common machine translation errors were errors of word sense (40%) and word order (22%). Posteditors corrected the MTs at a rate of approximately 41 characters per minute. Raters, blinded to the source of translation, consistently selected the human translation over the MT+PE. Initial investigation to determine the reasons for the lower quality of MT+PE indicate that poor MT quality, lack of posteditor expertise, and insufficient posteditor instructions can be barriers to producing quality Chinese translations.ConclusionsOur results revealed problems with using MT tools plus human postediting for translating public health materials from English to Chinese. Additional work is needed to improve MT and to carefully design postediting processes before the MT+PE approach can be used routinely in public health practice for a variety of language pairs.

Methods and Methodologies for Improvised Speaking Skills

The importance of English cannot be neglected and denied as it the most common language spoken all over the world. Speaking skill plays a vital role in the career of a student. Many talented and deserving candidates miss their job opportunities because of their poor speaking skill. English is essential in each and every field and students should know to communicate English effectively. To speak English fluently, one should possess good practice. They should train themselves to speak English with a good accent. There are students who confine themselves within a circle and hesitate to speak English. The language learners feel embarrassed to speak though they possess good language. A talented student who has good technical knowledge is unable present the same as he lacks in speaking skill. There are so many unanswered questions because of their fear for language. Students from rural areas have problems in learning and speaking English. They do not have enough exposure to spoken English and most of the students are least bothered about their speaking skill. Proficiency in language needs interest, self motivation and self confidence. Language learners who lack confidence should participate in discussions to come out of the shell. This paper discusses the barriers and the techniques to overcome the same and to acquire the speaking skill for their successful career.

Islas Lingüísticas Dentro del Dominio Español: El Caso del Vasco y del Náhuatl

Basque and Nahuatl are special in that they form certain kinds of islands in the Spanish-speaking world. Both languages differ from Spanish: Basque is not an Indo-European language, its origin is unknown; Nahuatl belongs to the Uto-Aztec language family. Basque is an agglutinating, whereas Nahuatl is an incorporating language. Both live in a close coexistence with Spanish, which is one of the most common spoken languages in the world. In spite of this co-existence with the dominant Spanish language and culture for centuries, Basque-and Nahuatl-speaking minorities have preserved their identity and vitality. This paper intends to give a brief overview of Basque and Nahuatl, linguistic policy, as well as literature in these two languages

Spanish Dermatological Vocabulary Used by Mexican Workers

Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the United States. Physicians can expect a growing population of patients who speak Spanish as their primary language. The purpose of this study was to develop a glossary of Spanish dermatological vocabulary commonly used by Mexican workers. Dermatologic terms were gathered from transcripts of in-depth interviews with 31 Latino farmworkers in North Carolina. Participants were asked to name and define words related to skin irritations. Farmworkers provided several definitions of some terms, and several Spanish equivalents exist for specific English words. This glossary is a supplement to other resources for learning medical Spanish and expands health care professionals' knowledge of dermatology-related Spanish vocabulary.

DISCOVERING THE LINK BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY

This paper attempts to draw a link between a unifying language and the human society. Language is not only a means of communication but also a vehicle for identification and even change. A common language spoken amongst a different people not only makes communication easier but also gives the diverse groups a sense of belonging. (Humanities Review: 2001 1(2): 60-69)

Noah Webster Crusader for American Literacy

A commemorative stamp issued on October 16, 1958, paid tribute to Noah Webster, American lexicographer, who was born two hundred years ago in West Hartford, Connecticut. With true genius, Webster, whose name is synonymous with correct standards of speaking and spelling, carried on a lifelong campaign to promote universal literacy throughout the young republic. The driving urge behind his labors was the zeal to build a strong united nation in the new world. Our country had a common language to begin with, a flexible and beautiful language, the English of Shakespeare and the Bible. With shrewd insight Mr. Webster realized that a common language spoken throughout the land would bind the nation together and promote the rapid growth of the commonwealth.