Spanish Medical Interpreter Program Home

Professor José Martín is the Coordinator of the Spanish Medical Interpreting Program.

Office: Room 554 at BCC campus.
Email: jmartin@peralta.edu
Phone number: 510-981-5028

SPANISH MEDICAL INTERPRETER CERTIFICATE PROGRAM APPLICATION

Download a copy of the Spanish Medial Interpreter Certificate of Achievement Program (pdf)

Required Courses

Total Minimum Required Units 24The Spanish Medical Interpreter Certificate of Achievement is designed to train bilingual/bi-cultural students to become linguistically and culturally competent interpreters who can function effectively and efficiently in health care settings. Through academic preparation, practical skills training, and service in community based health care settings, you will learn roles and responsibilities of a health care interpreter; basic knowledge of common medical conditions, treatments, and procedures; insight into language and cultural nuances for specific communities; and application of interpreting skills in English and Spanish.

• COPED 470H – Medical Interpreting Internship – 4 units
• HUSV 70 – Boundaries and Ethics – 3 units
• HUSV 71 – Cultural Brokerage – 3 units
• SPAN 70 – Spanish Medical Terminology – 3 units
• SPAN 71 – Spanish Medical Interpreting I – 3 units
• SPAN 72 – Spanish Medical Interpreting II – 3 units

Spanish Medical InterpreterCertificate of Achievement / One-Year Course Sequence Beginning in the Fall Semester

You can use the following pattern to complete a Spanish Medical Interpreter Certificate. If you wish to earn a certificate, you must participate in the Interpreting Internship, which includes placement in a local hospital or medical clinic. If you wish to earn an associate degree or certificate, you must participate in the Student Success Program (Matriculation), which includes assessing academic skills and developing a Student Education Plan (SEP) with a counselor. This plan will map your sequence of courses to help you complete your certificate regardless of the semester you begin classes.

1st Semester/Fall

• HUSV 70 Boundaries and Ethics 3 units
• HUSV 71 Cultural Brokerage 3 units
• SPAN 70 Spanish Medical Terminology 3 units

Total9

2nd Semester/Spring

• COPED 470H Medical Interpreting Internship 2 units
• SPAN 71 Medical Interpreting I 3 units

Total 5

3rd Semester/Fall

• COPED 470H Medical Interpreting Internship 2 units
• SPAN 72 Medical Interpreting II 3 units

Total 5

Total Minimum Required Units 19

Program Learning Outcomes for Spanish Medical Interpreter Certificate Program Certificate of Achievement graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate respect, integrity, and professionalism for individuals and their communities. (Ethics and Personal Responsibility)
• Discuss how different cultural views may affect patient’s expectations of the interpreter (Global Awareness and Valuing Diversity)
• Describe confidentiality of the California Standards for Healthcare Interpreters. (Communication)
• Identify health information protected by federal and state medical privacy and confidentiality laws (HIPAA and CMIA). (Communication)
• Explain Western medical culture and providers. (Global Awareness and Valuing Diversity)
• Be able to describe proper cultural context in interpretation of medical terminology (Critical Thinking)
• Discuss how different cultural views may affect a patient’s expectations of the interpreter (Global Awareness and Valuing Diversity)
• Analyze cultural background (your own/others), level of acculturation, personal beliefs, and values. (Self-Awareness and Interpersonal Skills)
• Identify assumptions of cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors. (Self-Awareness and Interpersonal Skills)