Conversational Spanish Classes for Social Work Professionals Offered at Simmons College
Has the number of Spanish-speaking clients increased at your agency? Nationally, Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group, with a 3.3% population increase and the numbers are expected to continue to grow. The recent census also illustrates that the Spanish-speaking population in the Boston area has increased. This increase has brought about a sharp rise in the demand for bilingual social workers in all human service organizations. The Simmons College School of Social Work has responded to this demand by partnering with Berlitz to develop a Spanish language program for social workers and other human service providers.
Imagine how confident you would feel communicating with your Spanish speaking clients in their language! What an impression you could make by emailing your Latino colleagues and clients in Spanish! Even learning a few words of a client’s native language can go a long way toward easing concerns and opening avenues of communication.
This interactive and enjoyable course gives students the opportunity to develop Conversational Spanish skills from the start. Social work-related vocabulary and idiomatic expressions are introduced and practiced in authentic, real-life professional situations from the first class. Proficiency levels range from Absolute Beginner, Beginner with background, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced to Advanced Professional.
Beginner levels- Social/ Functional: At the end of the program you will be able to communicate in everyday practical situations by using simple vocabulary words, phrases and verb tenses such as Present, Past, and Future.
Intermediate levels: At the end of the program you will be able to communicate in more sophisticated situations by using more complex vocabulary words, verb tenses and grammatical structures such as the Imperfect, the Conditional and the Subjunctive
Please note, a verbal proficiency level test must be taken prior to starting the course and a group of students at the similar level is needed to run this class. Students may only take one Spanish class for credit during their MSW program.
Classes are offered at SSW in the Spring, Summer and Fall in the evenings. 28 CECs
Location: Simmons College, 300 The Fenway. For directions visit http://www.simmons.edu/ssw/visit/directions.shtml
For registration and questions contact Joann Williams @ joann.williams@simmons.edu or 617/521-3903. You may also register online at http://www.simmons.edu/ssw/professional-ed/register/
Intensive Spanish Program Universidad Internacional –Cuernavaca, Mexico
Simmons School of Social Work language immersion program at the Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Studies in Cuernavaca, Mexico provides students with the opportunity to live with host families, attend classes and participate in cultural excursions to learn about social services in Mexico. Students demonstrate increased proficiency in language skills at the end of their stay. Students have the option of a 19, 24 or 32 night stay. Students who wish to take the course for credit or as an elective must enroll in the month long option. CEUs can be given.
* Program I
May — June 2010
* Program II
July — August 2010
- No more than 5 students per class
- 6 hours a day, 5 days a week
- Native Spanish Speaking Teachers
- Complete Cultural Immersion
- Dynamic guided conversation workshops
- Complete flexibility
After taking a brief entrance exam and oral interview with a Spanish professor, students are placed in small groups according to their previous level of Spanish fluency, their ability to communicate, and their interests. We subscribe to the "Group 5 System" in which no more than 5 students are assigned to a professor. This guarantees that our students receive the attention they need and encourages interaction among the group. This class focuses on 4 main skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
For current dates, tuition and registration information please contact Carlos Frontado, Director of Admissions and Coordinator, Spanish Immersion Programs, carlos.frontado@simmons.edu 617/521-3920.
