CHAMPS offers medical Spanish language training for clinicians at Region VIII health centers each April. The 2026 courses have now concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

These trainings are intensive medical Spanish workshops consisting of clinical vocabulary, mock patient dialogues, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an immersion learning experience, an approach highly suitable for those with limited time and who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients. All Spanish Language for Healthcare Providers courses are held via Zoom.

Details about each course can be found below:

FOUR-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: The 2026 Medical Spanish Language for Providers course has concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

Description: This four-day, online course is an intensive conversational and medical Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, mock patient dialogues, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an immersion learning experience, an approach highly suitable for those with limited time, and who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

Beginner and intermediate skill levels will be offered, with separate virtual classrooms for each level. Ríos Associates will determine which skill level is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. A beginner level and an intermediate level will be offered, and the levels will be set depending on the skill levels of the registered participants. Although quite rare, if it is not possible to provide the needed skill level for an individual, full tuition will be refunded.

Target Audience: The course is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other medical personnel with beginner and intermediate Spanish language skills. Other healthcare professionals are welcome to attend; however, it is important to note that only a limited amount of time is spent on terminology for other disciplines such as oral and behavioral health.

TWO-DAY SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR ORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: The 2026 Spanish Language for Oral Health Providers course has concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

Description: This two-day, online course is an intensive conversational and oral medical Spanish workshop consisting of dental dialogues, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an immersion learning experience. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

This two-day intensive will offer a single class for oral health providers. Complete beginner speakers and those with some Spanish language skills may attend this course. Speakers may be separated by skill level for small group work. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Oral health professionals with intermediate and advanced Spanish language skills are invited to attend the four-day intermediate or two-day advanced skills course.

Target Audience: The course is intended for dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienists, and other clinical dental personnel with beginner Spanish language skills.

TWO-DAY SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

Dates/Times: The 2026 Spanish Language for Behavioral Health Providers course has concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

Description: This two-day, online course is an intensive conversational and Behavioral Health Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, role-plays, cross-cultural discussions, and practice. The course curriculum provides an immersion learning experience. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

Intermediate to advanced skill levels may participate in this combined classroom. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Behavioral Health Providers with beginner Spanish language skills are invited to attend the traditional four-day course.

Target Audience: The course is intended for psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, social workers, addiction counselors, and other behavioral health personnel with intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills. Additionally, this course is good for medical providers with intermediate to advanced Spanish skills who would like to learn behavioral health terminology.

TWO-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR ADVANCED SPEAKERS

Dates/Times: The 2026 Medical Spanish Language for Advanced Speakers course has concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

Description: This two-day course is an intensive conversational and medical Spanish workshop consisting of medical dialogues, visual aids, role plays, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. The course curriculum provides an immersion learning experience. This approach is highly suitable for those with limited time who must use their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients.

This two-day intensive will offer only the advanced skill level. Ríos Associates will determine whether this course is appropriate for applicants based on participants’ completed self-assessment forms. Medical professionals with beginner and intermediate Spanish language skills are invited to attend the traditional four-day course.

Target Audience: The course is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinical personnel with advanced Spanish language skills.

TWO-DAY MEDICAL SPANISH LANGUAGE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

Dates/Times: The 2026 Spanish Language for Medical Assistants course has concluded. Please check back in late 2026 for April 2027 dates.

Description: This two-day course is a beginner-level intensive conversational medical Spanish workshop that includes medical dialogues, visual aids, cross-cultural discussions, and daily practice. This immersion learning experience is particularly beneficial for those with limited time who need to apply their new language skills immediately with their Spanish-speaking patients. The intensive format offers a single class designed specifically for medical assistants and related clinical support roles. The course will walk participants through the following aspects of a clinical visit:

  • Pre-Visit and Follow-Up: This topic will include command forms (Ud.), effective in-person and phone communication skills, and promoting available resources for new patients.
  • A Warm Welcome (Investing in the Beginning – Build Rapport and Trust):  This topic will address culturally appropriate greetings and introductions, welcoming family members, and relevant vocabulary for taking vital signs.
  • Reason for Visit:  Participants will learn vocabulary for parts of the body, phrases to elicit the reason for a patient’s visit, expressions for conveying empathy, and an introduction to culture-bound syndromes.
  • Other Rooming Tasks: This topic will focus on utilizing rooming tools, conducting effective history-taking, using command forms and simplified/polite command forms (Favor de + infinitive), and strategies for arranging for interpreters as needed.
  • Closing and Goodbyes (Investing in the End): Participants will learn about culturally appropriate goodbyes, expressing well wishes for patients and their families, and vocabulary related to after-visit summaries and follow-up communication.

Target Audience: This course is designed for Medical Assistants and other clinical support personnel with beginner Spanish Language skills.

Please contact the CHAMPS Clinical Quality Improvement Director, if you have any questions about any of these courses.