| Any person who works in emergency situations in | | | | won’t consist of random words outside of |
| the United States, like firefighters and nurses, will | | | | the medical field that you would learn in a class. |
| almost certainly come across situations where a | | | | The vocabulary is very job specific. You are not |
| victim is Spanish speaking only. This can be very | | | | wanting to chat with the victim and their family. |
| frustrating for both parties if there are no other | | | | The goal is to communicate important information |
| Spanish speakers around. How can you learn the | | | | with as few words as possible. |
| Spanish that would allow you to communicate | | | | |
| with these victims? The answer may not be as | | | | |
| difficult as you thought. | | | | There are a few options that you can choose to |
| | | | | get these words and expressions into Spanish. |
| Most people have taken one or two years of | | | | Many people in the US know at least one person |
| Spanish in high school. Now, of course, this in no | | | | who is a Spanish speaker. Ask this person to |
| way enables you to speak in a real life situation | | | | help you with a few sentences each day. He or |
| with a person in need, but it is a starting point. | | | | she will probably not be too happy if you throw all |
| You have an idea of how the language sounds | | | | of them out there at once. If you don’t |
| and how to pronounce a few basic words. | | | | know any Spanish speakers use the internet. Go |
| Ideally, if you want to be able to speak with your | | | | to one of the many Spanish/English chat rooms |
| Spanish speaking victims and patients, you’d | | | | online. There are hundreds of Spanish speakers |
| like to have four or five years of Spanish under | | | | out there who want to practice their English. |
| your belt. Since this is not feasible for most, you | | | | Help them with their English and in return get help |
| have to get really specific on what words, | | | | with some of the sayings you need for your |
| expressions and phrases are essential for you to | | | | job. This can actually be kind of fun. You’ll |
| know for your job. With this goal in mind it is | | | | meet some interesting characters from different |
| obvious that a traditional college Spanish class | | | | countries. If you don’t feel like chatting, |
| may not be the best thing for you. Learning | | | | there are also some good sites out there that list |
| about culture and vocabulary for leisure activities | | | | specific Spanish words for any field. |
| is fun, but it won’t help you on the job. | | | | |
| | | | | If you have the time to take four or five |
| Take some time and figure out what words and | | | | semesters of Spanish, I’d say take that |
| expressions are common when you run across a | | | | route. If you just want the specific Spanish that |
| Spanish speaker at work. Like any job, there | | | | you need to do your job try this out. Good luck |
| are going to be key phrases that are consistently | | | | and make sure a native speaker looks over your |
| used. Write these down on a piece of paper | | | | Spanish translations before putting them into |
| throughout the work day. After about a week | | | | practice! |
| you should have a pretty good sized list. It | | | | |