Spanish for veterinarians, their clients, and pets

Washington State University Spanish professor Sonia Lopez-Lopez knows the challenges a trip to the veterinary clinic presents for a client who only speaks Spanish.

With Spanish as her first language, Lopez-Lopez' own first-hand communication breakdowns were top of mind when she chose to teach the language to WSU veterinary students.

"I have seen the struggle of veterinarians, workers, and clients because of the language barrier and it's important to train students in all the areas of the language so they are prepared for those conversations when they are professionals. That's what this course is all about," she said.

Twelve years running, Dr. Lopez-Lopez' has divided the course to accommodate as many students as possible. The two-part course, formally known as Beginners and Intermediate Veterinary Spanish, has equipped hundreds of now-practicing veterinarians with the tools to make any Spanish-speaking client feel comfortable and in the know during trying times.

"This was my first Spanish class, and it was great to learn the fundamentals of the language by using phrases and vocabulary I can use in the clinic or on a farm," said veterinary student Raquel Dimond. "Being able to communicate with your clients is a key aspect of a great veterinarian, and this course helped me broaden my knowledge to reach a more diverse clientele and be a more competent veterinarian in the future."

The course, funded by the College of Veterinary Medicine, meets a critical need. As of 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Spanish is spoken by 42 million people in the United States. In Washington state, Spanish was spoken in nearly 9% of households, with the number of Spanish-speaking veterinarians limited in many communities.

Lopez-Lopez said the course, which covers the most used words in WSU's rigorous Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum, offers a track for beginners and those at an intermediate level.

"You don't need to know any Spanish," Lopez-Lopez said. "We start from zero."

In a profession where miscommunication can be especially detrimental, or even deadly, Lopez-Lopez said the course is meant to help students learn everything they need to have a conversation with an animal owner regarding most cases.

"For the beginner group, I teach them how to use a few simple sentences to get the information they need. We don't worry about past tense because even if you're not proficient, we're focused on giving them the confidence and the skills to manage interactions with clients," Lopez-Lopez said.

At the intermediate level students practice academic Spanish, the cultural aspects of the language, and exercises to prepare them for when they have their own clinic. Reading up-to-date veterinary articles in Spanish where students not only practice their reading comprehension skills, but also learn about current veterinary research in the Hispanic world is another component.

The course is available for any veterinary student at WSU, in addition to students at universities in WSU's regional program in veterinary medicine via Zoom.

Students enrolled are also polled as to whether they have subject matter that should be included in the course. Due to their busy schedules, the timing of the bi-weekly elective course is also largely up to the students.

"I accommodate to their schedule," Lopez-Lopez said. "I have seen their schedules. I know how busy they are, so we don't have a set time. We find a time that works for everyone."

Lopez-Lopez, who became proficient in English during her time as a student at WSU and recently (summer 2021) her PhD in Language Literacy and Technology, said the veterinary Spanish course provides her something too - joy. The course has become one of her favorite courses to teach.

"I really love the students," Lopez-Lopez said. "They're very responsible and I'm always so proud of them. We only meet with each group twice a week, but I can see how much they learn from the beginning to the end of the semester."