THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Course Number: SW S393U13 Instructor: Katherine Houck, LMSW Unique Number: 95925, 95930 Office Hours: By appointment only Semester: Fall 2002 Email: [email protected] Meeting Time/Place: Monday 2:30 – 5:30pm Phone: 324-8823 (w) 8am – 2pm 326-5971 (h) 2pm – 9pm Spanish for Social Workers I. Standardized Course Description This course builds on students’ academic and /or native foundation in the Spanish language by providing practice in contexts, including: classroom interviewing, contacts with Spanish speakers in the community of Austin and other related areas of Texas, skills for incorporation of cultural content in communication, and vocabulary building for specialized delivery of social services. Prerequisites A minimum of 2 semesters of college level Spanish is required. Native Spanish speakers may be admitted upon instructor approval. Completion of an oral language assessment with the instructor before the course begins is required. II. Standardized Course Objectives Upon completion of this course the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with language variations used within Spanish speaking communities. 2. Communicate with increased Spanish vocabulary particularly for work in social service delivery contexts. 3. Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural nuances in communication. 4. Conduct interviews including basic assessment and initial intervention in Spanish. III. Teaching Methods This class will be taught using a variety of methods with an emphasis on experiential learning: i.e. lecture and instruction, drills and practice, role play, guest speakers, cultural immersion activity, audio and video taping, videos, community based activity, workbook practice, course assignments and readings. The assignments will provide the opportunity for “learning by doing”. For success in this class you must be willing to participate, risk yourself, and attend class. You are encouraged to ask questions, give the instructor feedback, and meet with the instructor individually as needed. IV. Required and Recommended Texts, and Materials Required Text: Geshke, N., Shanti, L.A. and Salazar, J.C. (1998). Essential Spanish for Social Services (1st ed.). New York, NY: Random House. 1Jarvis, A.C. & Legredo, L. (2000). Spanish for Social Services (6th ed). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Recommended Text Spanish/English Dictionary Required Materials • A three-ring notebook will be necessary for compilation of a multitude of handouts. • A video tape • A cassette tape and access to a tape recorder for optional audio taping of self-critique of graduate assignment. V. Course Requirements There are FIVE major assignments for all students in this class. Additionally, graduate Students will have a SIXTH assignment – a major assignment – see below. 1. Class Participation (125 pts total) In-class (65 pts. for 13 classes, 5 pts. per day) The student’s active participation in class which includes experiential activities is imperative for effective language development. An expectation of all students in this class includes evidence of and willingness to participate in class activities and excercises. Students are expected to express their thoughts and opinions and to ask questions and make comments relevant to the course material, speakers, videos, activities, role plays in Spanish as much as possible. Dialogue between both instructor and student and between students is encouraged. Professional accountability and responsibility implies consistent attendance and punctuality. Cultural Immersion Assignment and Reflective Paper ( 60 pts.) Students individually or in pairs will attend any local church which has a Spanish speaking religious or spiritual service (spiritual “limpias” or healings are fine). Students will write a 3 page Reflective Paper in English or Spanish (Spanish will be graded for content, not grammar)summarizing the event and processing their own and their partner’s (if a pair) reactions to the experience. Students will note any awareness of language variations, vocabulary/phrases and cultural nuances in communication. 2. Observation of a Clinical Assessment in a Social Service Agency and Reflective Paper (100 pts) Students are required to participate in at least one observation of a Masters Level Social worker completing a psychosocial history or needs assessment in Spanish with a client. Sign up at one of four different sites will be available for this activity. Students will look for key phrases, cultural notes, new vocabulary and phrases. Reflective paper of 3-4 in English or Spanish. Assignment detail sheet provided. 3. Macro to Micro Current Event Oral Assignment (100 pts) 2Students individually will choose a current event article (last 3 years- local or national) that in some way is related to or has directly affected the Spanish speaking community. Students will then be responsible for finding a person(s) from this community to dialogue with in Spanish about the event or decision and interview them about how it impacted them individually, their family, peers, community, native country, etc. Include coping mechanisms, strengths of the interviewee w/in their experience. Students will then orally present in class and in Spanish (5 – 7 minutes): 1) the event/decision they chose 2) background of the interviewee 3) findings from their “platica” with the interviewee. Student will turn in article/source the day of presentations. 4. Written Translation Project and Oral Client/Social Worker Simulation (150 pts) Students will work in pairs to translate from English to Spanish a basic assessment or initial interview that is provided by the instructor (there will be a variety of choices). Students will create a one page client case history in Spanish and present it orally in class. Then, students will role play as client and social worker and simulate how an actual interview/assessment would occur. Students will include an intervention approach in the assessment or possibilities of approaches that could be utilized and how (i.e.. problem-solving, strengths based, crisis, etc.). Spanish translated assessments will be distributed to classmates. 5. Graduate Video Assignment (200 pts) Graduate students will not use a script for this role play assignment and only create a specific client scenario for their partner. Student may choose classmate or