SALUD: A Project to Integrate Language, Technology, Healthcare and Distance Learning Bridges the Gap Between Disciplines and Learning Sites

Keywords: Distance Learning, Intermediate Spanish as a Second Language, Healthcare Content and Language, DVD-based, Student-centered Approach

An interdisciplinary group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has designed an intermediate Spanish course, using DVD and web-based technology, for healthcare providers who work with immigrant populations. To serve intermediate students with different skill levels and learning styles, and facilitate the practice of oral skills in a distance-learning format, we integrated video-based materials, audio e-mail and web-meetings, and optimized tools for collaborative and independent learning. A showing and discussion of the pilot DVD will illustrate the innovations in pedagogy and technology developed for this course and the implications for distance learning and interdisciplinary courseware development.

Julia Cardona Mack is Lecturer in Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages at UNC Chapel Hill. She is the Linguist and expert on Second Language Acquisition on SALUD. hispana@email.unc.edu