Outcome of a Spanish Immersion Pilot Workshop for Psychology Professionals and Students

Abstract

Latino individuals constitute 14.4% of the U.S. population and are projected to reach 20% of the population by 2010. With this rise in population, more culturally and linguistically proficient health professionals are needed. In response to this need, the Spanish-Language Immersion and Cultural Competence Pilot Workshop was developed. This workshop provided participants intensive Spanish language training and presentations on aspects of the Latino culture that are particularly relevant to mental health professionals. Participants in the workshop completed a pre- and post-test questionnaire on their experiences, knowledge, and attitudes about Spanish language and Latino culture. Analysis of these questionnaires revealed that participants’ attitudes and knowledge of Spanish and Latino culture were significantly different after the workshop.