About this Book
Welcome!
Welcome to Vida Sana: An intermediate textbook that introduces students to Spanish for health professions. This ultra innovative book leverages AI to help students concentrate on the specific healthfield of their choice. Furthermore, the textbook has built-in differentiation so it can be used for students starting at novice high (using the beginner prompts) or students at intermediate mid or higher (using the advanced prompts).
The primary goal of this book is to grow student’s Spanish proficiency in the context of health professions, and build cultural competency for helping Latinx populations.
How This Book is organized
The book is organized in 12 chapters, each consisting of two readings and a series of AI assisted activities. All chapters follow the same pattern to reduce cognitive load while increasing language practice. Besides the 12 chapters you will find a section on “Project” that provide a Project Based Learning approach to put skills to use with real world output.
OER Philosophy and Use of Generative AI
We created this text to fill the void of OER in Spanish for Health Professions. With the advent of Chat GPT and other generative AI technologies, we have decided to leverage said technologies for a positive product that will allow students of Spanish to acquire linguistic and cultural knowledge to help others.
We acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/), Microsoft Copilot (https://copilot.microsoft.com/), and Adobe Firefly (https://firefly.adobe.com/) to generate topic ideas, readings, dialogs, vocabulary lists, and images in this textbook.The prompts used are listed at the end of this document. The output from these prompts was adapted, edited and modified by the authors for the final draft.
We acknowledge that ChatGPT does not respect the individual rights of authors and artists and ignores concerns over copyright and intellectual property in its training; additionally, we acknowledge that the system was trained in part through the exploitation of precarious workers in the global south.
While the ready-to-read essays in each chapter were checked and revised in order to be reliable, the content produced through prompts when students engage with activities, will not be. Please be aware that AI generated content can be inaccurate. Since the primary purpose of the content produced by the ready-made prompts is language practice, it is acceptable to have some inaccuracy, however, students should not take any prompt-generated content as fully accurate. Please check primary sources or reputable medical sites for actual medical information.
Fair Use Statement
Unless otherwise indicated, third-party texts, images, and other materials quoted in these materials are included on the basis of fair use as described in the Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Open Education.
About the Authors
Dr. Alegría Ribadeneira (www.withalegria.net/dr.alegria) is Distinguished Professor and Chair of English and World Languages at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Dr. Ribadeneira regularly presents at regional, national and international conferences where she shares her expertise regarding best practices for language teaching. Her presentations highlight the benefits of project-based, content-based, and community-based instruction paired with open educational practices. She is involved in heritage language teaching advocacy and participates as lead instructor for the NHLRC (National Heritage Language Resource Center) summer workshop. Dr. Ribadeneira is the recipient of several teaching awards including the 2017 Olga E. Kagan award for advancing heritage language education in institutions of learning, the 2020 Colorado Excellence in Teaching Award from the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers, the 2020 Post-Secondary Excellence in Teaching Award from the Southwest Congress of Language Teaching, and most recently, the Global Educator Award from Open Education Global. Dr. Ribadeneira leads an all OER, ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) Spanish language degree program at CSU-Pueblo. You can find her authored OER and those of her team at www.csupworldlanguages.org
Dr. Alexandra Ribadeneira-Pérez is Adjunct Faculty at Colorado State University - Pueblo. She is an accomplished educator whose primary focus lies in professional academic translation, alongside her expertise in K-16 teaching, curriculum development, counseling, and family support program development. Holding a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Florida, her career spans over three decades of impactful work. With academic roots in Sociology and Anthropology, Alexandra brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her contributions in the Education and Language fields. She has taught a diverse array of courses, including Spanish, Chicano Studies, and Psychology, at CSU - Pueblo and the University of Florida. Alexandra's expertise has made lasting impacts, notably through her development of bilingual social-emotional learning curricula and programs on addiction prevention and family recovery. As a dedicated advocate for multicultural education, Alexandra's initiatives have significantly influenced various educational settings, including international programs in Ecuador and bilingual programs in the United States. With fluency in both English and Spanish, coupled with her cross-cultural psychology expertise, Alexandra continues to enrich academic literature through her academic translations, fostering meaningful dialogue and understanding across cultures and communities.
Creative Commons Licensing
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons as CC BY NC SA
Links to Prompts Used in Writing This Book
Chapter 1 - Profesionales de la salud
Main Chapter Image:
“A group of health professionals. A mix of women and men of different ages and ethnicities, standing next to each other. Include doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, health coaches. Only three are wearing stethoscopes and some are dressed in plain clothes. There is a beautiful city with lots of trees in the background.”
1.2. Lectura 1. Introducción a las profesiones de la salud
https://chat.openai.com/share/851ddaef-8808-4fa3-9d9f-17d15e5fd2e5
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following five questions:
- What are some of the most important and needed health professions in the United States?
- What can we do to meet the demand for health professionals in the United States?
- How do health professionals contribute to making society better?
- Why is it important to be bilingual (English and Spanish) in the health professions currently in the United States?
- What are some of the challenges and opportunities for bilingual (English and Spanish) health professionals?”
1.5. Lectura 2 - Hispanos en el campo de la salud
https://chatgpt.com/share/9c9927c7-9a7f-4ec4-968f-4918a14ace60
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What kind of representation do Hispanics have in the medical professions
- What are the approximate ratios between Hispanic health professionals and Hispanic populations in the following fields: nurses, PA’s, community health workers, doctors and surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, nutritionists
- What are some of the reasons Hispanics lag in presence in health professions and what can be done about it
- What can health professionals from all ethnicities do in order to serve Hispanic populations”
Chapter 2 - Interacciones con los pacientes
Main Chapter Image
“A scene in a hospital examination room. There are four individuals in this picture. A kind female nurse is speaking with an older couple. To the side is a girl about 8 years old who is interpreting for the couple.”
2.2. Lectura 1: Las interacciones con los pacientes
https://chat.openai.com/share/94ed8997-406c-40f5-bd33-5c89bb160518
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are the top three things health professionals should consider when interacting with patients or clients?
- What are the consequences of bad interactions in the health professions?
- What are the consequences of good interactions in the health professions?
- How can health professionals prepare in order to have good interactions with the public?”
2.5. Lectura 2: La barrera del idioma y sus consecuencias
https://chat.openai.com/share/0263d6f4-94f3-4fe4-943f-9c0474103192
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are some of the challenges patients in the health system face when there is a language barrier
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of having children translate for family members
- How can Spanish-speaking health professionals help within the health system when patients or clients don’t speak English
- How would care improve if health professionals could utter even a few words in the patient’s language”
Chapter 3 - Partes del cuerpo y síntomas
Main Chapter Image
“Create a colorful full body from head to toe image of a young man running”
3.2. Lectura 1: Las partes del cuerpo y los síntomas
https://chat.openai.com/share/d5ac539b-a31c-4018-89c0-e4598e3d293f
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How is the human body conformed
- What are the five vital organs of the human body
- What are the main systems of the human body, what is their function, and what organs belong in each system
- What are the most common types of symptoms that point toward disease in each of the systems of the human body”
3.5. Lectura 2: El lenguaje coloquial y los eufemismos
https://chatgpt.com/share/98e294c7-96e1-43c6-92b4-fc8846a6c376
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- Qué constituye idioma coloquial y eufemismos y por qué existen
- Por qué es importante que los profesionales de la salud entiendan el idioma coloquial y los eufemismos en español
- Cuáles son los términos coloquiales o eufemismos más comunes para las siguientes palabras: cabeza, nariz, senos, estómago, piernas, vagina, pene, nalga, heces, orina, pantorrillas, pies.
- Qué deben hacer los profesionales de la salud cuando no entienden una palabra que sus pacientes usan o lo que ellos les comunican”
Chapter 4 - Enfermedades y condiciones médicas
Main Chapter Image
“Image of a patient wearing a red sweater with a nurse talking in an medical examination room. The nurse is giving the patient a pamphlet. There is an x ray in the back wall.”
4.2. Lectura 1: Enfermedades y condiciones médicas
https://chatgpt.com/share/e46992c2-844b-4de5-baa8-722bd0356226
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What is a disease or medical condition and how have humans dealt with them from the beginning of time
- How do health professionals help with healing or managing illness, disease and condition
- What are some common illnesses and conditions in Hispanic populations
- What are some good practices people can follow in order to prevent illness, disease and conditions”
4.5. Lectura 2: Enfermedades folklóricas y curanderos
https://chatgpt.com/share/a14d5333-891f-406d-8cf6-43ff9f56865c
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- Where do Hispanic folkloric illnesses come from and why is it important that health professionals are familiar with folkloric illnesses
- What are some of the most common folkloric illnesses
- What is the role of curanderos in Hispanic health
- How can a health professional be culturally sensitive about folkloric illnesses and curanderos and ensure effective treatments”
Chapter 5 - Medicaciones y prescripciones
Main Chapter Image
“Create an image of a kind pharmacist handing medications to a patient. The patient has a child with them.”
5.2. Lectura 1: Medicaciones y prescripciones
https://chatgpt.com/share/957026dc-61fb-4e34-abb0-ef119c489eca
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and simple vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How do health professionals use medications and prescriptions to help patients?
- What are some examples of common types of medications and prescriptions?
- Why is it important to clearly explain dosage, compliance, overdose, and interaction between medications to Spanish-speaking patients?
- How can health professionals help Spanish-speaking patients feel comfortable about the side effects of medications and prescriptions to encourage treatment compliance?”
5.5. Lectura 2: Remedios Caseros
https://chatgpt.com/share/061e44df-e073-49d9-9468-0a9d06baa869
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and simple vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- Why is it important that health professionals are aware of the use of home remedies in Hispanic populations?
- What are some of the most common (at least 6) culturally specific home remedies in Hispanic households?
- Where does Hispanic’s reliance on home remedies come from?
- How can a health professional be culturally sensitive about hispanic home remedies while they offer effective treatments?”
Chapter 6 - Exámenes y pruebas de diagnóstico
Main Chapter Image
“Create an image of a hispanic male patient getting an X-ray with an X-ray technician.”
6.2. Lectura 1:
https://chatgpt.com/share/0ab498c1-b035-4bbf-855b-3d183ac4f8f3
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How do health professionals use medical exams and diagnostic tests to help patients
- What are some examples of common medical exams
- What are some examples of common diagnostic tests
- How can health professionals put patients at ease when undergoing medical exams and diagnostic tests”
6.5. Lectura 2: El pudor y los tabús
https://chatgpt.com/share/411e18ae-0b5e-4066-a5df-208446fac08e
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How can cultural taboos and modesty interfere with effective care of Hispanic patients
- What are some cultural taboos in Hispanic culture that can interfere with medical treatment
- How does modesty manifest in Hispanic females hindering their healthcare
- How can health professionals navigate issues of modesty and cultural taboos in order to provide effective care”
Chapter 7 - Tratamientos y procedimientos médicos
Main Chapter Image
“A colorful image of an operating room. There is a smiling patient on the operating table.”
7.2. Lectura 1: Tratamientos y procedimientos medicos
https://chatgpt.com/share/f0f9e651-88af-4d26-9a9f-2eb1435226d6
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and simple vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How do health professionals communicate the need for treatment and medical procedures?
- What are some examples of common treatments (exclude medications)?
- What are some examples of common medical procedures? (exclude medical and diagnostic exams, but do not say you are excluding them)?
- How can health professionals put patients at ease when undergoing treatment and medical procedures?”
7.5. Lectura 2: Participación familiar
https://chatgpt.com/share/dc2d0011-ee08-4532-83c4-317da391f651
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and simple vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- Can you discuss the cultural significance of the family in Hispanic populations, particularly regarding healthcare decision-making?
- How does family involvement impact healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction in Hispanic communities?
- What challenges or barriers may arise when incorporating family input into healthcare decisions for Hispanic individuals?
- Can you provide 5 examples that illustrate the positive effects of family involvement in healthcare decisions within Hispanic familism culture?”
Chapter 8 - Emergencias y primeros auxilios
Main Chapter Image
“A colorful image of a boy with a skinned knee. A nurse is taking care of him.”
8.2. Lectura 1: Emergencias y primeros auxilios
https://chatgpt.com/share/ce578016-225e-4cb2-8318-29dedd96c9f3
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are some common emergencies and first aid scenarios that health professionals tend to
- How can medical professionals better prepare to tend to emergencies
- What are some obstacles people face for getting emergency attention
- What can people do to prevent health emergencies or be better prepared for them”
8.5. Lectura 2: Personalismo y confianza
https://chatgpt.com/share/933c6526-97c7-40df-be8e-b015c907724a
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What is the meaning of personalismo and confianza in the context of Hispanic cultural values?
- How do the cultural values of personalismo and confianza influence healthcare interactions and outcomes for Hispanic patients?
- What strategies can healthcare providers employ to build personalismo and confianza with their Hispanic patients effectively?
- What potential challenges might healthcare providers face in incorporating personalismo and confianza into their practice, and how can they overcome these challenges?”
Chapter 9 - Salud mental
Main Chapter Image
“Create a colorful image of a person sitting on a park bench surrounded by trees, flowers and birds. The sun is shining and the person is smiling.”
9.2. Lectura 1: La salud mental
https://chatgpt.com/share/d462427a-58f2-4001-aaf9-682a42a39bfc
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How does mental health affect people’s health in general?
- Why should all medical professionals be aware of the importance of mental health in their patients?
- What are some of the most important mental health professionals, what do they do, and in which varied settings do they offer their services? This will be important for referrals.
- What are common mental health conditions occurring in Hispanic populations, and how do these affect their general health?”
9.5. Lectura 2: Estigma y salud mental
https://chatgpt.com/share/161b309e-3618-4d19-b165-b238604d7dd8
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How can mental health stigma interfere with effective health care of Hispanic patients?
- What are some examples of mental health stigmas in Hispanic culture that can interfere with medical treatment?
- How does mental health stigma manifest differently in Hispanic males and females hindering their healthcare?
- How can health professionals navigate issues of mental health stigma to provide effective care?”
Chapter 10 - El Embarazo
Main Chapter Image
“A colorful image of a pregnant woman and her family in a doctor's office. The nurse is listening attentively.”
10.2. Lectura 1:
https://chatgpt.com/share/7a3eb5ac-1cb7-4856-8f32-acca14533787
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How can pregnancy affect the general health of a woman and what are some common ailments they suffer
- What prenatal care is important for the health of a woman and her baby
- What are some other medical professionals pregnant women can visit besides her regular doctor and gynecologists in order to address other health problems
- What do health professionals have to take into account when treating a Hispanic pregnant woman”
10.5. Lectura 2:
https://chatgpt.com/share/7b523d36-29ab-4fcd-8635-472feb187ea0
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- How have gender roles developed in Hispanic cultures
- What are some gender expectations for Hispanic males
- What are some gender expectations for Hispanic females
- How can gender roles for Hispanic males and females affect their health”
Chapter 11 - Tercera edad
Main Chapter Image
“A colorful image of two elderly people, sitting on a park bench. It is a beautiful sunny day. three friends and their dog.”
11.2. Lectura 1: Hispanic elderly medical needs
https://chatgpt.com/share/0c7b9004-2152-4aa6-9825-e138bc2ed671
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are some of the most common health concerns for the elderly?
- What health professionals are involved in the care of elders?
- What do health professionals have to consider when treating elders?
- What are some effective strategies for improving access to healthcare services for elders?”
11.5. Lectura 2: El valor de los abuelitos en las comunidades hispanas
https://chatgpt.com/share/6c326b7d-f085-45e6-9a3e-2b3e6e90e68d
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are the contributions of the Hispanic elderly/abuelitos to their families, community, and the preservation of familial and cultural history and cultural values?
- What are the caregiving roles and values of abuelitos in Hispanic families and communities?
- Who takes care of the Hispanic elderly/abuelitos, and how is this related to the value of family and cross-generational ties?
- Why do many Hispanics have a negative view of nursing homes?”
Chapter 12 - Promoción de la salud
Main Chapter Image
“A colorful image of a family watching a tv where a doctor is speaking and showing vegetables.”
12.2. Lectura 1: La promoción de la salud
https://chatgpt.com/share/bbb70b92-f6ec-4eb2-94b6-acaf15a07896
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions, each in one paragraph:
- What is the role of health professionals in promoting health in their communities and what are some of the ways they can achieve that.
- What are some of the main actions people should take for better health (include vaccines, diet and exercise)
- What are the social benefits of a more healthy community
- What are some of the mediums health professionals can use to promote health in a community”
12.5. Lectura 2: Alimentos y nutrición
https://chatgpt.com/share/570585b3-9c9c-4afb-aaa6-70c2b9db6e14
“Write a 400-word essay in Spanish using short sentences and vocabulary at intermediate level. The essay should answer the following four questions:
- What are some diseases related to diet and nutrition
- What characteristics of Hispanic diets can be detrimental for health
- What characteristics of Hispanic diets can be beneficial for health
- How can health professionals encourage healthy eating habits among Hispanics”
Book Cover
A composite of several iterations of the following prompt:
“Draw a nine panel comic book style group where each of the panels has a different health professional. dressed as a super hero. Panels should be different sizes. Include doctors, nurses, veterinarians, dentists, psychologists, social workers, radiologists. Display diverse ethnicities and age groups. Include men and women.”
"Draw a nine panel comic book style group" prompt. Microsoft Copilot, March 17, 2024, https://copilot.microsoft.com/