Español

Some say one of the best ways to learn a language is to be “immersed” in it fully by traveling to a place where it is spoken exclusively. This was one of my main goals in coming to Peru, to improve my conversational Spanish so that I could better talk to Spanish-speaking patients as a medical resident.

From the outset of my trip, I kept my eyes and ears wide open, trying my best to absorb every Spanish conversation, tidbit, or printed word. I strained my ears to hear each phrase and tried to practice my tongue with every opportunity that presented itself – grabbing doctors, nurses, patients, waiters, taxi drivers, and tourists to talk to – anyone who would give me the light of day.

It was not easy, however. I could start conversations, but often found it hard to continue them. I strained and tripped over words, my tongue halted in mid-pronunciation, arms gesticulating wildly while struggling to convey what my mind was speaking, much to the dismay of the other party.

I’ve never quite felt this way before. In most places I’ve traveled, I could speak the local language or at least resort to English while the other person adapts. This time though, I tried my best to keep the conversation in Spanish, handicapping myself. If felt like I had a disease – a speech impediment – an inability to let out what was desperately trying to come out inside. Listening wasn’t any easier. I could make eye contact, attune my ears to every utterance, and nod appropriately, but alas, comprehension was not so easy. Oh, it was frustrating to not understand, and I could see the same reactions in the speaker when I greeted their extended statements or questions with a blank stare and an apologetic smile. If others were around, such as my much more fluent classmates, I was reminded of when I was a child, listening to my parents talk but not understanding the adults’ conversation.

My month-long lesson in Spanish was not in vain, though. I did improve greatly in my comprehension and eventually could understand the gist, at least, of patient summaries during rounds and found ways to express myself, if in very basic terms. Indeed, despite having studied Spanish for many years in high school, given my Spanish level prior to coming to Peru, it would be very hard not to improve.

I realize my initial goals of achieving fluency in four short weeks were a bit naïve, but I leave Peru with a greater appreciation of the Spanish language and Latin American culture, and hope to continue to build on this foundation as I meet and treat Spanish-speaking patients in the future.