Language Learning Tools  

Radio Lingua Network offers many Coffee Break podcasts.

LiveMocha connects users with lessons and learning communities.

BBC Languages provides audio and video lessons for many languages.

LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOME, 2000

English Only  83.9%

   Chicopee   79.2%

   Holyoke     57.2%

   Springfield  68.4%

Spanish/Spanish Creole 8.2%

   Chicopee     7.1%

   Holyoke     35.8%

   Springfield  23.5%

French 1.5%

   Chicopee    3.7%

   Holyoke      1.9%

   Springfield   1.3%

Portuguese/Portuguese Creole 0.9%

   Chicopee    1.8%

   Holyoke     0.3%

   Springfield  0.7%

Italian  0.7%

   Chicopee    0.3%

   Holyoke      0.2%

   Springfield   1.1%

Russian  0.7%

   Chicopee   0.9%

   Holyoke    0.1%

   Springfield 0.7%

French Creole  0.04%

   Chicopee     0.07%

   Holyoke      0.03%

   Springfield   0.06%

Other  4.1%

   Polish        1.4%

   Chinese      0.4%

   Vietnamese 0.3%

SOURCE:  Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, Health Information, Statistics, Research & Evaluation Bureau, Research & Epidemiology Program

Learning to communicate with people in a second language is a thrilling experience.  Please keep in mind that you must study for years to become sufficiently fluent to interact with patients or their family members in your non-native language in a medical setting. 

For an adventure and an intensive language and cultural learning experience, please review the various programs offered through Language Link.  The program in Antigua, Guatemala continues to be the best deal in terms of language instruction and cost.  Please direct questions about this resource to Tim Moriarty, Manager of Interpreter & Translation Services for Baystate Health.

If you’d like to stay local but receive some structured language courses, please contact The International Language Institute of Massachusetts in Northampton. Staff members from this school provide the on-site Spanish classes at Baystate Health (see below). 

Borrow a laptop loaded with RosettaStone Spanish (Latin American) Level I-V.

• Request RosettaStone Laptop. 
• Audio CDs

PLEASE NOTE: Federal and state law as well as the Joint Commission mandate that Baystate Health provides trained medical interpreters to patients with limited or no fluency in English. Use of these educational tools is for relationship-building purposes only.

Borrow Pimsleur Spanish(Latin American) audio CDs and mp3s.  Email library@baystatehealth.org for information.

Borrow Transparent Language Spanish Software on USB drive.  Email library@baystatehealth.org for information.

If you have a demonstrated work need you may sign up for Employee Development classes for Introduction to Spanish for Healthcare Professionals.  These classes fill up quickly!   

PLEASE NOTE: Federal and state law as well as the Joint Commission mandate that Baystate Health provides trained medical interpreters to patients with limited or no fluency in English. Use of these educational tools is for relationship-building purposes only.

Free online 123 Teach Me Medical Spanish.  Medical interviews, reviews of systems and more.

Polyglot 3.0 Multimedia Medical Spanish & English Translator is available online (mobile app through iTunes!)

Purchase this pocket medical phrase book Speedy Spanish for Nursing Personnel from the Health Sciences Library for $5.95 plus tax.  We are open 7:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday.  We accept cash, check or credit card. 

PLEASE NOTE: Federal and state law as well as the Joint Commission mandate that Baystate Health provides trained medical interpreters to patients with limited or no fluency in English. Use of these educational tools is for relationship-building purposes only.

Free online lessons with Coffee Break Spanish.  Podcasts available!

Free online lessons with Livemocha.  Online communities help keep you motivated.

Free online lessons with BBC Languages.  Audio magazines and crossword puzzles.   

PLEASE NOTE: Federal and state law as well as the Joint Commission mandate that Baystate Health provides trained medical interpreters to patients with limited or no fluency in English. Use of these educational tools is for relationship-building purposes only.

The Interpreter & Translation Services Department provides trained and competent medical interpreters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help medical staff communicate with limited English proficient (LEP), deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and their families.  The department provides services throughout Baystate Health via staff and contract in-person interpreters, video interpreting, and telephonic interpreting.