Skip to main content
x

This website, owned by SIL International, provides detailed background information about less common languages.  Many of the indigenous languages have profiles. 

Note: Wikipedia also contains a variety of sites describing the basic characteristics of each of the indigenous languages. 

Western NC Workers Center:  Located in Morganton, North Carolina, the Western NC Workers Center is a non-profit group of community organizers.  This organization currently has a number of outreach and education projects which work to uphold the rights of immigrant and low wage employees in Western North Carolina.  They also work with high levels of Guatemalan immigrants who speak indigenous languages.  One of their projects designed to reach indigenous language speakers is their Promotora Education project, which uses scenario picture books without words to educate low literacy populations about health and work safety. 

Contact:

Francisco Risso                                                                                                                (828) 432-5080                                                                                                             fjrisso@hotmail.com

Mayan Ministries:  Organized through the Diocese of Palm Beach in Florida, Maya Ministries works to address the needs of Mayan immigrants to the area.  These Mayan workers speak up to 25 different dialects of Mayan indigenous languages, but most can speak Spanish as well.  The organization’s main services are literacy programs for families, adult education programs, and early childhood education programs for children who have English as a second language.  They also offer a variety of social services referrals and translating specifically for Mayan immigrants.  They have a Literacy Program funded by the Department of Education that was written in the Mayan indigenous language Canjobal. 

 

Contact Information:

1615 Lake Ave.
P.O. Box 209 
Lake Worth, Fl 33460-0209

General information: http://www.mayaministry.com

Translating Health Care is a video by the New York Times. It illustrates how Minneapolis has taken in waves of immigrants with distinctive patterns of beliefs about health. Other topics covered include: cultural competency, health translation, interpreters, immigrant health care, culturaly sensitive healthcare, and challenges for the healthcare worker.

Free tutorial for medical Spanish, including recorded dialogues.

This site is presented as a free medical Spanish immersion, with vocabulary including greetings, history, examination, and everyday speech, all with translation and audio. It is designed to be helpful for a variety of medical personnel. In addition to introducing Spanish medical terms, this site will hopefully improve fluency and even cultural competency.

Each dialogue consists of a few statements from the patient, the patient's family, and healthcare providers. Click to hear my voice and pronunciation. Then, repeat aloud everything you hear. When listening to Spanish medical phrases, feel free to use the pause button, and, of course, replay the recordings when needed.

Developed by the Cambridge Advanced Practice Center for Emergency Preparedness, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. This sturdy and colorful brochure allows you to determine what language is spoken (15 choices); clinic signage included, as well as screening and treatment diagrams. The NYS Department of Health has also developed The POD Quick Card, which is similar in nature.  The NYSDOH requests that you contact them for permission to adapt the Quick Card for any other use.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes revised Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons

Download Resource

Simple 2-pages of tips for providers working with health care interpreters both trained and untrained.

Download Resource

Standards of practice are a set of guidelines that define what an interpreter does in the performance of his or her role. These standards describe what is considered “best practice” by the profession and ensure a consistent quality of performance.

"I speak XXX language" cards in 38 different languages to use to help identify a patient's native language. This tool could be very helpful, but only when dealing with literate populations.

Download Resource

An educational institution approved by the government of Guatemala. The program is based on one-to-one communication, which increases the learners confidence in their spanish language learning experience.

Health Information Translations is a collaborative initiative to improve health education for limited English proficiency patients.