Limited English proficiency (LEP) is one of the potentially important factors that separate many immigrants and native born from social, economic, health and health behaviors and from many other dimensions. For immigrants who do not speak English well or at all, language barriers may contribute to health disparities by impeding health related communication. In the existing literature, analyses of the association between language barriers and immigrants’ health and health care behavior have received considerable attention. The literature on both the US and Canada generally finds that limited language-proficient immigrants tend to use the general medical care system less with potentially negative health effects (see for example Pippins et al.,
Nearly all Haitian immigrants entering the U.S. are poorly educated, illiterate, and speak only Creole, which is seldom seen in written form. Creole is a “pidgin” language, meaning it is a simplified form of a base language with parts of other languages added. These types of languages were frequently used by sailors, pirates, and other trade people to accommodate the span of communication needs they faced. Haitian Creole is thought to have been derived by combining various native African dialects with the French language of their owners. Very few Haitians (10%) can actually speak French, and one’s ability to do so is seen as an indicator of social class. Because of Haitian views that Creole is the language used by the poor and uneducated, many will claim to be able to speak French and become insulted if it is suggested that they speak Creole. This can pose a problem for the healthcare worker trying to find a way to communicate. Often the only interpreters available to a family are their children who have learned English in schools here. This can create conflict within the family therefore a facility provided interpreter usually produces a better outcome. Written materials are often of no use to the Haitian immigrant.
Monzó and Rueda (2009) conducted a study examining the concept of passing for English proficient in Latino immigrant children. They studied a group of Latino English language learners (ELLs) in and outside of school. They not only observed these students but also interviewed them as well. Within these interviews students opened up about their feelings about their first language, English, and their place in American society. Monzó and Rueda (2009) then found within their data the most common forms of passing for English proficient that these students used.
How are Hispanics getting help with English and what obstacles or barriers are they facing? That is an extremely good question. Everyday, more and more Hispanics are making a move to the United States in hopes of a better life. The only problem is that many of them can not speak any English at all. Since the United States is basically an English speaking nation, it is important that Hispanics learn English to be able to adjust to life within the United States. But, that is easier said than done because it is not easy to get Hispanics the help that they need in learning English. There have to be people who are willing to tutor and fund programs. Of course, there are always obstacles or barriers that stands in the way of progress.
According to Penner et al. (2013), there are various causes of healthcare disparities, such as socioeconomic status; this results to poor healthcare services for people with low socioeconomic status, as people with low pay find it difficult to leave their work to seek healthcare help, or to afford healthcare insurance (p.4). The second cause is language proficiency. The language barriers faced by the immigrant plays a role in the healthcare disparities among the racial or ethnic minority patients. Another cause is health literacy. The levels of the health literacy among the foreign born individuals can be influenced by their higher level of distrust of the healthcare providers and healthcare system than they have towards Caucasian people. This, in turn, leads them to seek healthcare information less often than their Caucasian counterparts, thus hindering the provision of quality services, as well as limiting the foreign patients’ ability to manage their health conditions effectively. The foreigners’ failure to easily accept the information provided to them by healthcare providers puts them at risk. Disentangling the role of health literacy in racial healthcare disparities from the effects of racial attitudes and beliefs is often hard (Penner et al,
Goode, T. D., Dunne, M. C., & Bronheim, S. M. (2006). The evidence base for cultural and linguisitc competence in healthcare. The Commonweatlh Fund , 1-46.
pp. 197-205 Singleton, K., & Krause, E. (2009). Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health literacy. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3). United Nations.
Multicultural health issues can present challenges to providing quality primary care and practitioners are in a strong position to improve the health of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Health care organizations have made intense progresses and revolutions during the last few decades, resulting in rapid growth of technology and theory. Some of the changes are introduction of new health based technology, meeting consumer demand for quality care, increased patient acuity and increases the burden of escalating healthcare expenditure. It focuses on primary health care which is the basic entry level of health care. The principle of primary health care is equity, acceptability, cultural competence, affordability, and
The use of the husband as a translator has its limitations, for example, the midwife is unable to verify that the information that passes through the translator, meaning it is possible for the husband to withhold or falsify information to either party. In such instances this may be seen as a contributing factor to domestic abuse, as this can either purposely, or inadvertently, affect the health of mother or fetus. Thirty-four, non-English speaking women, died between the antenatal and post-partum period, between 2003 and 2005 (Lewis, 2007). It should be highlighted that not speaking English has only an associated risk of maternal death, rather than causal. This statistic is influenced by many obstetric factors, as well as homicides, thus this
When you come to the United States, you don’t think about the experience that you will face in here. The most important thing people don’t think about is the language, totally different from yours, like Spanish, how you are going to use it, when, at what specifically moment, how long is going take you to learn it, spoke the language, to write in English, what about people who go to school. The English is one of the most difficult things in the United State when you come to this country, because with the language you work, study and get prepare for a better future in here. I agree with this because, one of them is me. I have faced three experienced with the language here on this country, and them three in the school that I have attempt to. The three schools are in Veterans Memorial School, Woodrow Wilson High School and Camden Academy Charter High School.
Due to America’s diverse population, a language barrier has developed between people of different race. The language barrier has caused numerous fatal accidents. Exhibiting lack of communication skills can not only play an essential role in fatal accidents but also prevent individuals for receiving the proper care after an accident has occurred(Brice). If the medical care provider and the patient cannot communicate effectively then the patient is unable to receive the proper treatment for his or her injuries. Speaking one language can cause society to develop effective communication skills, which can prevent unnecessary accidents from occurring (Dowd).
Flores, G., and S. C. Tomany-Korman. (2008): "The Language Spoken at Home and Disparities in Medical and Dental Health, Access to Care, and Use of Services in US Children." Pediatrics 121.6 E1703-1714. Print.
Transitioning from one language to another can be very ecstatic, to some and to others it can be very inconsequential. “Seventy-four percent of Hispanics interviewed in English said they know a second language” (J.M Jones 2013). I work at a job where 95% of the customers speak another language from english and it becomes very difficult for us to communicate at times. Immigrants came to a country where the primary language is English as making this transition they should take into consideration that their language may not be the primary language. I was an immigrant as well not being born in America, coming from Germany when I was quite young, I have an understanding on how difficult it may be to learn a language you’re not familiar with, but it has opened so many opportunities for me that wouldn’t have been available to me if it wasn’t for me learning the country's primary language. Immigrants should be required by law to learn the basics of English.
In today’s society, especially in the United States, most people are monolingual English speakers. As a result, these monolingual speakers are at a significant disadvantage compared to those who speak more than one language fluently. This disadvantage is crucial to realize since it is important to learn how individuals and the nation can be enhanced. Multilingual speakers have an advantage in global affairs that involve countries that speak different languages. Speaking multiple languages makes it easier to communicate with people when involved in foreign affairs. Those who speak multiple languages are also more aware of other cultures in society. Monolingual speakers are not as exposed to other cultures and have difficulty understanding or even recognizing them. Furthermore, being multilingual increases your
Who is an immigrant? An immigrant is a person who has a citizenship in one country but enters another country to set up as a permanent resident. Sometimes countries are suffering greatly from lack of leadership, internal strife or war, and a collapsed economy. This is the case in Somalia, as well as in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Syrian people are moving to Europe in order to find a peaceful home. Mexican immigrants come to the US looking for jobs. The people then move to new countries where they don’t speak the national language. In America, when the immigrants come, there are many difficulties: cultural differences regarding time and scheduling, transportation issues, and language difficulties.
“I decided to become a teacher because I thought that I could do it better then my teachers did. I quickly learned that teaching isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.” Dr. Proser quickly learned that teaching English would be as easy as he thought it may have been. He may be a better teacher then his were, many CHS students would agree, but also found out that why it was so hard to teach English. There are many reasons why teaching English is difficult. First and major reason is the constant changing, and new words that are being brought into the language. While many of these words that are being are classified as slang, these words may become more and more common. In addition, many of the forms of languages that were used in the writing that students read are no longer used. Also, the change in styles of writing which have occurred make it hard for any student to completely understand what each writer is trying to say.