Derek Spath of Rochester, New York, is in his undergraduate program at the University of Buffalo. He is an ambitious young man and has already completed two immersion programs and already is planning future medical rotations abroad! In the summer of 2013, he attended ECELA’s Medical Spanish program in Cusco, Peru, and he gives a good look at the program and what to expect. His heartfelt descriptions will help you feel his passion for language and helping others, and he will introduce you to a couple crazy(and amusing) Spanish words.
0:23 – Classroom classes & Salamanca, Spain
1:15 – Sibling rivalry Spanish
2:00 – Immersion in Spain vs. immersion in Peru
3:27 – How to ensure college credit
5:49 – His friend family thinks he’s crazy
6:55 – Conversation & grammar courses in Medical Spanish program
8:55 – Varied Spanish students – Medical Spanish program and general immersion program
10:17 – Keeping in touch with peers
11:27 – Infectious disease, pediatrics, and other medical shadowing opportunities
14:24 – Breakdown of six-week program
15:19 – Safety & accessibility of ECELA Cusco
17:12 – Why Derek chooses a homestay in every country
19:44 – ¡Tío Derek!
20:00 – Derek recommends his top two (well, maybe three) weekend trips
23:18 – Cusco’s friendliness
23:35 – Derek’s language-learning plans summarized: ambitious
24:46 – The reason to learn a language
25:13 – Calling card as a future physician
25:28 – Finals week & medical school early acceptance
26:23 – Otorrinolaringólogo
27:33 – Estafar (Spanish humor!)
28:25 – Parting words of encouragement