• Participants: Limited to 2 participants at a time to ensure a high-quality experience.

• Length of Study: Up to 6 months. The program is currently prioritizing short-term stays (1-3 months).

• Earliest Start Date: In-person student availability is tentatively set for May.

• Study Commitment: A minimum of 12-15 hours a week of Spanish classes is recommended, with a maximum of three hours a day suggested to prevent burnout. Clinical time will be balanced with Spanish learning with up to 4 hours per weekday during your length of study. 

The curriculum is built on a parallel learning pathway that balances foundational Spanish with specialized medical vocabulary:

• Core Focus: Functional medical Spanish, patient interviewing, essential clinical communication, and commonly used terminology in a Latin American healthcare setting, all taught alongside essential grammar and conjugation.

• Resources: Participants will use specialized resources, including medical dictionaries and a "medical situations" booklets.

• Clinical Communication Practice—Guided conversational sessions, simulated clinical interactions, and supervised practice designed to prepare participants for real-world patient engagement.

• Cultural & Community Language Integration—Emphasis on Honduran expressions, relational norms, and culturally sensitive communication used in hospitals, clinics, and rural communities.

• Staff Expertise: Teachers have undergone regular training with medical doctors to ensure the transmission of accurate, up-to-date information about the Honduran medical system.

Participants will gain valuable experience through established and developing clinical partnerships:

• Hands-on Learning: Clinical time in both an urban and rural clinical setting during study at the Spanish Institute of Honduras.

• Independence: Participants are not expected to treat or diagnose patients independently without a translator, especially in the early stages.

• Advanced Programs: Independence in seeing patients is more likely to develop during the six- or nine-month programs.

• Spanish Classes: 12 hours/week—Focus on functional medical Spanish, patient interviewing, essential clinical communication, and commonly used terminology in Honduran healthcare settings.

• Clinical Communication Practice—Guided conversational sessions, simulated clinical interactions, and supervised practice designed to prepare participants for real-world patient engagement.

• Cultural & Community Language Integration—Emphasis on Honduran expressions, relational norms, and culturally sensitive communication used in hospitals, clinics, and rural communities.

• Online Preparation: For those planning a visit in the future, online classes are encouraged to help build a base and prepare for the in-person immersion.

• Housing Options: Housing can be arranged on a case-by-case basis, with options including:

  • Renting apartments or houses

  • Living with an immersion host family

• Cost- Participants will be responsible for transportation, housing, food, and language school tuition (See SIH Website, cost $13 per hour with $50 application fee). A financial donation is encouraged to the clinical practice site and the Hospital Yojoa Team will equip you with peer-to-peer fundraising option. 

• Spanish language and cultural immersion school located in Siguatepeque, Honduras. 

• Established in 2010, our heart has been to serve missionaries and families who are preparing to live and work in Spanish-speaking communities.

• Personalized Spanish instruction through one-on-one classes, small groups, homeschool programs, medical Spanish, and online learning. The program is built around real-life communication, cultural understanding, and relationships, not just textbooks.

At SIH, students become part of a community. SIH walks alongside as you learn the language, adjust to a new culture, and settle into life in Honduras. Each year, SIH serves hundreds of students from around the world, with the goal of helping them communicate effectively, serve confidently, and thrive cross-culturally.