Learn to use Spanish in agricultural and veterinary settings
There is increasing awareness of the need for basic, field-specific communication skills in Spanish on the part of animal science and veterinary professionals working with livestock workers and Spanish-speaking pet owners. To ensure operations run smoothly, employees can communicate, and animals get the care they need, it's important for those who work in farm and veterinary settings to learn basic, field-specific Spanish.
This course is ideal for livestock farm managers and owners, veterinary professionals, or students who plan to pursue a career in related fields. If this applies to you, this online course will teach you intermediate-level Spanish language skills to effectively communicate with workers, clients, and others about the animals you manage and care for.
Build practical communication skills
This course is different than typical Spanish language courses. The material covered is applied and task-focused rather than grammar-driven. Lessons focus on functional vocabulary and real-life communication skills necessary for field-specific work interactions. Watch videos, listen to audio recordings, complete interactive hands-on materials, and read selected texts to learn to converse about subjects.
You will learn to:
- Describe common livestock, equine, and small animal breeds and their anatomy.
- Issue and follow basic instructions in Spanish for animal care and handling.
- Describe different areas of animal housing and care facilities.
- Identify and describe animal health status and irregular behavior.
- Issue and follow basic instructions about vaccination and drug administration.
- Issue and follow basic instructions about safety guidelines regarding animal care.
- Explain the rationale behind preventive animal care.
You must have at least novice- to mid-level proficiency in Spanish, or the equivalent of three semesters of study. Heritage speakers or people who have had Spanish immersion experiences may also qualify. A placement exam can substitute for course prerequisite. For questions, please contact the instructors.
This course can be applied toward:
This course is also available as a noncredit option. See the LGBB 2002 course page if you want the content, but don't need the college credits.
Instructor of both Spanish and English as a Second/Foreign language, Shannon received M.A. degrees in both English and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture from Colorado State University and a B.A. degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of New Mexico. Though born in the United States, Shannon was raised in Colima, Mexico from age 10. Having faced being immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment as a monolingual English speaker, Shannon has an avid passion for teaching language and fostering productive communication across languages and cultures. Shannon’s graduate work focused on teaching languages for specific purposes, specifically Spanish for Animal Health and Care. She is passionate about creating and teaching classes that address language needs that affect the well-being of both animals and stakeholders in the animal care professions in a positive and inclusive manner.