Episode 20 - How Do People Actually Learn a Language? A Linguist’s Take on Medical Spanish with Dr. Allison Yakel

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of NAMS MedCast, we take a step back from the clinic to explore the science behind language learning itself.Our guest, Dr. Allison Yakel, holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Houston and has more than seven years of experience teaching Spanish at the university level, from foundational conversation to specialized terminology. Having lived and worked in Spanish-speaking countries and completed both her master’s and doctoral degrees entirely in Spanish, Dr. Yakel brings a unique perspective as both a linguist and a second-language learner.Dr. Yakel shares her perspective on the process of language acquisition, the importance of sociocultural context when learning Spanish, and the differences between heritage speakers and traditional second-language learners. We also discuss her work creating bilingual children’s books, strategies for building sustainable language-learning habits, and practical advice for clinicians and educators developing Medical Spanish curricula.Whether you are teaching Medical Spanish, learning it yourself, or working to improve language access in healthcare, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into how people truly acquire language—and how that knowledge can help us communicate more effectively with patients.Hosted by: Manuel PanzardiGuests: Dr. Allison YakelNAMS Medcast Production Team: Alexis Spencer, Ana Suarez, Manuel Panzardi, Rafael RamosIntro and Outro Music:Bossa Samba Ballad by Studio Le BusStandard License Purchased through PremiumBeat by Shutterstock, Licence #3001308