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Awareness of where to access health literacy information and healthcare agencies is just the beginning of the information adult immigrant English language learners need to know. Sometimes the lack of language skills, the understanding of basic human physiology and related specialized medical vocabulary, becomes the first obstacle to making contact with medical providers.
The United States health care culture expects patients to be proactive in seeking health care, whether it is preventive care or emergency care. It is known that even a high percentage of fluent English speakers are also overwhelmed when accessing the system to seek health care. Then compound the situation with low level language and cultural barriers, the results are inappropriate health decisions when attempting to obtain medical attention. It is also known low level literacy learners have no idea how to advocate for themselves. The need for sensitive health instruction to help learners negotiate the health care system seems patently apparent.
Our goal is to help adult ESOL learners navigate the U.S. health system. There are numerous variables present in an individual classroom of learners with various diverse cultures. Instructors may not be familiar with countless learners' cultural beliefs regarding health issues. Learners may also want to know about the availability of alternative health care, which an instructor may not know. Examples of some of the alternative methods to health care learners inquire about are: Acupuncture, Chiropractic care, Hypnotherapy, Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, Meditation, Min-body therapies, Energy therapies, and other traditional practices that have evolved in different cultural groups.
The Internet provides a wide number of resources on both traditional and alternative health care, some reputable some not. Many are linguistically too challenging for lower level students, but are good references for an instructor.
- Alternative Medicine Digest. http://www.alternativemedicine.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=02AD61F001A74B5887D3BD11F6C28169. This site has some examples of advertising for alternative health care.
- Ask Dr. Weill. http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/index.html. This site gives students examples of health advice in fairly clear language, providing a good contrast between traditional and alternative remedies.
Instructors may find discussions of a personal nature uncomfortable and might discover a need to broaden their knowledge of availability of health information and resources in their community in order to meet the learner's needs. Materials available (brochures, articles, internet, pamphlets, books) may exist at a reading level too advanced for most learners.
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