The SOM Global Health Language Initiative

Purpose
The SOM Global Health Language Initiative funds certain language expenses for students interested in global health and desiring language acquisition through remote learning, which does not involve travel.
Details

$300-$600 for remote language classes for medical students in their 4th/final year after entering Career Launch. It is possible to receive UCSF academic credit for language acquisition. See below for details and requirements.

Eligibility
SOM medical students
Because global health funding is limited, for short-term funding from any UCSF funding source, students are eligible in the summer after year one for Summer Explore research funds, and again in 4th year after entering Career Launch.

Award
$300 (20 hours)-$600 (40 hours) for one-on-one remote tutoring instruction
Note: the award may not cover the whole cost for this remote tutoring
or
$375 for up to 6 months of on-line self-study Spanish instruction through Canopy
Requirements

1. Must be a registered UCSF medical student, who is not in MSTP.

2. In 4th/final year after entering career launch.

3. Students are not eligible to apply for funding or credit to begin language study during a quarter when they are on a LOA.

4. Priority given to students who have shown interest in global health or work with under-resourced populations.

5. Funding and credit are available only for primary languages of under-served settings in resource-limited countries.

6. Classes by teachers from recognized language schools are held by Zoom or another video medium for remote tutoring. Pop Wuj, Cachamsi, and the Chinese Language Institute are already approved for remote tutoring. For Spanish, on-line self-study instruction with Canopy is another approved option.

7. Students who wish to use other remote tutors: the tutor must be part of a language school, have a 20 and a 40-hour learning option, and must be able to give a certificate of completion if the student achieves the correct number of hours. This alternative language school must be approved in advance of study or application for funding by emailing Travis.Pentz@ucsf.edu.

8. Students are not eligible to apply for funding or credit to begin language study during a quarter when they are on a LOA.

• Students must apply by the deadline during the quarter before they plan to start the remote tutoring or the on-line self-study. If they need to change the dates of their credit after receiving funding, email Wenia.Lee@ucsf.edu. Students taking the on-line self-study through Canopy should apply for funding early in career launch, in order to give themselves time to complete the language instruction.

9. Student can be granted funding or credit or both. For students getting credit or funding, documentation of language study 1) a document of completion from the language school and 2) a brief description of the student’s experience with their language school and how it will affect their future medical work must be submitted to Travis.Pentz@ucsf.edu.

For credit (IDS 198 pass/fail) with or without funding: Students who get funding will have their names sent automatically to Wenia Lee. Students who want credit without funding must send information about their self-paid language study to Wenia Lee and Travis Pentz.

For remote tutoring: 3 units of credit can be earned for 20 hours of class instruction. 6 units of credit can be earned for 40 hours of class instruction. Language study documentation must be sent by the end of the quarter during which they are enrolled in IDS 198.

For on-line self-study through Canopy: 3 units of credit can be earned if students get a certificate of completion from level one and/or level two. 6 units of credit can be earned if they have a certificate of completion from level 3. Language study documentation must be sent by the end of the quarter during which they are enrolled in IDS 198.

For funding without credit: Students who get funding will have their names sent automatically to Wenia Lee.

For remote tutoring: $300 is awarded for 20 hours of class instruction. $600 is awarded for 40 hours of class instruction. Language study documentation must be reported within 8 weeks of the funding award.
• For on-line self-study through Canopy
$375 is awarded for up to 6 months of on-line self-study Spanish instruction within 6 months after your funding award. Language study documentation must be reported within 6 months of the funding award.
Note: Graduating students must finish their language classes and send language study documentation to Travis Pentz by the last day of Spring Quarter.

10. After their study, students may have their language ability assessed through the UCSF Interpreting Service Department, which uses the ALTA proficiency exam. Those who pass will receive a Certified Bilingual Clinician designation for their identification badge. Students should be at a general professional level of proficiency before taking the exam. Interested students should send their names and email addresses to bilingual@ucsf.edu. There is no fee for the assessment.

Length
N/A
Contact

For additional questions, please contact Travis Pentz or inquiry@ucsf.edu.

Language partners see this link for more information.

 

Location
UCSF
Application

This is a UCSF funding source, dispersed by the Inquiry Funding Office. To begin, verify the next deadline for Quarterly Grant applications under “Applications and Deadlines” on the Inquiry Funding Office website. 

Funding Sources
Funding Type
Global Health