Welcome to Culture Advantage!

You should be receiving your log in access to the online orientation shortly so you can become familiar with the course format and so you can try out the lessons on your computer.

During the orientation, please feel free to contact Marlene for assistance or if you have any questions.

Thank you and have fun learning!

40-Hour Program - Language-Specific

To receive a medical interpreting certificate, you need to complete the following successfully:

• Part 1: Medical Concepts in English (Introduction, Section 1, Section 2)
• Part 2: Medical Concepts in the non-English language - Assignments Only (2 Sections)
• Part 3: Medical Interpreting Skills  - Assignments submitted in both languages (3 Sections)
• Final Exam - both languages

Practice Sessions:

So we can monitor your progress and provide coaching and/or recommendations for improvement, participation in live, group practice sessions is required.

1. Part 1: One session while in Section 1 and one session while in Section 2.
2. Part 2: Practice Sessions for Part 2 are not included in this Program Plan. (You may be invited to attend if there are openings in the scheduled Part 2 sessions or you may sign up for private session.)
3. Part 3: One session while in Section 1 and one session while in Section 2. (There are three sections.)

The sessions are scheduled every Saturday for one hour each. If you want to continue on to the next section and did not attend a session, you should sign up for private session (extra fee).

Missing required practice sessions may delay your progress in your program plan.

The sessions are scheduled every Saturday for one hour each. If you want to continue on to the next section and did not attend a session, you should sign up for private session (extra fee).

Practice Sessions are scheduled on Saturdays for one hour each, over the phone. If you are located outside the US, you may attend by using a headset/microphone using your computer/Internet.

Course Due Dates - 40-Hour Program

In order to complete the program within your program plan time limit, each course has a due date.

You should plan on finishing each part in 3 weeks.

• Part 1: 3 weeks (Remember, there are two sections in Part 1.)
• Part 2: 3 weeks (Remember, there are two sections in Part 2.)
• Part 3: 3 weeks (Remember, there are three sections in Part 3.)

Final Evaluation should be reserved at least one week in advance for Spanish and longer reservation time for other languages.

Medical Translation Project

This should be discussed with Marlene while you are in Module 1 of the program.

Generally, medical translation projects are based on your medical specialty, for example, obstetrics, pediatrics, family practice, diabetes, etc.

Depending on the length of the project, you may receive either a 10-Hour Credit or 20-Hour Credit for the project.

Oral Skills Evaluation (OSE)

The OSE is a live testing of your professional medical interpreting skills.

The OSE must be scheduled while you are in Module 1 and reserved at least one week in advance for Spanish, two weeks in advance for other languages.

The date will be approved based on mentor's availability and the openings in the schedule.

They are conducted on Sundays for one hour each, over the phone or over the Internet if you are located outside the US.

 

Monthly Extension - to continue the program beyond your Program Plan End Date.

If a student is unable to complete the program within the program end date, a monthly extension may be requested.

Please click here for the current fee:

https://www.jotform.com/cultad/extension-and-reinstatement

 

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Culture Advantage provides support for our students for extenuating circumstances. 

You may request a Leave of Absence if you have a situation that you are not able to log in for at least two weeks.

Please complete this form to request an LOA:

https://form.jotform.com/63544632949971

 

 

What is the difference between an LOA and Extension?

An LOA is used for extenuating circumstances.

What are extenuating circumstances?

"Extenuating Circumstances are serious and exceptional circumstances or events which are unexpected and unavoidable and outside of the student’s control." Examples of these may be serious illness or accident, death or serious illness of a close relative or friend or serious disruption to personal life – such as environmental events (fire, flooding), family events (marriage, birth of a child), business or school events (if currently enrolled as student or employment requirements.

Source: https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/Student-Life/Your-Studies/Assessment-and-Exams/Extenuating-Circumstances/

 

A monthly extension is requested if you are not able to complete the program within your program time limit. There is a fee to extend your program plan End Date.

For example, if you only have 2 weeks left on your Program Plan and you just started Part 3, you would need more time to complete the program.

You should request an extension so you can finish the program. Each extension is approved for one month only. If you need more time after one month, you should request another month extension.

Program Structure

First, you will receive access to the online orientation so you can become familiar with the course format.

After the orientation is completed, depending on your Program Plan, you will take a Brief Pretest before you start the lessons.

During the orientation, please feel free to contact me for assistance or with any questions.

Learning Portal

You will receive your own password and login access to the learning portal.

Logging in:

You may log in at any time. There is no limit to how many hours a day or how many times you log in to the learning portal.

Lessons:

Lessons are presented as:

Powerpoint, audios, videos. Not all of the lessons include audios and videos. If there are audios or videos, it is recommended to listen and/or watch the videos.

You may repeat the lessons as many times as needed to understand the lessons and to pass the quizzes. After every lesson and/or body system, there is a quiz or a learning activity to help you understand the concept.

After every section, there is a section final exam.

 

Performance Expectations

Satisfactory Performance means:

1. Passing grades on all quizzes. The passing grade for quizzes is 80%.

2. Satisfactory assignments (for required mentor-graded assignments)

3. Passing grades on Section Exams/Final Exams. The passing grade for exams is 90%.

4. Satisfactory performance in required practice sessions. 

For more information on performance expectations:

https://cultureadvantage.helpsite.com/articles/29703-what-happens-if-i-fail-an-exam

 

Other Activities

While you are in Part 1 of the program, you may receive invitations to other Culture Advantage courses such as CEU courses, webinars or presentations.

These are usually free to Part 1 students. If you receive invitations, please check Marlene if these are included in the free courses for Part 1 students.

Any student may sign up for our CEU courses (with a fee).

Any student may sign up for private coaching with a mentor in order to receive one-on-one feedback or if they wish to work on a specific topic or skill.  (Note: Private coaching may be required for a student based on performance.)

We hope that you will take advantage of these extra activities so you can continue to further enhance your skills!

Thank you for taking the program and looking forward to your participation!