Examining the impact of human-centered design in the language curriculum: A new framework for medical Spanish

This mixed-methods study examines the impact on student learning outcomes of integrating human-centered design (HCD) in a college-level medical Spanish course. The course contextualized language learning within a broader analysis of systemic factors contributing to health inequities and invited students to explore solutions to healthcare barriers affecting US Latinx communities. The study addresses two research questions: (1) How did the instructional toolkit support students' understanding of the interplay between language and culture in the health and wellness of US Latinx communities? and (2) What was the impact of the toolkit on student learning? Findings indicate that students enhanced their ability to communicate in Spanish about health-related topics and deepened their understanding of how languages and cultures intersect with the health and wellness of US Latinx communities. The study highlights the potential of HCD as an effective pedagogical tool in language education across various levels and content areas.