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"Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account. "
Anne Wilson Schaef was an American clinical psychologist and author. She was Cherokee (Native American), and her culture had an important impact on her work.
What do you think Wilson Schaef means in this quote? Do you agree with her?
Has your culture shaped your ideas about health? In what ways?
Writing Practice:
Writing Practice:
To get more writing practice, answer one of the questions above. Try to build your response into a full paragraph (or more), using examples and details to give the reader a clear picture of your idea! Share your writing with your teacher.
How to learn with these resources:
This Learning Kit focuses on your health and careers in healthcare. There will be articles for you to watch, read, and listen to. You will expand your vocabulary and content knowledge related to your interests. Here are some tips for making your studying most effective.
Before you begin, it's important to activate your thinking! Read the title. What do you think this piece will be about? Have you read anything like this before? Get a piece of paper and a dictionary (your phone is fine to use!). Be prepared to take notes and write down words you do not understand.
The first time you listen, try to determine the most important idea(s) of the article. Can you understand what is happening even if you don’t know every word? Then, listen and read again and write down any new words. Check your dictionary and then read the sentence again. Do you understand the sentence better now? Read and listen to the story as many times as you need to. Repeating helps you learn and remember.
At the end of each study session, use the recall strategy! Recall (sometimes called "retrieval practice") is a powerful learning strategy because your brain is very active. It's difficult! Here are the steps. To learn more about brain-based learning strategies, check out the Learning Scientists website!
When you are finished, write down what you thought the article was about in your own words. You can write a short summary of the most important points.
Choose 3-5 vocabulary words you want to practice. You can write your new words on flashcards, use them in sentences, and practice them with your friends and family.
Remember to report your independent work to your teacher!
Thanks to Sarah Lynn for sharing her "Total Recall" strategy with us!
Careers in Healthcare
Careers in Healthcare
Healthcare professionals are in high demand in Massachusetts. For example, we need about 3,000 more nurses in Western MA than we currently have!
Click on the "Pathways in Healthcare" map to see possible steps in a healthcare career.
What is a job you could do with little or no training?
What careers require short-term training, but don't need a college degree?
Which careers require short-term training plus a practicum?
Which careers need an associates, bachelors, or advanced degree?
You can click the links in the map to learn more about each step on the career pathway,
If you are considering these careers, talk to your advisor about how to achieve your goal!
Are you thinking about nursing as a career?
Are you thinking about nursing as a career?
Newsela is a news website for students who are learning English. Follow these steps to read the article:
The first thing you must do is sign in to the Newsela website. In the upper right hand corner, select the blue button that says SIGN IN.
Then select sign in with Google, click on the Google button. Use your HCC email.
In the upper right hand side of the page, there is a black and white button that allows you to change the difficulty of the reading. The higher the number, the more difficult.
There are learning activities included on the website. Click the tab on the right hand side of the page called activities and check your learning.
After you log in, click to read the article:
If you want to read more on Newsela, you'll find related articles at the bottom of each article, or you can search at the top. Explore and have fun!
Priscilla Choi was a student at Ludlow Area Adult Learning Center in 2016. She attended HCC and earned an Associates Degree in Foundations of Health. Now she is studying to become a Registered Nurse. Hear her experience and reflections!
Learn more about the Foundations of Health program!
Drug addiction
Drug addiction
She got help and now she helps others.
Change Agent is an online newspaper, written by and for adult learners.
You must sign in to the Change Agent website. The username is massachusetts and the password is changeagent
After you sign in, click the link below to see the story.
Click to read the article:
Do you want to write for the Change Agent? HCC ESOL students have had poetry, essays, and personal narratives published in the magazine! Talk to your teacher for help. More information is available here.
Interested in being a Pharmacy Technician?
Interested in being a Pharmacy Technician?
Here’s a great video for you.
YouTube is a useful site for many, many things. You do not need to sign in. Just click the link below and you will be connected.
Adjust the speed of the video by clicking on the setting dial and select Playback Speed.
Turn on closed captions or subtitles by selecting CC.
Franchelle Cruz de la Paz is originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico. She studied at Ludlow Area Adult Learning Center in 2017, and then studied to become a Pharmacy Technician through the JumpStart program at HCC. Hear about her experience, and what she plans to continue to advance in her career!
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Working as an EMT is a fast-paced, entry-level career in healthcare.
Learn about why one student has decided this is the right path for her. Read here.
HCC offers EMT training! More information here. Talk to you advisor to determine the steps if you're interested!
Vocabulary check!
Vocabulary check!
You've read many different articles so far! Take some time to review the new vocabulary you are learning. Send sentences with some of your new words to your teacher here.
Your Health
Your Health
Photo by William Felker on Unsplash
Food Justice
Food Justice
What we eat has a big impact on our health. Food justice is the idea that access to nutritious food should be thought of as a public-policy, health and civil-rights issue. Read about this community youth program that helps young people learn to cook and think about issues of food justice at the same time. The article is on Newsela.
Newsela is a news website for students who are learning English. Follow the steps below to read the article.
The first thing you must do is sign in to the Newsela website. In the upper right hand corner, select the blue button that says SIGN IN.
Then select sign in with Google, click on the Google button. Use your HCC email.
In the upper right hand side of the page, there is a black and white button that allows you to change the difficulty of the reading. The higher the number, the more difficult.
There are learning activities included on the website. Click the tab on the right hand side of the page called activities and check your learning.
After you log in, click to read the article:
Social distancing during Covid 19
Social distancing during Covid 19
StoryCorps is an NPR (National Public Radio) project with lots of interviews, and some of them are animated. You do not need to sign in. Just click on the story below and you will be connected to the website.
https://storycorps.org/animation/alone-together/
Going outside is good for your health.
Going outside is good for your health.
Newsela is a news website for students who are learning English. Follow these steps to read the article:
The first thing you must do is sign in to the Newsela website. In the upper right hand corner, select the blue button that says SIGN IN.
Then select sign in with Google, click on the Google button. Use your HCC email.
In the upper right hand side of the page, there is a black and white button that allows you to change the difficulty of the reading. The higher the number, the more difficult.
There are learning activities included on the website. Click the tab on the right hand side of the page called activities and check your learning.
After you log in, click to read the article:
The importance of drinking water
The importance of drinking water
YouTube is a great site for many, many things. You do not need to sign in. Just click the link below and you will be connected.
Adjust the speed of the video by clicking on the setting dial and select Playback Speed.
Turn on closed captions or subtitles by selecting CC.
Why I Decided to Use Acupuncture
Why I Decided to Use Acupuncture
Change Agent is an online newspaper, written by and for adult learners.
You must sign in to the Change Agent website. The username is massachusetts and the password is changeagent
After you sign in, click the link below to see the story.
Vocabulary check!
Vocabulary check!
You've read many different articles so far! Take some time to review the new vocabulary you are learning. Send sentences with some of your new words to your teacher here.
Information about Asthma
Information about Asthma
VOA - Voice of America is a great website with many things for English language learners. You do not have to sign in. Just click on the link below and you will be on the website. You can read along while you listen. And you can adjust the speed of the audio.
Get involved! For several years, Springfield was called "the asthma capital" of the US, because asthma rates were so high.
LiveWell Springfield is a local coalition working on issues of health, including climate change and air quality. Check them out!
LiveWell Springfield is a local coalition working on issues of health, including climate change and air quality. Check them out!
Sugar
Sugar
It’s everywhere and it’s not good for your health.
It’s everywhere and it’s not good for your health.
TedEd is an information site with many videos for you to watch. You do not need to sign in to this site. Just click the link below and you will be connected to the website. There are comprehension exercises at the end of the videos.
The importance of sleep
The importance of sleep
YouTube is a great site for many, many things. You do not need to sign in. Just click the link below and you will be connected.
Adjust the speed of the video by clicking on the setting dial and select Playback Speed.
Turn on closed captions or subtitles by selecting CC.
Did you know that friendship is good for your health?
Did you know that friendship is good for your health?
Change Agent is an online newspaper, written by and for adult learners.
You must sign in to the Change Agent website. The username is massachusetts and the password is changeagent
After you sign in, click the link below to see the story.
Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash
How healthcare works in the United States
How healthcare works in the United States
The US healthcare system works very differently than healthcare systems in many other countries! People in the US get health insurance from their employer, from the government, or by buying insurance. People often pay a significant amount of money for health insurance for their family.
If you need health insurance, watch for "Open Enrollment" season. This is a few months each year when you can enroll in a new health insurance plan. This year, Open Enrollment is from November 1, 2021 until January 15, 2022.
In Massachusetts, everyone is required to have health insurance. The Caring Health Center (Springfield) and Holyoke Health Center have "navigators" who can help you sign up. Talk to your advisor for help.
This article is several years old, but it gives a clear overview of the US system.
To log into News for You for the first time, use the password 1F7684 and click "sign in."
If you have particular questions about your healthcare situation, talk to your advisor.
Opportunities to Go Further
Opportunities to Go Further
Are you interested in a career in healthcare? Check out the programs below. There are many options for you and we can help! Talk to your advisor about programs that are available.
Short-Term Training Programs
Short-Term Training Programs
(usually a few months long, and often free)
(usually a few months long, and often free)
Become a Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide in this FREE program designed for English learners. You'll work with an ESOL teacher to help you!
This program is available to people who receive SNAP (Food Stamps) or cash assistance from DTA.
If you are interested in Pharmacy Technician but don't get government assistance, talk to your advisor: there may be other ways to pay for the program.
This 60-hour course prepares you for an entry-level career as a medical interpreter. Students must be fully bilingual and have a high school diploma. You will take a language assessment prior to enrollment. Talk to your advisor about how to register.
Become an Emergency Medical Technician! Talk with your advisor about ways to cover the cost of this training.
Certificates and Degrees
Certificates and Degrees
(1 year or more. Financial aid or other funding may be available to help cover the costs.)
(1 year or more. Financial aid or other funding may be available to help cover the costs.)
Community Health Worker (free program!)
Community Health Worker (free program!)
Earn a free 26-credit certificate as a Community Health Worker at HCC! Community health workers (CHWs) are often employed by health centers, clinics, hospitals, or social service organizations, and work as case managers, health navigators, and in similar roles. If you’re interested in helping people, this might be a great career for you! Please contact: Milissa Daniels, mdaniels@hcc.edu, Cell/Text: 413-237-1241 and talk to your advisor to register.
Reflection
Reflection
Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge on Unsplash
You have dedicated significant time and energy to your learning throughout this Learning Kit! Congratulations!
Now is a good time to reflect and notice how much you have learned. Please complete this final reflection form. A copy will be sent to you and your teacher automatically.
Help us improve! Please tell us your comments, ideas, and any problems you had with this Independent Learning Kit here.
This Learning Kit was designed by Laura Dintino and Pesha Black.
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