Note: The following is a translation of the preface to PETIT LEXIQUE de la SANTÉ et des SERVICES SOCIAUX.  In the book, the preface appears in French only.

PREFACE

As a language school, it stands to reason that we develope instructional material. However, what motivates us the most is generating the special spark that fosters communication between caregiver and service recipient (patient, client). The present work draws on holistic experience. This involves facilitating communication using several methods: identifying the context, providing learner and teacher with relevant tools (key vocabulary), ensuring successful communication through exercises that are at once practical and achievable while maintaining a relaxed and even playful atmosphere.

Many individuals from a variety of linguistic communities in Québec have shown great interest in our lexicon. They have supported and encouraged us and we are extremely grateful for their help. While they are too numerous to list here, we offer them our sincere gratitude. That said, we wish to extend special thanks to Mario Paquet [1] who, through his writing and philosophy, has demonstrated in most amicable fashion his deep-seated desire to help practitioners in the field of health and social services as well as those who find themselves in the role of caregiver. It is in this spirit that we have developed the present tool, which, we hope, will promote more effective communication. He continues to be a real inspiration for us.

 

John Willcocks and Julia Tinnion

École de langues de Lanaudière

[1] Mario Paquet, Ph.D., a sociologist and agent de planification, de programmation et de recherche (planning, programming and research officer) with the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Lanaudière, and author of the book, Entretien avec une aidante « surnaturelle ». Autonome S’démène pour prendre soin d’un proche à domicile (Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 2008).

Interview with Mario Paquet

Juggling English with Mario Paquet and Mario St-Georges (video)