Bridging Disciplines Through Gamification

This chapter explores the intersection of gamification, culturally responsive pedagogy, and professional Spanish instruction within a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at a U.S.–Mexico border university. Focusing on instructors' perspectives, it examines how interdisciplinary collaboration between language educators and occupational therapy faculty can enhance students' linguistic, cultural, and clinical competencies. Observations reveal how these approaches fostered student engagement, rapid thinking, peer support, and confidence in using Spanish in professional contexts. By integrating cultural responsiveness and authentic language practice, the courses modeled a replicable framework for preparing healthcare professionals to deliver equitable, high-quality care to Spanish-speaking populations. Findings suggest that gamification and interdisciplinary course design can serve as effective strategies for bridging language learning, cultural competence, and clinical readiness in health education.