Limited discounted rate available for upcoming Agricultural English Mentorship Program

Friday, April 18, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday, April 25, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday, May 2, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday, May 9, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday, May 16, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday, May 23, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Are you ready to help your Spanish-speaking farm employees advance their careers and strengthen communication on your farm? The Agricultural English Mentorship (AEM) program, created by Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD), is designed to address the language challenges faced by many farm workers and to provide them with the skills they need to succeed. With over 60% of farm employees in the U.S. being native Spanish speakers, language barriers can impede productivity and career advancement. The AEM program offers a solution by providing farm employees with the opportunity to improve their English language skills in a way that is practical, engaging, and directly relevant to their daily work on the farm.

What is the Agricultural English Mentorship (AEM) Program?

The AEM program combines professional English instruction, personalized mentorship, and hands-on learning to enhance the language skills of Spanish-speaking farm employees. The program is designed to be both educational and practical, incorporating real-world farm scenarios that directly relate to the work your employees are doing every day.

A mentor must register at no additional cost with the English learner and commit to 15 minutes of mentorship each week. Mentors do not need to know Spanish to participate. The dual goals are to teach specific farm terminologies and to strengthen relationships between the English-speaking mentors and their Spanish-speaking employees while learning English.

Course Format:

Agricultural Focus: AEM is tailored specifically for Spanish-speaking farm employees, using visual and auditory learning tools that are closely linked to farm work and terminology.
English Instruction: Participants can learn at their own pace with pre-recorded videos, followed by live Zoom sessions where instructors provide individualized guidance on topics like pronunciation, grammar, and conversational skills.
Mentorship: Each farm is encouraged to assign an English-speaking mentor to meet with employees weekly. These 15-minute sessions will focus on farm-specific vocabulary and exercises, fostering stronger relationship and better communication between Spanish-speaking employees and English-speaking leadership.

Course Topics Include:

Lesson 1: The Alphabet and Vowel Sounds
Lesson 2: Introductions and Greetings
Lesson 3: Farm Mission Statements
Lesson 4: The History of the Farm (Learning Numbers)
Lesson 5: The Employee Handbook
Lesson 6: The Values and Culture of the Farm

By participating in AEM, farm employees will gain confidence in their English skills, helping to improve workplace communication, enhance productivity, and open doors to career advancement.

Course Dates and Materials:

This course is offered virtually through the Moodle app, accessible from your phone or computer. Materials will be available beginning April 14, and live discussion sessions will be held via Zoom every Friday from April 18 through May 23, 2025 from 2-3 PM EDT. Participation in the Zoom sessions offers valuable collaborative learning opportunities and personalized guidance from instructors, so attendance is highly encouraged. To get the most out of the course, it is recommended that you dedicate at least two hours per week to the activities. Having an English-speaking mentor on your ranch is a key component to success in the program.

We highly encourage attendance at these live Zoom sessions to maximize learning and take full advantage of the personalized instruction available. To get the most out of the course, we recommend that participants set aside at least two hours per week for course activities. The involvement of an English-speaking mentor is a critical component of success in this program and will greatly enhance the overall learning experience.

For more information or to sign up for the Agricultural English Mentorship program, contact Mary Lewis at ml2656@cornell.edu

Supported by Northeast Extension Risk Management Education