Agricultural English Mentorship Program registration open

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.

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 relationships 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:

Course begins: Friday, June 20, 2025

Practice sessions: Every Friday, June 27 – August 1, 2:00–3:00 PM ET

· The course begins on June 20, 2025.

· Live instruction sessions with the instructor will be held every Friday, June 27 to August 1, from 2:00–3:00 PM ET. These sessions are very important because they offer personalized support.

· The course is 100% virtual and can be completed from a phone or computer.

· It is recommended to dedicate at least two hours per week to complete the activities.

· Having an English-speaking mentor from your farm is mandatory and is key to success in the course.

The last day to register is June 18, 2025.

Cost: $99/mentee. Mentors are free. Register: https://cvent.me/eZQ3wZ

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