Conferences
English Training That Works: Results from the Agricultural English Mentorship
Jay Canzonier and Andrea Durmiaki
Summary
The Agricultural English Mentorship (AEM) program, funded by NERME, was created to strengthen communication between workers and supervisors by teaching practical, farm-focused English, recognizing that clear language skills reduce safety risks, prevent misunderstandings, and promote greater stability and security within the agricultural workforce.
Across four cohorts, the program served 50 workers, 50 mentors, and 9 instructors, using short bilingual instructional videos, weekly Zoom classes, and practical on-farm assignments that connected English learning directly to safety procedures, workplace policies, and farm culture.
The program achieved a 46% completion rate—considerably higher than the national ESL retention average of about 30% reported in national reviews of adult ESL programs (Forum Together, n.d.)—and learners who completed both assessments showed measurable English gains, averaging 14% improvement, with some cohorts exceeding 16%. Participants reported very high satisfaction (90%), strengthened workplace relationships, and increased confidence in understanding policies, clarifying instructions, and communicating during daily tasks. Mentorship emerged as the strongest factor supporting engagement; farms with active mentor involvement achieved the highest retention and learning outcomes.
Workers concluded the program by creating bilingual signage, safety reminders, workflow checklists, and farm-values posters—practical risk-management tools that continue to be used on their farms.
If the program were to continue, it would benefit from offering shorter 2-week modules, simplifying homework expectations, providing structured mentor orientation, and expanding pronunciation and literacy support for more advanced students. These adjustments would enhance future delivery and deepen the program’s long-term impact on communication, safety, and workforce stability in agricultural operations.
Source:
https://forumtogether.org/article/upskilling-new-americans-innovative-english-training-for-career-advancement/
Presentation Materials
Details
| Conference | 2026 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | Poster |