Abstract:
The number of Spanish-speaking workers continues to grow as they become a critical part of the workforce in many segments of the agricultural industries and agribusiness in the state of Pennsylvania. In fact, in some states Hispanics are viewed as the backbone of the agricultural workforce. These workers bring foreign language and cultural differences to the workplace. Colleges of Agricultural Sciences are challenged to prepare their graduates for successful management roles in the agricultural industries. Increasingly, success in these positions includes the ability to relate to and communicate with Spanish-speaking workers. This paper describes a Spanish immersion program in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Spanish for Agricultural Industries Program (SAIP) was created due to the initiative of agricultural professors who responded to the requests and needs of the agricultural industries they work with in Pennsylvania. The program was designed within the context of the agricultural industries to teach students Spanish language skills and provide an understanding of the varied Spanish speaking cultures. Benefits of the program were assessed by Spanish language examinations conducted by Spanish teachers in Mexico and by responses to a questionnaire administered to student participants. Recommendations are offered for strengthening this program.
Keywords:
Spanish-speaking workforce, bilingual program
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