Dairy producers: Are you looking to enhance your Spanish language skills? The United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and 70% of the agricultural workforce in the U.S. speak Spanish. If you’re interested in building your language skills to improve communication, safety and productivity, while building respect and positive relationships, sign up for an eight-week Spanish course this fall. Titled “Spanish for Agriculture” (Dairy Beginners or Intermediate) and led by Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate, the Center for Dairy Excellence is offering another round of $100 discounts for dairy producers who sign up for the course being held from September 24 – November 14, 2024.
The course includes 8 weeks of live and recorded video lessons. All classes will be recorded and available on-demand with password-protected access. You will have 24/7 access to all course content through December 28. You can save/download all resources, except videos, to utilize after the course ends, including digital flashcards, comprehensive vocabulary lists, and resource links.
Click here to register for the course by September 20 and receive a $100 discount!
“I loved getting back into the Spanish language. For any dairy that works with Spanish-speaking personnel and are sweating the communication gap, this course will help alleviate the stress of communication. Learning the proper terms of all things dairy around the farm has been a great benefit to communicating with our Spanish-speaking employees.” –Pamela Barnes, Maple Knoll Farm
“After working with Spanish speakers for years and trying to learn on my own, I was pointed to this class. Best decision ever. The class is so thorough; it greatly exceeded my expectations and now I can understand and communicate much better. I highly recommend – my coworkers are impressed.” –Michelle S., a dairy farmer
Learn more about the course and sign up below! You must sign up by September 20.
About the Course:
When: September 24 – November 14, 2024 (You will have 24/7 access to all course content through December 28).
Class Time: Spanish for Dairy/Ag Beginners Course will be LIVE and recorded as well. Live classes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. EST.
Spanish for Agriculture Dairy/Ag Intermediate Course will be LIVE and recorded as well. Live classes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. EST.
Cost: The course is $597 per person, which includes a $100 discount from the Center for Dairy Excellence for dairy producers. The course is designed to track individual progress, not a couple or family. Select either beginner or intermediate level when you register below.
Sign up by Sept. 6 and get a FREE HR Onboarding Script: For those who sign up by September 6, Katie is offering her HR Onboarding Script for free. This comprehensive 10-page document can help streamline your new hire process and guides Spanish-speaking employees through essential paperwork (W-4, I-9, Emergency Contact, Direct Deposit) with clear instructions. It includes cultural insights and key HR phrases to build trust and minimize misunderstandings. Streamline your process, ensure compliance, and create a positive first impression. *After signing up below through the Center’s website to receive the $100 discount, you will automatically be emailed a copy of Katie’s HR Onboarding Script as long as you sign up by Sept. 6.
How to Sign Up: Click here to register by September 20. You must sign up using the form on this page to receive the $100 discount.
Learn More: Click here to learn more about the course and what to expect. Note: You must register and pay for the course using the form below to receive the $100 discount from the Center. If you have specific questions about the course, email Katie Dotterer.
Course Benefits:
- 100% online with live classes. The lessons are also recorded and available for your convenience throughout the course. If you are unable to join the live lesson, you will be able to watch the recorded video afterwards. You will have password-protected access to the videos during your subscription to the course.
- 8 weeks (16 total classes)
- Two, one-hour classes per week
- Classes are interactive with in-class work and participation
- Homework is assigned for reinforcement of the material
- Students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course after submitting the final assessment
What Will You Learn?
- Language Basics: Spanish alphabet, numbers, colors, articles; Subject pronouns, common verbs, and verb conjugation; Days, months, weather expressions, greetings, prepositions
- Agriculture Vocabulary: New industry-specific vocabulary lists each week tailored to your chosen segment: dairy, swine, or poultry. General ag terms covered and incorporated into applicable sentences/phases.
- Cultural Competency: Understanding cultural concepts like holidays, customs and correct terminology; Awareness of regional differences and inclusive practices; Gain insights of how to build/repair on-farm relationships with Spanish speakers.
About the Instructor, Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate:
Katie Dotterer is a lifelong dairy farmer who received degrees in business management, and secondary education, Spanish. She worked as a Spanish teacher in middle and high school for 4+ years, and has worked to develop curriculum and instructed online courses for the dairy industry for six years and over 700 students nationwide. She has worked with native Spanish speakers for 16+ years. Katie also studied abroad in Panama and Mexico, and she is certified in ESL- English as a Second Language. She received the 2008 Employer of the Year (Dotterer Dairy) from The PA Department of Education Migrant Education Program.