Posted: March 12, 2019
Have you ever wondered about the lives of the immigrant workers who harvest your food? Are you interested in community engagement with immigrants living right here in the State College area? This three-credit course gives you the opportunity to learn first-hand about immigration, local agriculture, and labor issues through a language partnership with Spanish-speaking immigrant farmworkers on a local dairy farm.
Every week you will visit immigrant farmworkers to share stories and perspectives about life and immigration while providing an opportunity for them to practice their English skills. Spanish language skills are not required for students to participate, but those who do speak Spanish will gain the opportunity to practice it with native speakers from Latin America. We will also meet weekly in class for readings and discussion on issues that relate to farmworkers' lives, including immigration policy, social integration, labor issues in agriculture, and the challenges faced by local farmers. By the end of the course you will achieve a deep and personal understanding of the transnational dimensions of Pennsylvania agriculture, an improved awareness of the lives and experiences of immigrant farmworkers, and an improved intercultural sensitivity and awareness. You can read more about the class in the Penn State news. You must be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 am to 1 pm to take this course. If you are interested, please apply at this link. Please feel free to contact the instructors with any questions: Kathy Sexsmith (kjs95@psu.edu) and Melanie Miller Foster (mjm727@psu.edu).
Submitted by Kathy Sexsmith (kjs95@psu.edu)
