How to find a mentor

Finding a Language Mentor and Building a Strong Relationship

For my language mentors, I chose my Mom and my Godmother. My mom is a fluent Amharic speaker in every sense and knows my level really well, so she understands where I’m strong and where I need extra help. My godmother was a teacher before retiring, and she brings a patient and structured approach that helps me stay organized in my learning. Together, they balance each other with my mom giving me real, everyday conversation practice, and my godmother makes sure I focus on reading, writing, and clear explanations. I chose them because I trust them, they know me personally, and they want to see me succeed.

Also, don’t forget that if you don’t know a mentor personally, you can always go on italki to find one online. They have their experience and language level listed, so you can choose someone perfect for you. Prices range from 5- 11 per hour, so you can definitely find someone in your price range.

Once you have a mentor, the most important thing is building a productive relationship. A few things I’ve learned and would suggest are:

• Be consistent: regular meetings are better than long gaps. It doesn’t matter if it’s 20 minutes or 2 hours any anything helps!

• Come prepared: bring questions, new words you want to try, or short passages to practice. Make sure you make the most of the time you guys have.

• Be open to feedback: corrections help you improve, not discourage you. Don’t take it personally; they are only trying to help.

• Mix in culture: ask for everyday expressions, sayings, or stories, so this keeps learning authentic and fun.

• Set small goals: focus on one skill at a time, like greetings, food vocabulary, or pronunciation practice.

For me, having mentors I already have a close relationship with makes the process comfortable and motivating. They push me to practice but also celebrate small progress with me. Whether you’re working with a family member, a teacher, or an online tutor, the key is finding someone who both challenges you and supports you along the way.