More tips on mentorship: Mutual agreement

In the situation that you have identified potential mentors through different channels- instructor (s) from your school, friend(s), referral(s), or other physical or online connections, you need to select one or two mentors that can work with you in a structured routine. While they all can be important practice partners, you and your mentors have to come to an understanding of your language goals, and learning style, and they should be committed to providing the necessary support.

Here are the things you have to agree on

• Because you direct the course of your learning, train your mentor to identify and present cultural cues, give you drills, and assess your language use.
• In order to avoid boredom that comes from repeating activities, both of you should think of new creative activities that are planned, goal-oriented, and enjoyable.
• Depending on how frequently you meet, balancing serious intense sessions with more relaxed learning experiences.
• Avoid falling back to English especially if you are a beginner,
• As you become closer, don’t get too comfortable breaking cultural norms. Maintain mutual trust and respect.