Yap – way – pum – pum. Mentoring process has begun. I am a mentor now. I am smart, competent, and self-confident. They (mentees) are novices, will follow me, and listen each word very carefully, with special attention. Sometimes they might interrupt me, but only for showing and underlining their respect to my experts’ physiognomy. My imagination depicted me something like this:
Reality was different. First of all we were five mentors for 3, no, for 2, no for 1 mentee. Sometimes it looked like this:
This picture reflect our interaction very exactly: Our mentee (Pavi) really looked very happy and all mentors were very nice. However sometimes i felt that our efforts (planning, preparation, discussion etc) might be used and useful for more than one man. Actually we did very good job. Our team spent a lot of time to create, improve and evaluated all activities that were given for mentees. At result we had well structured and logical program that support LET learning very well.
With different success we implemented in practice all our ideas. And i was satisfied about how it was. First meeting gave us information about each other, and supported of creation of good team spirit. Later we played two games that helped us to know eachother better and to comprehend our wishes (what could we give to for others and what we want to get) for this course. As final accord we visited botanical garden together. Fresh air and warmness provided for us good sense of being in the team. Our task for mentee is also support of pedagogical aim of this activity. So we looking forward of their product.
Secondly, i was surprised that our mentees are not novices. They have strong educational background and clear understanding of goals of their learning in LET. It was very good news. I realized that i can learn alot from mentees as well as they could do the same from me. Now for me this course seems as reciprocal learning for each other. In my opinion the best way for learning is personal interaction with owner of desirable skill. For this goal we have planned many activities in business, learning and self-development environments (Could be found in mentors plan in wiki) Cooperative activities should help us to develop our expertise, share experience and skills, learn more about studying, learning and personal interaction. So i am looking in future new discovering, interesting events and a lot of fun.
intrainabroad 