Mentors

Mentors Facilitate Language Learning

The BELL Program provides training and supervision of volunteer mentors. Mentors are understood to be more experienced persons who guide their less experienced partners (mentees) through a developmentally-structured journey of English language learning. Through regular, weekly interactions (one-on-one meetings, phone calls, or email exchanges), the mentees trust and apply the mentors’ guidance for gaining English skills, and in many cases life-lessons, for work, family, and faith.

Although it is preferred that mentoring sessions be conducted in the workplace, they may also be done in a variety of other public locations, such as a coffee shop, a library, or a church

Mentors receive on-going training and supervision for three cycles per year, Fall, Winter, Spring. During the beginning cycle (Fall), a first meeting provides 90 minutes of orientation and training. Other meetings involve 30 minutes of training and supervision prior to each session and 60 minutes of mentor-guided English language learning for mentees.