Mentorship - A mission to change attitude 

Some words make us think more deeply on them. Some concepts raise our curiosity. We listen to or read such words and go on thinking about them. ‘Mentorship’ is such a wonderful concept. The word itself gives idea about the invisible splendid background of it.

The word comes from the original word ‘MENTOR’. So let’s see the etymology of the word.

ETYMOLOGY –

                We acquire ‘Mentor’ from the literature of ancient Greece. In Homer’s epic, ‘The Odyssey’, Odysseus was away from home fighting and journeying for 20 years. During that time Telemachus, the son he left as a babe in arms, grew up under the supervision of Mentor, an old and trusted friend. When the Goddess Athena decided it was time to complete the education of young Telemachus, she visited him disguised as ‘Mentor’ and they set out together to learn more about his father.

Today we use the word ‘Mentor’ for anyone who has positive, guiding influence in another (usually younger) person’s life perhaps ultimately meaning ‘Adviser’, because the name appears to be an agent noun of ‘Mentos’, “intent, purpose, spirit, passion” from PIE mon-eyo- (source also of Sanskrit man-tar, ‘one who thinks’). “Latin word mon-i-tor” means  ‘one who admonishes’. It is a causative form of a root ‘men’ to think.

Cambridge Dictionary give the definition of ‘Mentor’ as ‘A person who gives a younger or less experienced person help and advice over a period of time, especially at work or school’. While Oxford Dictionary speaks about ‘An experience person in a company or educational institution who trains and counsels new employees or students.’

We also find some Thesaurus – synonyms and related words for the word ‘Mentor’. They are as follows.

Academician             associate professor                                board of education                            Dean                          docent                                                     fellow

Handler                         head teacher                                       housemaster

Housemistress               instructor                                           lecturer

Professorial                   professorship                                     rector

tutor.

There are some other definitions of the term ‘Mentor’.

1.         A trusted counselor of guide.
2.          A wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
3.         An influential senior sponsor or supporter.

                                          With the help of the above information we come to know that it’s a noble thing to do a mentorship.In Maharashtra Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan along with British Council has undertaken a project called ‘Mentorship Project’. RMSA and British Council have already given the training to nearly 425 Mentors. These mentors are discussing with the English teachers and trying to find out their areas of development. They are providing the required help to them. RMSA and British Council have gone one step further and made the mentors think that a mentor also can learn so many things from his mentee teachers. So it is indirectly a two way process. In this sense a wide range of English Teachers is getting a helping hand and their students are enjoying ‘activity based learning’. So thanks to Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and  British Council  for this lovely project.