mentoring

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The activity of giving regular help, advice, and support to a less experienced person over time.

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: 'She does mentoring' or 'mentoring helps' — not 'a mentoring' or 'mentorings'.

   Patterns

   • mentoring for someone
   • mentoring in something
   • do mentoring

   The company runs a mentoring program for new employees.

   Good mentoring can make a big difference to a young teacher's confidence.

   She spent two years doing mentoring with students from local schools.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Relating to the role or system of giving help and advice to a less experienced person.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun, as in 'a mentoring session' or 'mentoring skills'.

   Patterns

   • mentoring program
   • mentoring session
   • mentoring relationship

   He signed up for a mentoring session with a senior designer.

   The school has a mentoring scheme for students who need extra support.

Common combinations

mentoring program

The university's mentoring program pairs first-year students with older ones.

peer mentoring

Peer mentoring works well because students often trust each other's advice.

mentoring relationship

A good mentoring relationship depends on honesty from both sides.

offer mentoring

Several retired engineers offer mentoring to young graduates.

receive mentoring

New hires receive mentoring during their first six months.

Synonyms and how they differ

coaching

Coaching is often shorter-term and focused on a specific skill or performance goal, while mentoring is usually broader and longer-lasting.

guidance

Guidance is general advice and can be given once; mentoring suggests an ongoing personal relationship with regular meetings.

tutoring

Tutoring is mainly about teaching a subject, whereas mentoring is about supporting someone's overall development.

Word family

mentor noun

A person who gives help and advice to someone less experienced.

mentor verb

To act as a mentor to someone: 'She mentors two new colleagues.'

mentee noun

The person who receives mentoring.

Commonly confused: mentoring or mentoring vs. monitoring?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mentoring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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