Blog: Community & Mentoring

I believe it’s important to find a language community mainly, because there’s strength in numbers. If there’s something I don’t know I can ask another person within the community. If they don’t know the answer I can reach out to ask another person. The more people in a language community the more help I can get.

Another reason to join a language community would be so you don’t get discouraged and give up. So many times I get frustrated, because I don’t know the answer. If I don’t have a language community or anyone to ask I get thrown behind. 

People within a language community could keep you accountable and encourage you letting you know your not the only one.  They can help you to stay engaged, challenging you so you don’t lose interest in your language. 

In a language community there are many people with many different ideas as to how to learn. If my way of learning wasn’t working then another person could shown me their way of leaning and it might work for me instead. 

I have some disabilities that can stand in the way of learning, sometimes if I find another person who is struggling like I am and we find some common ground we can encourage one another. Two heads are better than one. 

Being in a language community can go both ways. Some of the things I once struggled with I may be able to help another that is struggling like I used to. 

Being in a language community people have similar interests, too. You can create a common bond with someone of like mindedness better than someone who doesn’t have similar interests. 

I’ve always noticed that whatever I do in life, if I have a friend or friends to experience it with it comes much easier. 

There’s been many times I’ll have burn out or get stumped on something. Having someone that has my same interests makes it easier and they can cheer me on. 

I’m a strong believer in mentorship. Mentoring a person is a great thing. 

Getting mentored means I’ll receive guidance and ‘know how’ from my mentor. who is more experienced than me. I would get one on one experience and advise from them, and if I had obstacles my mentor can guide me through it.

I feel I’ve learned at a faster rate being mentored in the past, than sitting behind a desk in a classroom. I learn more readily one on one.

Everyone needs help at one time or another.

My accordion instructor who placed first in the world in a major competition in the woman’s division in 2007 said to me, “Nancy, even though I’ve placed first, there’s always somebody out there that I can learn from that can mentor me” She went on to talk about how mentorship’s and how valuable no matter what level you are and they’re always someone smarter even if you won first place. Maybe they didn’t enter the contest she said. So mentorship is a great thing.