BELOVETSKAYA L. MENTORSHIP AS A MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE IN FUTURE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN INDIA. LIFELONG EDUCATION: The 21st Century.
2026. Vol. 14. No. 2. DOI: 10.15393/j5.art.2026.12255


Vol. 14. No. 2.

Human and teaching resources of continuing education
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MENTORSHIP AS A MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE IN FUTURE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN INDIA

BELOVETSKAYA Lina E.
PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities
Severodonetsk Technological Institute (branch) of Luhansk V. Dahl State University
(Severodonetsk, Luhansk People's Republic, Russian Federation))
linabelovetskaia@yandex.ru
Keywords:
mentoring
professional competence
English teachers
teacher education
India
guru shishya
NEP 2020
ethno-cultural competence.		 Abstract: this article examines the structure and functions of mentorship, drawing on the historical tradition of guru-shishya, contemporary pedagogical approaches, and regulatory frameworks (NEP 2020, NPST 2021). Mentorship in Indian teacher education is a crucial mechanism for developing the professional competence of future English language teachers. The study employs qualitative methods of analyzing teacher training programs and policy documents, supplemented by a sociocultural analysis of mentoring traditions. The results indicate that mentorship facilitates the transmission of knowledge, the development of pedagogical and communicative skills, adaptation to a multilingual educational environment, and fosters both professional and personal growth of novice teachers. The paper identifies the key stages and actors involved in the mentoring process, as well as highlights existing challenges (such as uneven practical training, resource constraints, and the complexities of a multi-ethnic environment) and future prospects (including the integration of digital technologies, international cooperation, and the development of ethno-cultural competence). In conclusion, the study emphasizes that mentorship, which integrates cultural traditions with modern standards, plays a decisive role in enhancing the quality of teacher education and shaping the professional identity of English language teachers in India.
Paper submitted on: 11/09/2025; Accepted on: 04/20/2026; Published online on: 06/26/2026.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15393/j5.art.2026.12255