“There are good people”: Lessons Beyond Language in Mentorship
An interview with Circonflexe mentee Tatiana Zanon
When Tatiana Zanon immigrated to Canada in 2019 to pursue a PhD, she brought with her a deep desire to learn French and fully participate in Québec society. But despite her motivation, she had fewer opportunities to practice than she wanted. Even in her first workplace, she found that colleagues were reluctant to correct her French, limiting her ability to grow.
Frustrated by the slow progress and eager for genuine feedback, Tatiana turned to the Circonflexe Mentorship Program. What she found went beyond simple vocabulary and rote grammar, however. Through weekly conversations with her mentor, she began to gain confidence not only in her language skills but also in her professional aspirations.
Tatiana’s story is just one example of how mentorship can offer benefits far beyond knowledge transfer. It can be a gateway to connection, confidence, and community, especially for young professionals navigating new linguistic and cultural landscapes. The partnership between junior and senior participants can help foster meaningful relationships that transcend the professional sphere, creating a broader sense of community and shared growth.
This type of relationship is invaluable for language learners, especially when their mentor speaks their target language. Mentees can practice real-world conversations, uncover cultural nuances, and receive feedback in an immersive communication experience, all while being encouraged in their professional journeys. The friendly, informal setting of mentorship allows mentees to practice their target language in a stress-free environment, leading to higher confidence and better results.
The PERT team sat down with Tatiana to discuss the intricacies and benefits of her mentorship experience, and as is the case with many mentees, she has flourished with the support of her mentor.
PERT: “How would you describe your experience so far?”
Tatiana: “So good! My mentor is very, very kind. She’s very eager to help me not only practice the French language but also with networking. I shared my goals with her, especially about the teaching opportunities that I'm searching for, and she's put me in contact with people that can help me.
PERT: “If you had to pick one word to describe the Circonflexe experience so far, which would you choose?”
Tatiana: “I think… networking. This is one of the things particular to my experience. And I don't know, I'm thinking about networking, but I don't want to say only that word because this is not even the main purpose of the program. But because I have a meeting with my mentor, she's putting me in contact with key people who are also helping me… So one thing leads to the other.”
The benefit of networking support is hard to overstate. Building a connection with a well-established mentor can give a mentee unparalleled access to a wealth of professional and social opportunities, allowing them to grow in their careers and integrate deeply into Québec society. Of course, for English-speaking immigrant women like Tatiana, seizing these opportunities and entering into a francophone professional sphere can still be intimidating for the language aspect – making the opportunity to practice speaking French in a friendly mentorship atmosphere all the more crucial.
Tatiana: “I think that the best aspect of the program is that, from my experience, it's more informal, in the sense that you are having a conversation and it's fluid. Of course, you still worry about speaking well, but at the same time, you know that the person on the other side knows that you're there because you want to improve, so that you have that support.”
PERT: “If you could thank your mentor, what would you tell them?”
Tatiana: “I'd tell her, thank you for your patience. Thank you for always being open, because, I mean, it's a volunteer job that you are doing because you really want to help someone. This is another one of the great things of this program – you find there are good people, with characters that are willing to help others.”
Mentees like Tatiana are transforming the generosity and expertise of their mentors into exciting new opportunities! She is one of over a hundred people who are participating in the Circonflexe program to improve their French language skills and expand their professional networks. Through the program, both mentors and mentees are growing in their careers, building meaningful relationships, and contributing to Québec's vibrant professional landscape.
Applications for mentees will open for the next round of mentorship pairings in July.
French-speaking professionals who are interested in mentoring are invited to apply on the Circonflexe Mentorship Program website.
