The English Peer Mentorship Programme was funded by the Teaching Development Grants (TDG) from September 2019 to August 2021. The project aimed to provide peer-to-peer mentoring experiences for first-year undergraduate students—individually and as a group—to help them achieve their full potential at the university. Recognizing the importance of supporting students as they transitioned into university, the programme empowered both the mentors and mentees to establish relationships, hone their English language skills, and develop cultural literacy through a wide range of language and cultural activities. It also sought to cultivate a peer learning culture in which students took charge of their own learning and shared learning responsibilities to develop mutual trust and foster self-esteem.
In AY 2019-20, the mentorship programme attracted over 40 first-year students from different academic programmes to receive regular English language training. Nineteen senior year students were selected by the Department of English to serve as English Mentors, planning cultural activities and providing regular English tutorial services for the participants. A vlog competition was organized in April to encourage the mentees to showcase their learning outcomes from the programme.
The English Peer Mentorship Programme has then been run on a voluntary basis in August 2021 until August 2023. Depending on enrollment and available manpower, the project may be resumed in the future.
