We are opening another school year, and as usual, we are welcoming our participating students with a camp! We will get to know each other, play games, and prepare for the semester, which will be the fourth for our most dedicated mentors and mentees!

In this article, we have gathered the most important information for the start of the semester. We also recommend our mentor recruitment article to interested teachers and students.

What Happens at E-tanoda?

At E-tanoda, new connections are made and friendships are formed as we share our knowledge with each other. High school mentors help disadvantaged students with various subjects via Skype, develop digital learning materials, discover their own abilities, and uncover the teacher within themselves through a series of personal meetings and virtual lessons.

Who Is E-tanoda For?

E-tanoda is for students interested in social issues who would like to get to know children from other regions, actively help others, and try themselves as teachers. It’s also for those interested in technology, the digital world, and its possibilities.

What Will the Semester Look Like?

We start with two one-day camps on October 6-7, and then, after returning home, the Skype mentoring begins. Along the way, mentors will gather for regular case discussion sessions, and the semester will end in January, in alignment with the school grading period. Update: We will also start the second semester with meetings. On February 2, we will go on a one-day trip to Ormánság to visit our mentees there with their old and new mentors. In the following days, we will visit another partner, the Burattino School in Csepel.

How Are Mentors and Mentees Paired?

During our semester-starting camp, we play games and get to know each other, and by the end of the second day, we form the learning groups in which the joint learning will take place. Update: We start the second semester with two meetings at two locations, and our prospective mentors can choose to participate in the Ormánság or Csepel program day. The goal of these meetings is for everyone to find a learning partner.

How Does Skype Mentoring Work?

At the camp, we prepare everyone for this as well, showing how to use the simple software needed for teaching. We also provide methodological training for the mentors to ensure they transition smoothly from the school desk to the “teacher’s chair” at E-tanoda. Those interested can also learn to develop digital learning materials to complement their Skype lessons.

How Do We Recognize the Work of the Mentors?

Our student mentors participating in the program can receive a certificate for the community service hours completed with us, fulfilling part or all of the 50-hour community service requirement (IKSZ) mandated by their school.

Can I Meet Others During the Semester?

Throughout the semester, mentors will gather several times to share experiences, discuss their successes, and address any issues that arise during mentoring. Additionally, there will be opportunities at certain program locations for personal meetings with mentees during the online teaching period.