Practicing intentional mentorship: An unfinished journey of a language teacher educator and her (future) mentees

Abstract

As a language teacher educator (LTE) at a Doctoral Universities ‐ High Research Activity (R2) institution, this invitation to document how the first author (Gloria) has come to (re)construct and (re)negotiate her identity as an LTE is both timely and necessary, as the academic year 2024–2025 marks her 17th year at her institution. In this conceptual feature article, she begins this narrativized journey as one way to reflect on who she is and who she has become as an LTE, and she has invited four of her former mentees (Silvia, Marie, Shannon, and Sarah) who have become her co‐authors and co‐editors in various publication opportunities. Using poetic and narrativized writing, Gloria and her mentees share snapshots of their reflections and reflexivity in working together to understand and define intentional mentoring practices. The authors conclude with their own definitions of intentional mentoring practice and invite the journal audience to collectively engage in our unfinished journey.