The role of the English teacher mentor in developing teacher competencies of English pre-service teacher

Mentoring for pre-service teachers must be for academic improvement and teaching skills for pre-service teachers. the mentoring process between pre-service teachers who have status as mentee accompanied by teacher mentors, then there is interaction during mentoring. PLP (Introduction to Schooling Field) is a formal mentoring program in the Tarbiyah and Teacher Training faculties aimed at all education students in semester 7. This mentoring program aims to improve teacher competency for all student teacher candidates. In previous studies regarding forms of assistance for English teachers, the objective of this study was different for English pre-service teachers when assisting at partner schools. Mentoring is carried out by experienced English teacher mentors for English pre-service teachers. This research explores the roles practiced by English teacher mentors who are applied during mentoring. This quantitative research examines mentoring programs for English language education program students who act as mentee or prospective English teachers. The PLP program collaborates with partner schools around the university, as well as English subject teachers who are mentor teachers who become companions for English pre-service teachers. This study uses interviews and questionnaires to collect data. The results show that the roles of English teacher mentors practiced during the PLP program are as tutors, friends, and professional teachers. However, another meaning of a professional teacher from all English mentor teachers is as a senior teacher for English pre-service teachers. While other roles as parents and guides are also practiced by two of the four English teacher mentors. Another result of the teacher mentor roles has an impact on increasing teacher competence. In accordance with the objectives of the PLP program, the increase in teacher competence achieved in this study is personal competence. This research can be a reference for students as preparation for participating in the PLP program in the next academic year.