THE ROLE OF A MENTOR TO ROMA SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of a mentor for Roma students attending secondary schools, from the perspective of sociolinguistics, and interculturalism. Job description of a mentor will be shown through the idea of ​​educational language policy, the attitude towards the Roma language and its interaction with the language of majority and the idea of multilingualism. The paper also presents the successful mentoring program in Serbia through the presentation of TARI project, and the results of the research in which mentors from central Serbia participated. Assuming that a mentor has an important role in the formation of positive attitudes towards the authentic heritage, the specifics of the Roma language and culture, as well as the motivation for continuing education, the author advocates the view that each mentor can influence the raise of the level of ethnic self-awareness and prestige of the Roma minority. It could consequently contribute to the improvement of the Roma community and thus the broader national or international community.