A tutor is a private instructor who teaches a specific educational subject or skill to an individual student. Such one-on-one attention allows the tutor to improve the student's knowledge or skills far more rapidly than in a classroom setting. Tutors are often privately hired and paid by the student or the student's family. Many are used for remedial students or others needing special attention; many provide more advanced material for exceptionally capable and highly motivated students. Tutelage is the process of being under the guidance of a tutor.
In Greek mythology, Mentor (sometimes Mentes) was the son of Alcumus and, in his old age, a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus, and of his palace. When Athena visited Telemachus she took the disguise of Mentor to hide herself from Telemachus' mother's suitors. (See Odyssey II, 255; 267.)
This is the source of the modern use of the word mentor: a trusted friend, counselor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. Some professions have "mentoring programs" in which newcomers are paired with more experienced people in order to obtain good examples and advice as they advance, and schools sometimes have mentoring programs for new students or students who are having difficulties.
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