Genuine conversation, defined as those conversations where partners are equal rather than one person leading, is an important enabler of professional learning. Conversations when one can share experiences, expectations and negotiate responsibilities are essential to allow the student to feel accepted and a sense of belonging in the setting. They are seen as vital for building trust and reciprocal commitment. In such conversations students are able to make connections between personal learning, prior understandings, current experiences and their mentors’ expectations of them.

Understanding expectations and being explicit about them is unsurprisingly key and genuine conversations with mentors are needed for this understanding (Sheridan and Young, 2017).