Remember that the tutor is not expected to function as a teacher in the strictest sense. The tutor does not give quizzes or exams, assign grades, give grammatical explanations, talk about, or introduce new material. The tutor will demand accurate pronunciation, demand fluent performance in oral work, and provide repetition at conversational speed, with constant correction.

Please avoid the impulse to ask your tutor for grammatical explanations and linguistic insights. Explanations, which would have to be in English, take time away from the learning process, and all too often require the tutor to fulfill a role for which he or she may not be prepared. For example, consider a situation in which an international student asks you why there is no plural “furnitures”, and how he or she can tell when other English words take no plural. Chances are that you could not give a definite explanation on the spot. You should expect the same thing from your tutor.

It is your responsibility to avoid time-consuming questions on grammar that stall drill sessions. Be prepared to work through material even if there is an occasional point of grammar that you do not fully understand. If you have a question about grammar, check your text carefully. Ask yourself if your question is really critical for mastering the material at hand. Most “why” questions are interesting but do nothing to help you speak the language. Many questions will be answered as you progress through the material. If you are not 100% clear on a grammatical rule, remember: for the purpose of this program, you do not need to have an exhaustive intellectual understanding of all the rules to learn the material at hand or to speak the language.