Help with French and Italian

These guidelines are meant for both tutors and their students, so that everyone involved in the tutoring process may have a similar understanding of tutoring responsibilities and similar expectations of the tutor-student relationship.

Kinds of Tutoring

Tutoring can be useful to students at all levels of language instruction, and is particularly helpful in the following areas: reviewing grammar rules and exercises, improving spoken French/Italian, developing listening comprehension skills, drilling for exams, and proofreading paper drafts. However, it is important, as a student, that you first check with your professor if you are permitted to work with a tutor for a given task or assignment. Also, check your syllabus.

Scheduling

All students seeking help with their work should plan accordingly.  The tutor will expect at least 24-hour notice for any requests for draft proofreading, exam study sessions, etc.  Additional notice will be expected for papers longer than 3-4 pages.

Reading drafts

The tutor may read drafts of student essays in all levels of coursework.  The tutor is encouraged to use the proofreading abbreviation sheet provided by the department in order to specify the nature of the error (spelling, conjugation, agreement, etc.).  The tutor should not correct the student’s errors.  Instead, the proofreading abbreviations will allow the tutor to indicate to the student how to correct and rework the draft him/herself.  Under no circumstances may the tutor write or rewrite the student’s essay or any part therein.  Please consult the Colby Student Handbook for more information on issues of academic honesty.

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