De Anza students should always be able to get the most out of the Tutorial Center when they need to, say tutees and tutors alike.

Tutees say that for students who have difficulties in class, the Tutorial Center is a great place to find help.

Tutors say they enjoy extending their knowledge to others.

“Tutors often find themselves learning more than tutees [do],” said Diana Alves de Lima, the coordinator of Tutorial Center. For example, “ESL tutors [are able to] improve their communication skills.”

“It makes me more open to people,” said Son Tran, a native French speaker who began tutoring French last quarter.

Math and science tutor, Ki Hoon Kim said, “It gives me confidence [on the subject].” Kim works 23 hours a week at the Tutorial Center and is one of the few tutors who work with drop-in students.

Tutees often find their service helpful.

Takeo Tomine, an English writing tutee said, “It gives me a chance to practice my communication skills.”

During his session, Tomine and his tutor review the class materials, go over his papers, and focus on what his tutor suggests him to work on.

As opposed to the formal presentation in class, Joanna Quach, an accounting tutee, says she enjoys a more flexible approach during her drop-in tutoring session.

Some say the Tutorial Center has room for improvement. “We need more drop-in tutors,” said Zarmima Razzaqui, an accounting tutee.

“When the relationship between tutors and tutees doesn’t go smoothly, some tutors drop out,” said Inju Ryou, who says she is the only drop-in accounting tutor. She said that others stop tutoring because In-N-Out Burger pays more than the Tutorial Center does.

Due to salary increases and the lack of funding, the Tutorial Center was forced to hire fewer tutors than needed during the fall quarter. The Tutorial Center currently has about 120 tutors, a notable increase from last quarter.

According to the Tutorial Center’s monthly publication, “The Task,” the budget crisis lasted until last December when the De Anza Associated Student Body and Partnership for Excellence stepped in to help.

The Tutorial Center provides possible solutions to student concerns.

The Tutorial Center website, http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/services/tutorial, will soon be updated. Formed at yahoo.com, “DeAnzaTutors,” an email group enables anyone to exchange suggestions, questions, and other information. Online tutoring is also experimenting with Smarthinking.com and AOL Instant Messenger.

Alves de Lima says that every De Anza student can become a tutee or a tutor. She says that to become a tutee, students must fill out a Tutee Application, in which they can request the subject, the time, and even the tutor for their tutoring needs throughout the quarter.

To become a tutor, one must earn a grade of B or better in the subject, complete a tutor application, submit a letter of recommendation from a previous instructor of the subject, and have an interview with a tutor supervisor, according to Alves de Lima.

“This is the most welcoming position I’ve ever had,” said Chris Nohara, who began tutoring English this quarter.

Tutors are encouraged to have a constant contact with their tutees’ instructors. For proper training, tutors must enroll in a one-unit class, LRNA 98.

Ryou said that evening and distance learning students have not yet benefited from their service because of the operation’s hours.

The Tutorial center is open between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. The Tutorial Center is located in rooms E-36 for math and science and L-47 for all other subjects.