Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Us

Who is in charge of CASE?
CASE is part of the Department of Second Language Studies (SLS) at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

Who are CASE’s tutors? 
Our tutors are trained graduate assistants in the Department of Second Language Studies. Each tutor has extensive language teaching training and experience. To learn more, please see our staff bios.

Who can attend CASE lessons? 
CASE welcomes all students, scholars, and instructors affiliated with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. 

How can I contact CASE if I have questions? 
Please email us at slscase@hawaii.edu.

Pronunciation Tutoring

What is the goal of CASE’s  Pronunciation Tutoring? 
At CASE, we promote the learning of intelligible English speech through one-on-one sessions with experienced English language tutors.

What will I experience during a pronunciation tutoring lesson?
During the first lesson, your tutor will introduce themselves and briefly explain about CASE. Then, you will complete a 10-minute speaking diagnostic in order to identify areas of pronunciation that we can focus on during your lessons. For the second lesson, we will begin to work on the most crucial aspects of intelligible pronunciation (e.g., word stress, sentence stress, rhythm, consonants, vowels, etc.), as highlighted in your speaking diagnostic. Usually, we work on one or two aspects of pronunciation in each 45-minute lesson. 

Our lessons include both controlled speaking practice (for example, reading aloud) and spontaneous speaking practice (for example, discussing your area of study). There is no homework, but if you wish to practice at home, we will share useful materials and resources.

After your first lesson, you can make the next appointment at your convenience. You can choose the same tutor or a different tutor as you wish. We will record the content of each lesson so you can easily continue from one lesson to the next.

Attending Tutoring Sessions

What can I learn from CASE lessons?
CASE currently offers one-on-one English pronunciation tutoring to help students develop intelligible English speech for use in academic contexts. Lessons are customized for each student based on a speaking diagnostic completed prior to your first lesson. We will add more information as we begin to offer more services.

How long is a CASE lesson? 
Each lesson is 45 minutes.

How much does a CASE lesson cost?
Our tutoring lessons are free of charge.

What days of the week can I schedule a lesson?
CASE lessons are available between Monday and Friday. We do not offer lessons during the final week of the semester.

Are CASE lessons in person or online? 
We have both in-person and online options. For in-person lessons, we are located in Moore Hall, room #263. For online lessons, we will provide you with a Zoom link. You can choose your lesson type when you schedule your lesson.

How do I schedule a CASE lesson?
Please see our detailed instructions here.

How many lessons can I take per week? 
Currently, you can schedule two lesson per week.

Do I have to prepare anything before the lesson? 
Before your lesson, please complete our background questionnaire. You can find more information here.

Do I have to bring some specific topics or materials to work on? 
Not necessarily. Tutors will prepare lessons and materials based on your speaking diagnostic results. If you would like to focus on a specific area of speech, we are happy to work with you too.

If I need to cancel the lesson, what should I do?
Please cancel the appointment through the STAR Balance system. This is the same system you used to schedule your appointment. This will also notify your tutor that you cannot attend the session. You can find more information here.

Will I have to complete homework between CASE lessons?
No. However, if you wish to practice outside of our lessons, we are happy to provide you with useful materials and resources you can use.

How many lessons do I need to attend?
There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons you must attend. Come once, or come frequently!