What Are the Responsibilities of a Volunteer Tutor?
These are very similar to those of a paid tutor. You're (hopefully) not here to scam people, you're here to help! The student should understand that you're donating your time to help him or her. At the same time, though, you must be aware that if you're not helping the student, you're wasting time their precious time. Here are some very general guidelines:
You can't make things up! Although you aren't legally responsible for providing accurate information to your students, you are not helping at all if you make things up. If you come across something you don't understand of have never seen before, flip through the textbook and notes. Often these "new" ideas and concepts are just rehashed old ones, or even just renamings of things you do know about. If, however, it still doesn't make any sense to you, tell the student! Get them to ask the teacher/professor or TA (if there is one). This is a much better option than faking your way through a topic.
It is your responsibility not to make the student you're "helping" feel intimidated or threatened in any way. Meeting in social areas like a student union building or the library can make people much more comfortable.
Don't get frustrated or mad at a struggling student. If you really feel the student is beyond your capabilities to help, suggest that they talk to the teacher or professor. Some students are so far behind by the time they ask for help, you would have to re-teach the whole course to them. If you can't afford the time, tell them nicely. Don't bottle everything up and then let them have it.
A tutor should usually not provide the answers to his or her students. It can sometimes help to write out an answer or two to get a person going, but it rarely helps them learn. Professors and teachers can get very angry when tutors give answers to the students. A good guideline here is to come up with your own related questions or find some in a textbook, website, etc. and answer some of those for the student. Leave it up to them to answer the assigned material.
The worst tutors are those that miss meetings! Just because you're not charging doesn't mean you can show up whenever you want. If you arrange a time to meet, BE THERE! When a student calls for an appointment, be sure to take down a phone number. If circumstances arise, call them as soon as possible to reschedule. Missing even one appointment with a student pretty much guarantees you won't be hearing from him or her ever again.
A volunteer tutor DOES NOT have to work around a student's schedule. If you've got an exam the next day, don't let a student drag you from your books (unless of course you're looking for excuses to stop working). Most tutors will do the best to help students out whenever time permits, but there are bound to be times when you absolutely can not help. Tell this to the student. If you can arrange a time later then great, if not try to suggest some alternate sources of help to the student.
Watch out for yourself! Don't let students walk all over you. If you are being intimidated, mocked, or otherwise harassed by a student, get up and leave. Students need to respect the service you're providing for them and treat you appropriately. If this type of problem does occur, REPORT IT! Harrassment in any form is treated severely by educational institutions and you are entitled to the same treatment as any tutor, TA, or professor. I highly discourage meeting students at their houses and/or in the late evening (especially for female tutors, unfortunately). It is very difficult to know the intentions of troublemakers when you talk to them over the phone. Meet them in a place where you feel comfortable (for example, in a busy place like the student union building or the library).
Tutors face many challenges and obstacles. Whether voluntary or not, you should try to be as prepared as possible. No student wants to wait an hour while their tutor tries to remember how to do long division. Don't kill yourself in the preparation, but remember that there is no such thing as over-preparation for a tutoring session.