[originaltext] Today I’d like to talk to you about group discussions known a

Today I’d like to talk to you about group discussions known as "seminars" and "tutorials". I want, first of all, to deal with the meaning of these terms, then I want to cover the aims of group discussions; next I’ll go on with some problems that English learners are likely to-face; and finally I’d like to offer a few pieces of advice.
    Firstly, let’s look at the meaning of the terms "seminar" and "tutorial". Nowadays it’s difficult to draw a precise distinction between the meanings of the two words. The differences are firstly the size of the group and secondly their purposes. A tutorial is usually for a small number of students, say, between two and five, whereas a seminar is attended by a larger group, say, between ten and fifteen. In a tutorial, a tutor adopts the role of the expert and asks and answers questions related to his most recent lectures. Often a student has to submit an essay or a report which is discussed by the tutor and then by other members of the tutorial group. In short, the tutor takes the lead; he in fact "tutored". The purpose of the seminar, however, is to provide an opportunity to discuss a previously arranged topic. More than one member of the staff might be present and one of them would probably act as chairman. Often one student gives a short talk served as an introduction to the discussion. The other students may have been asked to read a number of chapters of a book, related to the talk, so as, to be well-prepared to participate in the discussion.