For each tutorial of my tutorials, I spend about 20-30 hours a week preparing a paper to present to my tutor. During our meeting, I read the paper to him and then spend the remainder of the time discussing the topic and debating and conflicts of interest that myself and my tutor might be having. It might seem strange to spend so much time preparing for a one hour conversation, but when I am asked questions or have my position challenged, I want to be able to defend myself.
Back at home, professors write up test questions and I study the night before and try to spew out the information that I will most likely forget minutes after I take the test. Here, the "test" comes each week when I meet with my tutor. I don't want to look like a fool in front of a person who has a doctorate in the field of theology, so I work all week trying to "know my stuff" for when I present my paper to him. While my tutor is usually quick to refute the position that I have taken on the week's topic, I learn a lot from my mistakes. Interestingly enough, I retain what I have learned long after the discussion with my professor is over.
There have been many times when I have left my tutorial feeling like quite the fool. I don’t really let that get to me though. I learn from my mistakes and move on knowing that my one week of research about a question pales in comparison to my tutor’s years of research in the field of theology. While I do not always assume the same position on questions my tutor raises, I do respect his opinion and walk away having had my own position strengthened.