The tape decks are specially designed for language learning. As you play the original material, you may record your responses without harming the original by pressing DRILL (the second red button from the right).
After recording your responses, you can play them back together with the original by pressing STOP (the third white button from the left). Then press PLAY (the fourth white button from the left). This capability gives you the opportunity to compare yourself to the native speakers on the tapes without recording over your responses. You may rerecord any passage as often as you like by using the DRILL button; the old responses will be erased.
Since you are operating the cassette recorder, you may stop the tape at any point, repeat any passage as often as you like, and choose which exercises to concentrate on. Just make sure to select the correct button/s.
You may also work with your cassette at home, but there you cannot record your responses. If you try, you will erase the original. By recording and later listening to your responses and comparing them to the original, you will progress more easily and successfully in your language learning.