There are many ways. There always have been. Early AAs differed. New York, Akron, and Cleveland all did things differently, from each other, and internally.
Here are the four approaches I use most often:
Option 1
Read the book Alcoholics Anonymous with someone. Physically be with them as you read. They read a paragraph / you read a paragraph. You discuss it. You both identify. You explain points to them. You make sure they understand everything and take notes so they can take someone else through. When you get to an instruction, you explain how they carry out the instruction, with reference to your own experience. Check they've done it right (by listening to what they've written, if it's a written instruction). Continue.
Advantages: It's thorough. It's personal. You're making sure everything is understood as you go. It's the 'gold standard'.
Disadvantages: It's slow. It can be academic. It can be deadly dull. They can lose interest and fail to see the point. The process can miss the wood for the trees. It can infantilise the sponsee. Much of the book is straightforward and doesn't need to be pored over or explained. Most of the help is needed on the actual implementation of the instructions not on understanding plain English. As a sponsor, you can sponsor far fewer people if you approach it this way. You're depriving other people of help you could otherwise provide.
Mitigation of disadvantages: Adopt elements of other approaches / mix and match.
Useful for:
Sponsors with a lot of time on their hands.
Sponsors who have few other responsibilities in life.
Sponsees who are new in recovery, first time round.
Sponsees who are 'not big readers' and don't easily assimilate ideas from written materials.
Sponsees who are mentally ill, confused, distraught, and / or have disordered thinking.
Sponsees who need help maintaining focus and motivation.
Option 2
Give them worksheets on each chapter with questions to focus the attention and get them to read out or talk through their answers when they're done. There are lots of worksheets available, written by different AA members. When you get to an instruction, you explain how they carry out the instruction, with reference to your own experience. Check they've done it right (by listening to what they've written, if it's a written instruction). Continue.
Advantages: It's much quicker. It's easier to see the overall arc of each chapter and step. It makes the sponsee more responsible for their own recovery.
Disadvantages: It's less personal. Some detail can get lost.
Disadvantages: It's less personal. Some detail can get lost.
Mitigation of disadvantages: Get them to read with other sponsees of yours or in small groups. Fill in gaps as and when you spot them.
Useful for:
Sponsees who are newly back but not new in recovery.
Sponsees with a good education.
Sponsees who are highly motivated.
Option 3
Give them whole chapters to read or whole steps to look at, with a couple of basic questions, like, 'What is the physical craving?' 'What is the mental obsession?', etc. Then open up a discussion and make sure they've understood all of the main points. When you get to an instruction, you explain how they carry out the instruction, with reference to your own experience. Check they've done it right (by listening to what they've written, if it's a written instruction). Continue.
Advantages: Same as for Option 2 but even more so.
Disadvantage: Requires well-developed critical faculties on the part of both sponsor and sponsee. Possibility of missing certain details. Sometimes produces poor initial results as the sponsee is not capable or organised enough. This can be frustrating and discouraging for both sides.
Mitigation of disadvantages: Same as for Option 2.
Useful for:
Sponsees who have been through the Steps before and have been sober a while.
Sponsees with a good education.
Sponsees who are highly motivated.
Sponsees who are systematic and orderly.
Option 4
Basically Option 1 but select certain passages for shared discussion, and get the individual to read the intervening passages on their own or with others. When you get to an instruction, you explain how they carry out the instruction, with reference to your own experience, with reference to your own experience. Check they've done it right (by listening to what they've written, if it's a written instruction). Continue.
Advantages: As for 1, but much quicker. Real focus on the main points. They can fill in the detail later on. Easier for the sponsee to retain an overview.
Disadvantages: Some detail can get lost.
Mitigation of disadvantages: Fill in gaps as and when you spot them.
Useful for:
People with very limited reading abilities and/or real problems focusing.
People who are at great risk of slipping and badly need to progress quickly to Step Five and/or Step Nine if they're going to stay sober.