ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM STUDENT SERVICES
During spring break, County College will offer an
alternative to the trips that many students plan to relax at beaches and
resorts. Community service trips will be offered to assist low income
communities throughout the country. Students who sign up for these trips will
be part of a team that will live and work with social service groups in the
local area. Previous community service trips have provided tutoring for
elementary school students in Texas and care giving for senior citizens
in Chicago. The trips are paid for by grants to the college.
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LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Notice concerning proposed changes in language requirements All
international students at Community College are currently required to submit a
TOEFL score of 80 in order to be admitted to credit classes. Students who score
lower than 80 are referred to the English Language Institute for additional
language instruction. The college is considering a proposal that would allow
students with a score of 75 to take at least one credit class while they
continue to study part time in the English Language Institute. The students
would be assigned to an academic advisor who would help them select an
appropriate course. This proposal will be discussed at a public meeting in the
student union at 7 P.M. on December 1.
Listen to the audio
Listen to the audio
Question
The student
expresses her opinion of the policy for international students. Report her
opinion and explain the reasons that she gives for having that opinion.
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HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH INSURANCE
All students may
purchase health insurance at the time of registration by marking the insurance
box on the course request form. Those students who choose not to use the health
insurance option may still use the services of the Student Health Center, but
their accounts must be settled at the time of each visit, and the alternative
health insurance carrier must be billed directly by the students for
reimbursement. International students are required to purchase student health
insurance from the university and will be charged automatically at
registration. Alternative health insurance carriers may not be substituted. No
exceptions will be made.
Question
The foreign student advisor expresses his opinion of
the policy for health insurance. Report his opinion and explain the reasons
that he gives for having that opinion.
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GEOLOGY GROUP WORK
The geology department is aware of the problems
surrounding of group work, and its unpopularity among students. We realize that
in some cases students do not contribute and thus gain marks they do not
deserve, while stronger students are frustrated at being held back by weaker
students. Similarly, it is very difficult for tutors to award marks for group
projects, as it is unclear who is responsible for each part.
However, the department feels that there is a great
deal to be gained from group work, in terms of self-organization and
communication skills. To this end, we plan to introduce a system whereby the
group work itself is not formally assessed, but each student will undertake an
individual piece of work based on the group project, which will be designed to
ensure participation in the project.
QUESTION: The man
expresses his opinion of group work. State and explain his opinion. Compare his
opinion with the opinion of the geology faculty.
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UNIVERSITY PLAN
UNIVERSITY PLAN
Mary Dixon, Director of the Student Life Committee,
announced yesterday that beginning next semester, university cafeterias will
broadcast classical music during mealtimes. “Music will foster a more relaxed
atmosphere,” said Dixon. “Students’ lives are hectic, and mealtimes provide
important opportunities to take a break and catch up with friends before moving
on to the next class or assignment.” Added Dixon, “We’re also hoping that, if
we provide the music, students will unplug their personal music devices—their
Walkmans™ and MP3 players or whatever—and will spend more time talking to each
other. When students have their headphones on, they’re not connecting with each
other.”
QUESTION: The man
expresses his opinion of the university’s plan. State his opinion and explain
the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
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CLASSES
WITHDRAWAL
Withdrawal from Classes In order to qualify for a refund of 100 percent at any time during the semester; you must first establish eligibility. Serious illness or injury must be verified by a written statement signed by a doctor or a psychologist. The death of a family member ·must be verified by a death certificate. Military duty must be verified by a copy of the orders. Students who wish to withdraw without submitting official documentation may do so before the end of the drop-add period without penalty. After the end of the second week of classes, students may petition for a 90 percent reimbursement. After the end of the fourth week, students are eligible for a 50 percent refund.
Listen to the audio
Question: The student expresses her opinion of the
policy for reimbursement. Report her opinion and explain the reasons that she
gives for having that opinion.
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MOVIE FANS
The
Student Association has just purchased a new sound system for the Old Lincoln
Hall auditorium, the place where movies on campus are currently shown. By
installing the new sound system, the Student Association hopes to attract more
students to the movies and increase ticket sales. Before making the purchase of
the new equipment, the Student Association conducted a survey on campus to see
what kind of entertainment students liked best. Going to the movies ranked
number one. “Students at Northfield College love going to the movies” said the
president of the Student Association, “so we decided to make what they already
love even better. We’re confident that the investment into the sound system
will translate into increased ticket sales.”
Question: The man expresses his opinion of the Student
Association’s recent purchase. State his opinion and explain the reasons he
gives for holding that opinion
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SCULPTURE COURSES
University
administrators announced yesterday that the sculpture program, a division of
the art department, will be eliminated. “The main reason is a lack of student
interest,” reported one administrator. “Although the number of art students has
increased, fewer and fewer art majors are taking sculpture classes.”
Furthermore, the department’s only sculpture professor is retiring this year.
“Given the art department’s limited budget,” the administrator explained, “it just
doesn’t make sense to hire a new full-time professor to teach sculpture for
only a handful of students.”
(Narrator) Now
listen to two students discussing the article.
(Male
student) Everything alright?
(Female
student) Yeah, I’m just upset about that article I showed you this morning
…
(Male
student) Why, what’s the big deal?
(Female
student) Well, as an art major, I think it’s a big loss for the
department. The university’s got it all wrong.
(Male
student) What do you mean?
(Female
student) Well, the low enrolment isn’t because art majors don’t want to
take these classes. Problem is, who has time to take them when there are so
many other requirements?
(Male
student) I don’t understand.
(Female
student) See, the classes they’re eliminating are all optional. The
required courses are mostly painting and drawing, and they take up all our
time. What we really need are different requirements—then art majors could take
a better variety of classes … all the things we’re interested in.
(Male
student) That makes sense. But, the thing about the professor …
(Female
student) Well, that’s true. But still, they’re being drastic. If money’s
the problem, they could hire a part-time professor! Or, most of the professors
in the department have secondary fields …
(Male
student) Really?
(Female
student) Yeah! At least a few painting teachers are also great sculptors.
I’m sure one of them could teach a class.
Question: The woman expresses her opinion of the
university’s plan. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for
holding that opinion.
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CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
The
Chemistry Department is planning to award scholarships to students who have
received an average grade of 90% or above. We have found there to be a serious
need for well-educated chemistry students and the current pool of chemists is
highly lacking. By awarding these scholarships, it will allow future chemists
to get a better handle on their tuition costs as well as encourage students to
study harder in class. After the recent audit, we have found there to be plenty
of funds for this department and we feel this is the best place to use them.
Considering this school spends most of its funds on the Sports Department, we
want to get students more interested in chemistry and we feel this is the best
place to start.
Question:
The woman expresses her opinion about the announcement. State her opinion and explain the reasons that she gives for holding that opinion.
The woman expresses her opinion about the announcement. State her opinion and explain the reasons that she gives for holding that opinion.
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ASSAULTS ON WOMEN
As you may have read
in the news, there have been two violent assaults against college-age women in
our neighborhood within the past three weeks. In coordination with the Office
of the Dean, the Office of Security is instituting the following changes within
the dormitory system to ensure maximum security for all students of this
college.
As has been the case, entry to the dorms will be allowed only if a student has a proper school ID. Visitors are welcome, but they must also show a valid form of ID (State ID or Driver's License or other University ID). The new policy will, however, involve visitors to the dorms. A visitor must now be met at the security desk by the person being visited. The time the person arrives and the time the person leaves will be recorded. Male visitors to our all-female campus must be escorted by a registered student or member of our community at all times. Again, male visitors must not be allowed to move about any of the dorm facilities unless they are escorted by someone from the college community. Unescorted male visitors may be removed from the premises by security and students responsible for these unescorted visitors can be disciplined with a fine or other measures.
We hope these new measures will help ensure maximum safety at our campus. We apologize for any inconvenience.
As has been the case, entry to the dorms will be allowed only if a student has a proper school ID. Visitors are welcome, but they must also show a valid form of ID (State ID or Driver's License or other University ID). The new policy will, however, involve visitors to the dorms. A visitor must now be met at the security desk by the person being visited. The time the person arrives and the time the person leaves will be recorded. Male visitors to our all-female campus must be escorted by a registered student or member of our community at all times. Again, male visitors must not be allowed to move about any of the dorm facilities unless they are escorted by someone from the college community. Unescorted male visitors may be removed from the premises by security and students responsible for these unescorted visitors can be disciplined with a fine or other measures.
We hope these new measures will help ensure maximum safety at our campus. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Dialogue:
Meagan: Kelly, someone told me you got fined by the college. What happened?
Kelly: My boyfriend came over to visit. We were hanging out in my dorm room and, basically, at one point he left my room to go to the bathroom.
Meagan: But didn't you read the notice from Security? Guys can't walk about the dorms freely any more.
Kelly: Oh come on. He walked down the hallway to go to the bathroom. I am supposed to escort my boyfriend to the bathroom and stand outside waiting for him? How absurd is that? That is totally messed up.
Meagan: I can see your point, I'm just wondering where the school needs to draw the line.
Kelly: Well they need to draw the line at what's reasonable and what isn't. They aren't doing that now. The bathroom is literally 10 yards from my room. Security acted as if he was a terrorist when they saw him walking back to my room. They grabbed him by the arm and took him to my room to see whether I knew him, then they wrote me out a ticket right there and then for $100. Why be so damn ridiculous? This was no big deal.
Meagan: Yeah, I have to admit it seems a bit excessive to bust a guy for going to the john. (explanation: 'going to the john' means going to the bathroom).
Kelly: Also, these frigging security guards have too damn much power now. They act like damn fascists. Yesterday I went down to meet my boyfriend at the security desk and the guard said, "Oh you're seeing him again tonight, huh?" I was so pissed off! This new system robs us of our privacy and allows these damn guards to act like our moral superiors.
Meagan: I agree. I'm glad I live off campus and don't have to put up with this crap.
Question: How does Kelly feel about the new security regulations at the dorms?
==============================================
Number of Sculpture Classes to Decrease
Meagan: Kelly, someone told me you got fined by the college. What happened?
Kelly: My boyfriend came over to visit. We were hanging out in my dorm room and, basically, at one point he left my room to go to the bathroom.
Meagan: But didn't you read the notice from Security? Guys can't walk about the dorms freely any more.
Kelly: Oh come on. He walked down the hallway to go to the bathroom. I am supposed to escort my boyfriend to the bathroom and stand outside waiting for him? How absurd is that? That is totally messed up.
Meagan: I can see your point, I'm just wondering where the school needs to draw the line.
Kelly: Well they need to draw the line at what's reasonable and what isn't. They aren't doing that now. The bathroom is literally 10 yards from my room. Security acted as if he was a terrorist when they saw him walking back to my room. They grabbed him by the arm and took him to my room to see whether I knew him, then they wrote me out a ticket right there and then for $100. Why be so damn ridiculous? This was no big deal.
Meagan: Yeah, I have to admit it seems a bit excessive to bust a guy for going to the john. (explanation: 'going to the john' means going to the bathroom).
Kelly: Also, these frigging security guards have too damn much power now. They act like damn fascists. Yesterday I went down to meet my boyfriend at the security desk and the guard said, "Oh you're seeing him again tonight, huh?" I was so pissed off! This new system robs us of our privacy and allows these damn guards to act like our moral superiors.
Meagan: I agree. I'm glad I live off campus and don't have to put up with this crap.
Question: How does Kelly feel about the new security regulations at the dorms?
==============================================
Number of Sculpture Classes to Decrease
The Fine Arts Department has regretfully decided to cut the number of sculpture classes offered next semester from thirty to fifteen. While the department is not pleased to decrease its sculpture classes by fifty percent, there are two reasons for this choice. First, due to the department’s limited number of sculpture professor’s,our instructors have been teaching too many classes each semester. This has disrupted their ability to provide quality individual instruction for students.Furthermore, due to cutbacks in the department’s budget, there are simply not enough supplies available to offer such a large number of classes.
