Choosing Courses At The College - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations

TUTOR As you know, this week you choose your modules for the first year of study, so this introductory meeting is aimed at helping you make informed choices. I think the best way to do this is on a question-and-answer basis, so who'd like to start? Pat?

PAT Yes, there's something I've been wondering about: will my choice affect my career opportunities?

TUTOR Well, for most students the choice of Level One modules won't be crucial in terms of a later career. In fact, many graduate level jobs will accept graduates from a range of degree courses. Employers will often be at least as interested in how well a student has performed academically, and how the whole experience of university has developed the student as a person, as in the detail of the course options chosen. Selecting modules that will interest you and in which you think you will be particularly successful is therefore also likely to make good sense in career terms. On certain degree courses, though, module choice can be important. This applies mainly to vocational courses where the degree confers an accredited professional training as well as university education. Usually the modules students are required to take will include all those needed to meet those professional requirements. Your academic department, in this case Chemical and Process Engineering, and the university's Careers Service will be able to advise you, and will be pleased to help you sort out anything you're not certain about.

PAT Right.

RAJAV I'd like to ask a few things about the Applied Chemical Engineering module.

TUTOR Fine. What would you like to know?

RAJAV Well, apart from the work on practical engineering, what other topics are covered?

TUTOR Some that might surprise you. One that students always seem to like includes interviewing techniques, presentation skills and producing written reports.

RAJAV Hmm ... they sound interesting. How are they taught?

TUTOR Through lectures, practical classes and personal tutorials. Applied Chemical Engineering lasts all year of course, so there's plenty of time.

RAJAV And what about assessment?

TUTOR Through project work, usually, or dissertation. Not exams as such.

RAJAV Is that the same for the Information Technology part of the module?

TUTOR Yes, things like word processing and learning to create spreadsheets are tested in a similar way on this module.

SONIA That's not the case in some other modules, is it?

TUTOR No, it isn't. Are you thinking of any in particular?

SONIA Yes, I'm considering doing Fluid Mechanics. The work on flow analysis looks interesting and I like the look of some of the other topics, too. So how is that module tested?

TUTOR That's one of those which still uses written exams. The sit-down, formal type I'm afraid!

SONIA Oh that doesn't matter. I quite like that kind as it happens.

TUTOR Pat, you've got a question.

PAT Yes, I was wondering about Science 1 in Chemical Engineering. How is that organized? It's a bit different from other modules isn't it?

TUTOR Yes, it aims to give the necessary basis of physics and biology for those students who haven't studied the relevant subject at A level or equivalent. In practice it means that students who have already studied physics are excused the physics lectures, while those who've done biology are exempt from attending the biology lectures. In the second part of the module you're assessed on your project work in one of those subjects.

PAT And does the teaching approach differ, too?

TUTOR Yes, particularly in one respect: you are encouraged to learn by working out the solutions to problems for yourself.

PAT I like the sound of that.

TUTOR OK, anything else?

SONIA Yes, I believe it's possible to do a modern language as part of the course. Can you tell me a bit about the Spanish 1A module?

TUTOR Certainly. The main emphasis in 1A is on understanding and speaking, but students also learn to carry out some straightforward reading and writing tasks. Basic aspects of grammar are also introduced and practised. The module comprises thirty-six hours of class contact, mainly in tutorial groups of sixteen to twenty, and students are expected to do approximately sixty-four hours of private study.

SONIA It sounds interesting. I did some Spanish at the Cervantes Institute last year. Passed an exam, in fact.

TUTOR Ah, I'm afraid that means you can't do 1A. The regulations say 'this module may NOT be taken by students with a qualification in Spanish'. Though you could do 1B ...