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Read the passage below. While reading, try to guess what the conversation will be about.
Attention Honors Students
The English Department is now making it mandatory for all honors students who are planning to attend graduate school to take pre-graduate classes offered by the English Department. For those of you who are planning on pursuing a master's or doctoral degree, these classes are designed specifically to prepare you for graduate courses. They will facilitate the transition from college to graduate education. These high-level courses will also allow your graduate school application to stand out from among a pool of applicants from other schools.
Write down the main idea and key points in note form, using keywords and key phrases only. Restate the passage in your own words.
mandatory – required compulsory
doctoral – relating to the highest academic degree
specifically – particularly or expressly
facilitate – to assist or to make easy
transition – a change in state
pool – a joint supply that is used by members of a group
Reading:
Now listen to a related conversation. Take notes on the man's opinion.
policy – procedure
bet – to think or expect
excel – to do well
competitive – relating to competition
applicant – someone that applies for something
Listening:
View the transcriptM: What do you think about that announcement from the English Department? Do you think it's fair to force students to take those pre-graduate. classes?
W: I actually agree with the policy.
M: You do?
W: Yeah. Most of the honors students I know plan to attend graduate school anyway. Why not take these pre-graduate classes? I bet they'll be helpful.
M: But are they really necessary?
W: I think so. They sound like a great way to prepare students to excel in graduate school. Many students I know are worried about it. They heard it's hard because students entering into graduate school usually don't know what to expect.
M: I see your point.
W: And many never finish because they weren't prepared for graduate work.
M: Yeah, it'll be good for these students to start preparing for graduate school now.
W: Exactly. Besides, I think these classes will look really good on a graduate school application. Those people I know who have taken pre-graduate classes almost always get accepted into graduate school.
M: Wow, that's great. Especially considering how competitive our English graduate program is.
Read and think about the prompt below.
The woman expresses her opinion of the English Department's decision. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
WITHOUT looking at the original reading passage, review your notes from the reading and listening passages. Select the information you think is important.
Reading:
Listening:
Try to fill in the blanks of the sample response below using your notes.
Notes for the Response
Deliver your response, including all the facts and using necessary transitions.
Listen to a sample response. Write down any useful expressions that could improve your response.
Reading:
Listening:
The announcement says that it is now mandatory for English students planning to attend graduate school to take pre-graduate courses. The woman agrees with this idea. She says that the classes are a good way to help students succeed in graduate school by preparing them early on. She supports this point by saying that many graduate students drop out because they are not prepared for graduate level work. She thinks the new pre-graduate classes will help them to know what to expect. Also, she believes that they will give students an advantage on their graduate school applications. She says that everyone she knows who has taken pre-graduate courses has been accepted into graduate school.
Now give your response to the prompt again, incorporating useful expressions from the sample, while also paying attention to your pronunciation and intonation. Record your time.
