Section 3

Section three.

You will hear a discussion between a tutor and an education student called Sandy about the student’s dissertation.

First you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.

Hello Sandy, have you been getting on with your dissertation?

Fine, and I’ve been working hard on the various action points we agreed on our last tutorial.

Do you want to talk me through what you’ve done?

Yeah sure, well we agreed on three main targets for me to aim for.

The first one was to find out about suitable data analysis software.

Yes.

And what I decided to do was to look through catalogs specializing in IT.

That’s a good idea.

What did you come up with?

I found the names of two promising ones.

Right.

But I also thought it’d be worthwhile talking to a lecturer.

Oh right.

Who did you see?

Jane Prince,

Do you know her?

She’s in the computer center.

Yes of course, she’s the new head.

Yes well, she was very helpful.

Oh that’s good.

Did she suggest anything in particular?

Yeah, she recommended software called Vivat and said I should book up for a couple of practice sessions using Vivat.

Great, I’m sure you’ll find them useful.

And of course the second target was to draw up a survey checklist which.

Yes you emailed me at uh last week.

Have you had a chance to look?

Of course.

Um, I think it’s good uh very much on the right lines, I’d say your first two sections are spot-on.

I wouldn’t suggest that you change anything there, but in section three you really do need to have questions on teaching experience.

Yeah, I was thinking that section looked a bit short.

Right.

And my third target was do further reading on discipline.

Oh yes, I mentioned a couple of writers didn’t I?

Yes well, I got hold of the Banerjee, and I thought that was excellent but I’m afraid I didn’t manage to get hold of the essays about classroom management.

You know the ones by Simon Erickson the bookshop said it was out of print and the library doesn’t have a copy.

Oh right, and I’m afraid I’ve lent my copy to another student.

What I suggest you do is try the library again?

This time apply for it through the service called special loans have you done that before?

You’re entitled to six books a year.

Yes, no problem that’s what i’ll do.

So lots of useful work done.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.

Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

So let’s look at some new targets, we’ll start by having a chat about your chapter one.

I very much enjoyed reading it, your written style is very clear and you’ve included lots of interesting descriptions of education in your target area.

I’ve just got a couple of suggestions for some additional work. of course, could I just ask what do you think I should call it?

Well, I’d go for something like context review, what do you think?

Well, shortened to the point.

Exactly, now as regards specific areas to work on I’d be quite interested to have a few more statistics about the schools in the different zones.

Oh that wouldn’t be a problem I can get them from the internet.

Great and although you did make a reference to quite a few different writers, I think you should aim to cite more works written later than 2000.

Okay, that’s more difficult but I can try.

When do you want that done by?

Oh, it’s not urgent.

Um, I should aim for the end of term, but in the meantime I think you should also be thinking about chapter two.

Should I be drafting it already?

No, but I think you should note down its main sections.

Yes, you know I always find that the hardest part.

I always find it helpful to put some ideas on index cards.

Yeah.

Um and then you can sort them and even lay them out on the floor it’s a real help.

Well I’ll certainly try it.

When would the deadline be for that?

My advice would be to get it done before you embark upon the research.

You can always change it later, if you need to.

Okay, I’ll get going on that then.

That is the end of section three you now have half a minute to check your answers.

Now turn to section section four