CD 1-11 Making an Appointment
Student: Professor Philips, I was hoping that I could come and talk with you. Professor: Oh, okay... Student: Well, I many need to ask for an extension on the lab report that is due in two weeks or an incomplete in this class. Can I make an appointment for some time this week? Professor: Umm, the thing is I'm kind of booked up this week... From Wednesday to next Monday, I will be in Kansas City, attending an annual meeting of the American Biochemical Society. Let's see. Tomorrow I have classes until four in the afternoon, so after that it will be okay. But how about this afternoon? You don't wanna wait, do you? I have another class from noon. I'll be in office after 2, though. Student: Oh, thank you. So, can I come by around 3? Professor: Yes. Oh, another thing is you might need to talk to somebody in the administration office about the situation, so maybe you should come as early as possible. Then, you could have time to go to other offices if you needed. Studnet: All right, then I'll be there at 2. Thank you for making time for me on such short notice. Professor: No problem. See you this afternoon.
CD 1-34 Registration
Man: Hi, Jane! I've just finished registration. Woman: How many courses are you taking this semester? Man: Altogether four courses. I signed up for Advanced Spanish, South American History, Mexican Art and Culture, and Programming 1. Woman: Why Computer Programming 1? I thought you were a history major. Man: Well, yes, I am. But I'm very interested in computers, too. My parents gave me their old computer three month ago. I'm just beginning to learn some of the basic programs. It's fascinating. Won't hurt to have more credits even though the course is only three credit hours. Woman: I know it's no Mickey Mouse course! I took the course last semester. I barely made it. I got a C. I've been using a computer for the last two or three years for word-processing. But when it comes to programming, it's just ove my head. But then again, you can use it without knowing how it works, just like driving. I even use a laptop computer in class sometimes. Man: Still, just as knowing how an automobile works makes you a better driver, knowing something about programming makes you better at using a computer. Neverthelesss, I'm a little anxious about the course. Woman: I understand. But you'll do fine! In any case, you can drop it if you find it too difficult. Well, good luck on the course.
CD 1-57 Grading
Man: Did you catch what Prof. Russell said about the grading system? Woman: Yes, I think so. It's quite simple. Man: I came in late so only got the last part of his explanation. Can you tell me exactly what's going on? Woman: Well, besides the midterm and final exam, we will be required to submit three short papers and one long one. Our grade is equally divided among the two exams, the short papers, and the long paper. I mean those three short papers are altogether a quarter of our workload and grade. Man: Did he say anything about attendance? I've already missed two classes so far. Did he call the roll today? Woman: No. He said attendance is not part of our grade. He will be there, so we should be, too. Attendance has nothing to do with your intellectual ability. Make sense to me.
CD 2-28 Study Abroad
Woman: What are you going to do this summer? Man: I'm going to Europe on the Study Abroad Program. Woman: That sounds great! Where in Europe are you going? Man: Mainly to Germany and France, and at the end of the program we will have a month to travel around the rest of Europe. Woman: Wow! When are you leaving? Man: I'm leaving in the first week of June and coming back at the beginning of September. They'll pay for everything except traveling expenses. I need to save up enough money to last one month. Now I have to keep two part-time jobs until the day before I take off. Woman: So, you've been studying German and French how many years? Man: I started in my freshman year. Two years is not enough, I know. But these three months will be worth more than three years, I hope. Woman: Well, I'm still struggling with my Russian. I don't think I'm ready to go over there yet, though. Man: You never know. It may give you a great incentive to concentrate ever more on studying Russian. It works that way with me. I wasn't really working hard until I found out about the Study Abroad Program. Woman: You gave me an idea. I may look into it. They may have a program for Russian students, too. Man: Sure they do. I know a girl who went to Kiev on the program. I can give you her phone number, too, if you want.
CD 2-64 Beliefs and Words
Logic, the study of beliefs, is about consistency of beliefs. Since beliefs are not tangible, however, it is difficult to study them directly. So we study the words or sentences that are used to state them. But there are hazards in this method of studying beliefs. First of all, a sentence may have two or more different meanings, which makes it ambiguous. Second, the same sentence may be used on different occasions to talk about different things. So a sentence, say "She is beautiful." could mean different things, or refer to different girls, from occasion to occasion. Third, people sometimes tell lies, in which case the meaning of a sentence intentionally differs from what the speaker believes. When we want to convey our beliefs to other people, we usually put them into words, unless we have other alternative ways of presenting them, as artists do. Therefore, the study of belief is destined to rely on mediating language in spite of its limitations. How, then, can we surpass those limitations? The answer has been obvious to everybody, except philosophers, all along: we should not forget that language is only a medium for communicating beliefs -- it is not the beliefs themselves. This naturally leads us to a more open-minded, and more "logical" approach to logic, taking human and circumstantial conditions into consideration for what our beliefs are and how they are related to each other. At the same time, this keeps us humble, with the realization that we must always endeavor to express ourselves clearly and concisely.
CD 3-28 A Conversation
Woman: Would like to play racket ball with me some time next week? Man: Sounds good! Where do you want to play? In Hendrickson Center? Woman: Is there anywhere else we can play? Actually, last time I played there, I had to make a reservation a week in advance. The courts and other facilities are all right, but not too great, and they charge $8 per person per hour. Man: I know. I've been there a couple of times myself. There is another place near the football field. It's also university gym, but older than the Hendrickson Center. As a matter of fact, I like it better than the new one because it's almost always empty and the courts are well maintained and the shower room is decent. And most of all, it's much cheapter -- its hourtly rate is $5 per court. Woman: Let's definitely play there. Do I need to make a reservation? Man: Depends. Unless they have some special event going on there, we can just walk right in and play. Why don't I call and check it out? Woman: Thanks. My schedule is quite flexible in the evening. After 5, almost any day is okay with me. Man: All right! I'll call you and let you know tonight or tomorrow.
CD 3-57 Negotiation
Man 1: What time do you want to go to bed? Man 2: Around midnight. I have to work at the dormitory cafeteria until 9. I need at least three hours each night to prepare for the next day's classes. How about you? Man 1: Actually I have to get up early Tuesdays and Thursdays because my seminar starts at 8:40. So I'd like to go to bed early the nights before. Man 2: That's fine with me. If I really need more time to study Mondays and Wednesdays, I can go upstairs to the Study Room, which is open till 3 o'clock every day. Man 1: Okay, then. We'll go to bed around eleven o'clock Mondays and Wednesdays, and around midnight, on other days. How'd you like that? Man 2: Sound good to me. Man 1: We can change it any time if we want to. Just say so when your situation changes or whatever. Man 2: I'll do that. Okay, now we can go on to talk about our responsibility for household chores around this room.
CD 3-69 Skin
The skin is one of the most important organs of the body and is not just a cover for the tissue underneath it. It serves two main functions: to protect the body in its environment and to maintain organs that convey information about that environment to the brain. Thus, among other things, the skin regulates the temperature of the body. It is also the body's heaviest organ, with a mass of 4-5 kg, and a total surface area of about 1.2 to 2.2 m. It is composed of two layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The outermost layers of the epidermis are made up of dead, hardened cells that are constantly being rubbed off and replaced. This epidermis is watertight and impervious to bacteria. The deeper part of the epidermis contains pigment granules, which are responsible for skin color. The next deeper layer of skin, separated from the epidermis by a line of cells, is the dermis. It is composed of very elastic and fibrous tissue. Sweat glands, sebaceous or oil glands, hair follicles, specialized nerve endings and blood vessels are found within the dermis.
CD 4-15 Hard Luck
Woman: You look down. What's happened? Man: I was just in my advisor's office. He's told me that I can't graduate until next September. Woman: What? Why's that? I thought you've been doing great all these days. Man: Of course, I have. It's just that one physics course I need in order to graduate won't be offered next semester, so I have to wait until next spring to complete all the requirements. Woman: That's ridiculous. The advisor didn't tell you that before? That's his duty, isn't it? Man: Well, he said he didn't know that either. The professor who was supposed to teach the course was sick or something. He's checking if I can substitute some other physics course that will be offered next semester for it. Or else, I will be doomed. Woman: If I were you, I would tell him that the department should hire a substitute. It's only fair.
CD 4-46 Tan
Woman: Wow! Chris. What a great tan you've got. I guess you spent the whole summer vacation at the beach, huh? Man: You couldn't be more wrong. Kelly. Actually, I had to work like a dog to pay back some of my loans and save for this year's tuition. Woman: Well, then how did you get that tan? Man: The only job I could get was loading and unloading trucks at a wholesale liquor distributor. I must have sweated off 15 pounds at least, I'm not kidding. Woman: Yeah. You look like you're in great shape. Ready to try out for the college basketball team again? I heard that the trials start next week. Man: I would, but, unfortunately, I have just started a particularly heavy course load（授業のスケジュール） this fall. I have to repeat a course in physics. Woman: That's too bad. I suppose you'll be a bookworm until Christmas. I may be in the same boat -- I've applied to be a T.A. and a lab assistant for the Physics Department. I'll be spending most of this semester inside the lab, if I'm lucky.