006

Recommend for vocabulary learning: when you get an assignment, take a sheet of paper and write four headings: words I can use, words I can recognize but can't use, words I'm not sure of, and words I don't know. Don't bother with the simple words, of course. Then go back after two weeks and look at the list again. Can you move any of the words into a better column? That is the end of part two. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Now turns to part three. Part three: you will hear two university students talking about a music course. First, look at questions to. As you listen, answer the questions.

"Josie, come in. How are you?"

"I'm good. Can I get you a coffee or anything?"

"No, that's okay. I can't stay long, but you said you wanted to talk to me about that course I'm doing this semester, music."

"That's right. Actually, I was a bit confused because I thought you were majoring in maths."

"That's right. I am. I'm doing four maths modules this year, but it's an optional course. You just choose it if you're interested, and you can do it in whatever department you're in."

"Why? Are you thinking about doing it?"

"Well, I'm not sure. What are the requirements? What are the course requirements, I mean? What do I need to know about music to be accepted on it? I do listen to a lot of music, everything from hip hop and rap to classical, and I can sing, sort of."

"Well, for a start, one special thing about this course is that it's distance learning. You don't actually have to be at the university to do it, and you don't have lectures, so you've got to be able to work on your own without someone telling you what to do all the time."

"Oh, that should be okay. I reckon. I'm more worried about the actual musical stuff, like I don't know how to read music."

"That doesn't matter. They don't assume that. You'll learn as you go along. How's your maths? Not too bad, right?"

"Right."

"Some of it's quite mathematical, so you really need to be strong there. Could you play the violin? Don't you?"

"I don't play anything."

"You don't need to. What about computer skills? You're okay there?"

"Yes, reasonably. Does that matter?"

"Yes, I'd say they're essential. Like I said, it's all distance learning, so it's computer-based."

Before the conversation continues, look at questions to. Now listen to the second part of the discussion.

"What about lectures? You don't attend any?"

"It's all online, so lots of the students aren't here in Canada at all. They're studying from home all over the world. We've got someone from my group in Jamaica and a couple from Taiwan. Oh, and some from Hong Kong as well."

"So how does this work?"

"Oh, well, there's a multimedia course website on the internet where you can listen. You can listen and watch at the same time, and of course, you can do it at your own pace. So if you don't understand something, you just go back, or if you want some more examples of the music, there are links there to things that you can listen to. There's quite a lot of theory, but it's all done through musical examples, so it's practical at the same time. Like in the last module I did, we looked at a bit of the music from the movie Star Wars, the Darth Vader theme, you know? Then we looked at a theme from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. Do you know it? Written in the nineteenth century, and we could see there were all sorts of parallels between them. And that's a feature of the course. We often look at modern Hollywood themes to illustrate concepts in classical music."

"It sounds really interesting. Do you have a course book?"

"No, we don't use one. We're given a software program called Notability Light, and what it does is it presents what we write, the music we write, really clearly, and it also allows us to play back any piece of music on our computer at home. But that's not all. We can write our own music, quite complex stuff, for various instruments, and the program plays it back to us."

"Plays the actual music?"

"Yes, so it means that your computer is actually your own musical instrument. And we can even submit our finished pieces to our tutor by email."

"So you do need your own computer, obviously?"

"Yes, with at least sixty-four megabytes of RAM."

"That's okay. I've got one hundred twenty-eight."

"Oh, and a CD-ROM and a sound card, of course."

"No problem. So how long is the course?"

"It's six months. There are two a year, so you could actually enroll for the next one if you wanted. It starts in January. I started last September, and I finished in February."

"And how many credits is it?"

"Three. In order to pass, you've got to do six assignments. I'm just doing my fourth one now and take a final examination. Anyway, why don't you call around sometime, and I'll show you the sort of things we do? You can even listen to some of my music."

"That would be great. Well, thanks, Josie. Now, are you sure you don't have time for that coffee?"

That is the end of part three. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Now turns to part four. Part four: you will hear a talk about the pitfalls and pleasures of being a postgraduate student. Look at questions. Postgraduates are about as easy to define as catching steam in a bucket. Courses can be vocational for training as research as a preparation for research or a combination of these. Also, you can choose between full-time and part-time. Increasingly, the approach to postgraduate study is becoming modular. The vast majority of postgraduates are doing short taught courses, many of which provide specific vocational training. Indeed, there has been a percent increase in postgraduate numbers in Britain over the past years. Current figures stand at just under. People undertake postgraduate study for many reasons. These may be academic, intellectual challenge, development of knowledge, vocational training for a specific career goal, or only vague drifting into further study. It is essential that you determine the reasons you want to become a postgraduate. If you have clear goals and reasons for studying, this will enhance your learning experience and help you to remain focused and motivated throughout your course. Where you study should be based on much more than the course you want to do. For some courses, you're likely to be there for several years, and it is important that you are happy living there. Check also what type of accommodation is available and whether the institution provides any housing specifically for postgraduates. Choosing an institution and department is a difficult process. To determine quality, do not rely on the reputation of an institution, but find out what the ratings are from the most recent assessment exercises. Find out about the staff, their reputation, competence, enthusiasm, and friendliness. Visit the department if possible and talk to existing postgraduates about their experience, satisfaction, comments, and complaints. Be very careful to check how they feel about their supervisors. Also, check what facilities are available both at an institutional level, for example, libraries, laboratory, and computing facilities, and in the department, for example, study room, desk, photocopying, secretarial support, etc. Everyone will have their own priorities here. I am always anxious to check the computer support available and regard it as slightly more important than library access. Your working environment and the support available to you play an essential part in making your work as a postgraduate a positive experience. Life as a postgraduate can be very different from your other experiences of education. Things that can distinguish your experience are the level of study, independence of working, intensity of the course, the demands on your time, and often the fact that you're older than the majority of students. These factors can contribute to making you feel isolated. However, there are several ways you can make sure that this is either short-lived or does not happen at all. Many student unions have postgraduate societies that organize social events and may also provide representation for postgraduates to both the student union and the institution. Departments can also help to create a sense of identity and community and often have discussion groups available. Don't be afraid to talk to staff about any difficulties you might be having. Of course, universities provide counseling services, but we have found that the best advice comes from talking to other postgraduates who may have faced similar difficulties. Look at questions. Financial planning is essential since the government excludes postgraduates from student loans, and it can be difficult to maintain your student status with banks. This has implications for free banking and overdraft facilities. Do not underestimate your living costs, including food, accommodation, and travel, and be careful not to budget for everything except a social life. Funding a course is one of the most challenging things people face when considering postgraduate study. Most postgraduate students finance themselves. They pay often very large fees to the institution and receive no maintenance income to support their study. Make sure you know exactly what your costs will be. Institutions often hide extra fees, like laboratory costs, behind the headline fee rate advertised. Funding can come from various sources: research councils, charities, trust funds, institutional scholarships, local education authorities, and professional bodies and organizations all offer various levels of funding. As I said before, the government excludes postgraduates from student loans, so it is essential you look to other sources. Career development loans are available from high street banks. The best advice on funding is to be proactive, persistent, and patient. The postgraduate community in Britain is multinational, has a wide range of experience of life and work, and an exciting mix of goals, both career and academic. Being a postgraduate student should be a productive and fulfilling thing to do, and you will become part of a diverse and motivated social group.

that is the end of part four

对于词汇学习的推荐：当你接到一个作业时，拿一张纸写下四个标题：我能使用的词汇、我能认出但不能使用的词汇、我不确定的词汇和我不知道的词汇。当然，不用理会简单的词汇。两周后再回头看看这个清单。你能把任何词汇移到更好的栏目里吗？

关于一个音乐课程，两位大学生讨论了课程的细节，包括远程学习的灵活性、没有讲座以及使用Notability Light软件。他们还谈到了课程的时长、学分和作业。

"Josie, 进来吧。你怎么样？"

"我很好。要不要来杯咖啡或者别的什么？"

"不用了，没关系。我不能待太久，但你说你想和我谈谈我这个学期的课程，音乐。"

"对的。实际上，我有点困惑，因为我以为你主修数学。"

"没错。我今年在修四门数学课程，但这是一个选修课。如果你感兴趣，可以选修，不管你在哪个系。"

"为什么？你在考虑选修它吗？"

"嗯，我不确定。有什么要求吗？课程要求是什么，我是说？我听了很多音乐，从嘻哈和说唱到古典，我也能唱歌，算是吧。"

"好吧，首先，这门课的特别之处在于它是远程学习。你不需要在大学上课，也没有讲座，所以你必须能够自己学习，而不用有人一直告诉你该做什么。"

"哦，那应该没问题。我更担心的是实际的音乐部分，比如我不会看谱。"

"那没关系，他们不会假设你会的。你会在过程中学习的。你的数学怎么样？不算太差，对吧？"

"对。"

"有些部分相当数学化，所以你真的需要在这方面很强。你会拉小提琴，不是吗？"

"我什么乐器都不会。"

"你不需要会乐器。那计算机技能呢？你还可以吧？"

"是的，还可以。这重要吗？"

"是的，我认为是必要的。就像我说的，这是远程学习，所以是基于计算机的。"

在对话继续之前，先看看问题。现在听第二部分的讨论。

"那讲座呢？你不上讲座吗？"

"全部在线，所以很多学生根本不在加拿大。他们在全世界的家里学习。我们组里有来自牙买加和台湾的学生。哦，还有一些来自香港。"

"那这怎么运作？"

"哦，嗯，互联网上有一个多媒体课程网站，你可以在上面听和看，当然，你可以按自己的进度来学习。如果你不明白什么，可以回头再听，或者如果你想要更多的音乐例子，那里有可以听的链接。理论很多，但都是通过音乐例子来完成的，所以同时也是实际操作的。比如在我上次的模块中，我们看了一些电影《星球大战》中的音乐，达斯·维达的主题曲，你知道吗？然后我们看了一些瓦格纳的《特里斯坦与伊索尔德》的主题曲。你知道吗？写于十九世纪，我们可以看到它们之间有各种各样的相似之处。这是课程的一个特点，我们经常看现代好莱坞的主题来说明古典音乐中的概念。"

"听起来很有趣。你有课本吗？"

"不，我们不用课本。我们有一个叫Notability Light的软件程序，它可以非常清晰地呈现我们写的音乐，并且还允许我们在家里的计算机上播放任何音乐片段。但这还不是全部。我们可以为各种乐器写我们自己的音乐，非常复杂的音乐，并且程序会播放给我们听。"

"播放实际的音乐？"

"是的，所以这意味着你的计算机实际上是你自己的乐器。我们甚至可以通过电子邮件提交完成的作品给我们的导师。"

"所以你确实需要自己的电脑，对吗？"

"是的，至少需要六十四兆字节的内存。"

"那没问题。我有一百二十八兆。"

"哦，还需要一个CD-ROM和声卡，当然。"

"没问题。那课程有多长？"

"六个月。每年有两个课程，所以如果你愿意，你可以报名参加下一个课程。它在一月开始。我在九月开始，二月结束。"

"那有多少学分？"

"三个。为了通过，你必须完成六个作业。我现在正在做第四个，还有参加期末考试。无论如何，你有时间的话，来我家看看我们做的事情。你甚至可以听一些我的音乐。"

"那太好了。谢谢你，Josie。现在，你确定不喝那杯咖啡吗？"

那是第三部分的结束。你现在有半分钟时间来检查你的答案。现在进入第四部分。第四部分：你将听到关于研究生生活的乐趣和陷阱的讲座。看看问题。研究生的定义就像用桶接住蒸汽一样容易。课程可以是职业培训、研究准备或两者的结合。此外，你可以选择全职或兼职。研究生学习的方式越来越模块化。绝大多数研究生正在上短期授课课程，许多课程提供特定的职业培训。事实上，英国的研究生人数在过去几年中增加了百分之。当前的数字刚刚超过。人们出于许多原因进行研究生学习。可能是学术、智力挑战、知识发展、职业培训为了特定的职业目标，或者仅仅是模糊地进入进一步的学习。确定你想成为研究生的原因是至关重要的。如果你有明确的目标和学习的原因，这将增强你的学习体验，并帮助你在整个课程中保持专注和动力。你选择学习的地方不仅仅是你想上的课程。对于某些课程，你可能会在那里待几年，重要的是你在那里的生活是否愉快。还要检查有哪些类型的住宿，以及该机构是否为研究生提供专门的住房。选择一个机构和部门是一个困难的过程。为了确定质量，不要依赖一个机构的声誉，而是要找到最新的评估结果。了解教职员工，他们的声誉、能力、热情和友好。尽可能访问该部门并与现有的研究生交谈，了解他们的经验、满意度、评论和投诉。特别注意他们对导师的看法。还要检查有哪些设施可用，无论是在机构层面（例如，图书馆、实验室和计算机设施）还是在部门内（例如，学习室、书桌、复印、秘书支持等）。每个人在这里都有自己的优先事项。我总是急于检查可用的计算机支持，并认为它比图书馆访问稍微重要一些。你的工作环境和可用的支持在使你的研究生工作成为一种积极的体验中起着至关重要的作用。研究生生活可以与你其他的教育经历非常不同。可以区分你经历的事情是学习水平、独立工作、课程的强度、对时间的要求，以及通常你比大多数学生年长的事实。这些因素会导致你感到孤立。然而，有几种方法可以确保这种情况要么是短暂的，要么根本不会发生。许多学生会有研究生社团，他们组织社交活动，并可能为研究生向学生会和机构提供代表。部门也可以帮助创建一种身份感和社区感，通常有讨论小组可供使用。不要害怕向教职工谈论你可能遇到的任何困难。当然，大学提供心理咨询服务，但我们发现，最好的建议来自于与其他可能遇到类似困难的研究生交谈。看看问题。财务规划是必不可少的，因为政府不向研究生提供学生贷款，而且在银行中维持你的学生身份可能很困难。这对免费银行业务和透支设施有影响。不要低估你的生活成本，包括食物、住宿和交通费用，并注意不要为除社交生活以外的一切进行预算。资助课程是人们在考虑研究生学习时面临的最具挑战性的事情之一。大多数研究生自费。他们支付给机构的费用通常非常高，并且没有生活补助来支持他们的学习。确保你确切知道你的费用是多少。机构通常在广告的标题费用率后隐藏额外费用，如实验室费用。资助可以来自各种来源：研究委员会、慈善机构、信托基金、机构奖学金、地方教育当局和专业机构及组织都提供各种水平的资助。正如我之前所说，政府不向研究生提供学生贷款，所以你必须寻找其他来源。高街银行提供职业发展贷款。关于资助的最佳建议是积极主动、坚持和耐心。英国的研究生群体是多国的，拥有丰富的生活和工作经验，并且在职业和学术上有一个激动人心的目标混合。成为一名研究生应该是一件富有成效和令人满意的事情，你将成为一个多样化且积极的社交群体的一部分。

这是第四部分的结束。