TPO 3
Conversation 1
Narrator
Listen to a conversation between a student and a receptionist at the Registrar’s Office on the first day of the semester.
Student
Excuse me, I’m supposed to be having my physics class in the science building, but no one’s in the classroom. Could you tell me where the class is? Physics 403 — has it been moved?
Receptionist
Well, there’s a room assignment sheet on the bulletin board outside this office.
Student
Yeah, I know, but my class isn’t listed there. There must be some kind of mistake or something. Could you look it up, please?
Receptionist
Hmmm... ok, let me check on the computer. It’s physics, right? Wait, did you say physics 403?
Student
Yeah. Receptionist Er…I’m sorry, but it says here that it was cancelled. You should have got note letter from the registrar’s office about this.
Student
What? I’ve never got it.
Receptionist
Are you sure? ‘Cause it says on the computer that the letter was sent out to students a week ago.
Student
Really? I should have got it by now. I wonder if I threw it away with all the junk mail by mistake.
Receptionist
Well, it does happen. Er… let me check something. What’s your name?
Student
Woodhouse, Laura Woodhouse.
Receptionist
Ok, hmmm…Woodhouse, let me see… ah, it says here we sent it to your apartment on er… Center Street.
Student
Oh, that’s my old apartment. I moved out of there a little while ago.
Receptionist
Well, and I suppose you haven’t changed your mailing address at the administration office. Well
that would explain it.
Student
Yeah, I guess that’s it. But how can they cancel the class after offering it. If I’d known this was going to happen, I would have taken it last semester.
Receptionist
I know, it’s really inconvenient for you, I understand that, but er… if we don’t have enough students sign up for the course, the college can’t offer it. You know, it’s a practical issue, like we can’t have an instructor when there’re only a few students in the class. You see what I mean?
Student
I guess, but now I don’t know what course I should take instead.
Receptionist
Ok, let’s see. Do you have any courses you’re going to take next semester? If you do, you might want to take them now and sign up for physics 403 next semester.
Student
Yeah, I guess I could do that. I just hope it won't be cancelled again. Do you know how many people have to be enrolled in order to keep a class from being cancelled?
Receptionist
Well, it depends on the class, but for that class, you have to have er… let’s see, usually it’d be at least ten people, but since it was cancelled this semester, they might even do it with less. But do you know what you should do? Give the physics department a call a couple of weeks before the semester starts. They’ll be able to tell you if they’re planning to go through with it. It's their decision, actually.
Student
Oh, ok, I will do that. Thanks for the info.
Receptionist
No problem. Sorry about the class. Oh, why aren’t you to go change a mail address now. It lonely takes a minute.
Student
Oh, oh, sure, I will do that right way.