NARRATOR:
You will hear a tutor, Beth, meeting James for his first Scandinavian studies tutorial.
NARRATOR:
First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
NARRATOR:
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
BETH:
I'm Beth Cartwright, but please call me Beth.
BETH:
Since this is your first tutorial after beginning the Scandinavian studies course, I'd like to learn little about you.
BETH:
What made you choose the subject?
JAMES:
My mother is Danish.
JAMES:
Although our family always lived in England, she spoke frequently about Denmark, which made me want to go there.
JAMES:
We rarely visited together because she usually travelled by herself.
JAMES:
However, whenever her relatives or Danish friends came to England, they always stayed with or visited our family.
BETH:
So you can already speak some Danish, one of the languages on the course.
JAMES:
I can manage an everyday conversation, although I make quite a few mistakes.
BETH:
You'll probably know that the third year is spent overseas.
BETH:
Have you considered where you'd like to go?
JAMES:
I'm really looking forward to that year.
JAMES:
Denmark would be the obvious choice because of my family, but I'd love to spend it in Iceland.
BETH:
I'm sure that can be arranged.
BETH:
What are your plans after graduation?
BETH:
Many students continue to a master's degree.
JAMES:
Four years of undergraduate study will probably be enough for me.
JAMES:
Journalism interests me, and I like the idea of living in Scandinavia and writing for magazines.
JAMES:
That seems more creative than working as a translator, which is what many graduates apparently do.
BETH:
How are you getting on with this term's courses?
JAMES:
I'm particularly enjoying Swedish cinema.
BETH:
That course carries on next term.
BETH:
The present Scandinavian literature course, however, finishes this term and will be replaced by more specialised options.
BETH:
And, if Danish television appeals to you, a course about it will begin the term after next.
JAMES:
That sounds interesting.
BETH:
Have you considered a subject for the literature paper due in the next few weeks?
JAMES:
My first choice would be the Icelandic sagas.
BETH:
The difficulty is that many students select that subject so the books you need can be hard to obtain.
BETH:
It might be better to save it for a later assignment.
BETH:
You could look at modern novels or 19th century playwrights instead.
JAMES:
I've read several translated plays and seen some performed, so playwrights would suit me.
BETH:
I'll record that as your topic.
JAMES:
What kind of approach would you recommend?
BETH:
To begin with, don't concentrate in great depth on just one author.
BETH:
That can be valuable later, but first you need to understand the literature within the society that produced it, its intended readers, the way it was published, and related issues.
BETH:
That would be more useful at this stage than simply tracing the genre's history.
NARRATOR:
Before you hear the rest of the tutorial, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
NARRATOR:
Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.
JAMES:
Could you also advise me about the Vikings paper I have to complete this week?
JAMES:
I'm not sure how to begin.
BETH:
Have you selected a topic?
JAMES:
There are too many interesting possibilities.
JAMES:
Viking settlements abroad, trade, mythology, and so on.
BETH:
Start by reading a student paper from last year that is kept in the library.
BETH:
It's brief and tightly focused, so it should help you choose.
BETH:
A textbook usually covers such a wide range that it can make selecting one subject even harder.
JAMES:
I have a DVD of the Viking film released earlier this year.
JAMES:
Would it help if I watched it again?
BETH:
If it's the film I'm thinking of, I'd leave it alone.
BETH:
It contains more fantasy than fact.
BETH:
I can lend you a recording of a documentary instead.
BETH:
It raises some challenging points that should help you narrow the topic.
JAMES:
Once I've done that, should I create an outline?
BETH:
At first, just decide on headings for the different sections so that you establish the structure.
BETH:
Then find suitable articles and books, take notes from them, and organise those notes beneath the relevant headings.
BETH:
Next, add short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading.
BETH:
Check that this framework is logical and flows clearly before you write the complete paper.
JAMES:
That's extremely helpful.
