Page 151 - IELTS Preparation band 5.0-6.5

V So what's the topic, then? Maybe I can help. V That's quite a good idea ... but I think the very first thing
you need to do is give a definition of what you mean by
F Well, it's ... er. oh, 'The mystery of human relationships'.
your key terms.
V Your tutor's Mr Dresden, I bet!
F Oh, so I need to say what terms like 'relationship' mean?
F How do you know?
V Yeah. Um. you could just do a diagram - you know. like
V Well, he gives very ... shall we say 'broad' project titles. you do when you brainstorm something.
I mean. when I had him, one of my topics was 'Happiness
F Oh yes- OK, I'll do that first.
1s dot. dot, dot'!
V Right. After that. you could do a bit of background on the
F He makes you think. doesn't he?
an1mal world ... yes. a quick look at relationships among
V Yeah. The thing about Mr Dresden is that he likes to find ape groups would work.
out what you really enjoy working on.
F Yeah - interesting -just to show that relationships are
F That's a good idea in theory. If I had more time, it would part of life ... So that's the definition and background -
be fine. what next?
V So what read1ng have you done so far? V Well, then you have to move on to people. Are you going
to target a particular age group? Or something else?
F Well, he's done one lecture on my topic - that was a few
weeks ago - and then he gave us a couple of articles from F Well, I thought that first I would look at different ... well,
a journal. there are so many places. aren't there, where we form
relationships? In the office ...
V Have you still got them?
V Yeah ... within the family. Even toddlers aged 18 months
F I put them away somewhere without looking at them - I'll
or under have relationships.
find them eventually. But I've just got these books from the
library. I might find something useful in these. F Yeah .. . so I'll present those ...
V Have you been on the Internet? V You mean the 'contexts' for relationships.
F I have, and there are some fascinating reports ... but they F Yes, that's the word.
made me realise just how much has been written!
V You do have to find a way to limit the scope of the study.
V Well, what exactly have you got to do for the project?
F Yeah. I could examine the 21-to-30 age group.
I guess you have to present it. so, er, there will be charts
and things? V Or the next thing might be to select one type of
relationship and go with that.
F Well, actually, Mr Dresden didn't ask for data - he said
that the important thing was to read about the topic and F Good idea! Um, I'll p1ck friendship and look at what makes
definitely include a list of all our sources. that type of relationship work and ...
V I told you, didn't I? He's just getting you to find stuff out. V Well, why don't you go through the stages in a friendship?
But I would keep it simple - just select six.
F Mmm. I could do a survey and interview some people of
different ages. F Six, OK. I guess I could fit my practical work in here.
V OK - well, maybe I can help you a bit. V Yes. it's the sort of area that you can canvas people's
opinions on. Ah, it might be good to get some opinions
F Could you?
from people over the age of 60.
V I've got an English Lit seminar in ten minutes and I have to
F And - as a contrast - why don't I end by looking into the
go in the library and find a couple of handouts for it.
future? Maybe the future changes in ...
F Oh, OK. It'll be getting late after that.
V Yeah, or better still, the influences - you know, with all the
V Look, tell you what. I'll text you in half an hour. If the social networking that goes on now.
seminar doesn't last too long, we could have a coffee in F OK, Influences ... oh, that's been such a help, Victor.
the canteen afterwards.
Thanks so much.
F Oh, I hope so - that would be great.
V No problem ... I'd better go and get some work done
(Pause) myself ...

V Right. so let's design a plan. What ideas have you got C02 Track 8
so far?
Victor Right. so let's design a plan. What ideas have you
F Well, I wo""ndered about doing something about got so far?
relatiOnships in the wild first - you know, maybe starting
w1th animals.

Recording script 8