1Hello, are you Dr Lindsey?
2The Returning Students Advisor?
3Yes, that's right. Are you Frank?
4Your appointment wasn't until 2:00, but that's OK.
5Please come in and have a seat.
6Thanks, I like to arrive early whenever I have anything to do.
7That's certainly a praiseworthy habit.
8Let me see, it looks like you've taken a long break from school,
9and I understand you wanted to have a chat about what you should study
10if and when you return for further classes.
11It's such a big challenge.
12I don't know if I'm crazy for doing this or not!
13Believe it or not, I know exactly what you mean.
14Before I began working here at the university, I taught primary school for nearly 10 years.
15It takes a lot of courage to go back to school!
16I feel more shy and scared than the primary students I teach!
17In the schools I taught, I found today's youngsters are very sure of themselves.
18In terms of intelligence, I have a lot to teach them.
19And the maturity level of much of my class leaves something to be desired.
20But in terms of confidence, wow!
21A lot more confident than I am now, that's for sure!
22Stop fretting.
23"A brave man is a coward who refuses to run".
24Let's talk about your strong points.
25You seem an intelligent man.
26What is it you would like to study?
27You see, I've been teaching children for a few years,
28but I think I'm happier teaching adults.
29I think teaching students in middle school is much more satisfying
30because they end up being much more grateful for your work.
31If I may ask, what got you interested in teaching adults?
32A lot of things, I guess.
33I met my future wife back in my first year of college.
34She always complains that I was more interesting then.
35She says that now I talk like I'm 7 years old!
36That's probably from being with children all day.
37Haha! Again I know just what you mean.
38My husband used to say the same thing about me when I taught kindergarten.
39Anything else?
40Well, yes.
41Fairly often now I run into former students and we talk.
42Some of them are getting close to being grown up.
43I guess I think more and more about how people develop over time.
44So, I'm interested in the results of education, you know, the final stages.
45I see.
46Well, coming back to the university can be both difficult and very rewarding.
47There are some problems unique to returning students, you know, older students like yourself.
48What do you think is your greatest weakness?
49Well, I actually think my confidence is getting better.
50I'm definitely overcoming my introversion
51and starting to be much more comfortable in front of a class.
52To tell the truth, I'm afraid I'm rather behind the times about many things.
53It's more difficult for me to chase after the popular things youngsters are fond of
54such as Iphone, Twitter, if you name it!
55I think I understand.
56How old are you, 35?
57People at your age still go back to school for further education.
58I was a bit the same way.
59I mean I didn't study at university till after I had a family: a husband and one child.
60My point of view was a lot different from your average eighteen-year-old girl's, I can tell you!
61Gee, that sounds pretty rough.
62A family and college?
63Clearly you weren't unsuccessful though!
64It was, Frank. It truly was.
65My first term at school was extremely stressful.
66But excuse me! You're not here to listen to my life story.
67We're talking about your plans.
68Is there anything unique I should know about you or your past experience or plans?
69I'm afraid not. There is nothing interesting about my career or plans.
70It's really not too impressive.
71Now, I forbid you to talk like that.
72This is your one life, and if you're not interested, why bother living it?
73Don't be so humble, Frank.
74OK, OK. My wife says I'm a wimp.
75Let's talk about your dreams a bit.
76You want to teach adults, you said.
77What would you like to teach them?
78Well, when I first came to college, I really liked Languages and Literature.
79A lot of people have told me that for practical reasons,
80it'd be more rewarding to choose Business Management as my major,
81but I made up my mind to study Liberal Arts once I got the idea of going back to school.
82I must say it's refreshing to meet someone who knows there's more to an education than computers and finance.
83Let's have a look at the university course catalogue...
84Excuse me, Dr Lindsey. Before we do that,
85could I maybe ask you some questions about changes in university life?
86I think I need to discuss that so I know what to expect.
87Of course. I'm here to help you.
88The biggest thing to get used to is the change in technology.
89Professors present things on huge screens,
90many of which are interactive computerised whiteboards.
91You can write on them still and use them like a touch screen.
92They're really handy!
93No more sloppy scribbled notes on the projector.
94Let's see, I doubt you'll be living in student housing,
95so I won't go into all the improvements there.
96Another major change that you'll enjoy is the plethora of resources available for students.
97As a student, you have 24-hour access to the gym,
98and library privileges that include the use of school computers to scan, copy, and print,
99and of course the Media Library, which contains movies from all genres
100and most of the movies listed on AFI's Top 100 Movies of All Time.
101The dining facilities are also not what they used to be.
102They offer choices for all diets, and you can expect a hot meal any time of day.
103Wow, things really have changed!
104I'll be sure to utilise all those great facilities in my time here.
105Thanks for all your help, Dr Lindsey.
106I think that's all the questions I have for now.